Toyota South Africa Motors has confirmed the 2.4GD-6 turbodiesel engine will survive locally, revealing plans to add this motor to the 9th-gen Hilux range in early 2027…
- 2.4GD-6 engine coming to new Hilux in Q1 2027
- Staggered launch for new Hilux range in Mzansi
- 9th-generation single-cab variants coming soon
When the 9th-generation Toyota Hilux hit the market in South Africa earlier in June 2026, all 7 derivatives in the truncated line-up featured the 2.8GD-6 turbodiesel engine (with the Legend grade adding a mild-hybrid system). But the automaker has now officially confirmed the 2.4GD-6 motor from the outgoing portfolio will survive, with plans to roll it out to the new range in early 2027.
Yes, Toyota SA Motors says the 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine is scheduled to join the local 9th-gen Hilux line-up in the opening quarter of 2027. While the 2.8GD-6 is currently available exclusively with a 6-speed automatic transmission, it seems the 2.4GD-6 unit in 9th-gen guise will be offered only in conjunction with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
As a reminder, Toyota SA Motors is taking a staggered approach to rolling out its new Hilux range – which is again produced at the Japanese brand’s Prospecton facility in KwaZulu-Natal – with only 2 extended-cab and 5 double-cab derivatives offered at launch. As such, select 8th-gen variants will soldier on for the time being.
Indeed, the 2.4GD-6 mill in question powers as many as 13 of these still-in-production 8th-gen derivatives. In its current form, the 2.4-litre oil-burner generates peak outputs of 110 kW and 400 Nm, though the latter figure drops to 343 Nm in the case of base single-cab derivatives, which are fitted with a 5-speed (rather than 6-speed) manual cog-swapper. It’s not yet clear if this engine will simply carry over unchanged or whether any modifications are on the cards.
New Hilux single-cab production starting soon
When are the 9th-gen single-cab variants launching in South Africa, you ask? Well, Toyota SA Motors has also confirmed production of these new single cabs is scheduled to commence in August 2026. From what we can tell, the initial 9th-gen single cabs for the local market will be offered in the SRX grade, meaning a 2.8GD-6 SRX 6AT 4×2 variant and a 2.8GD-6 SRX 6AT 4×4 derivative should be available.
As with the SRX and Raider versions of the 9th-generation double cab that are already on the local market, expect these SRX single-cab derivatives to retain hydraulic steering rather than switch to the electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) adopted by the higher-specified Raider X and Legend grades.
Revealed in Thailand in November 2025, the new Hilux retains the outgoing generation’s IMV platform, which gains new hydraulic engine mounts and shear-type cabin mounts to “reduce vibrations and enhance ride comfort”.
To refresh your memory, the 8th-gen Hilux debuted way back in 2015, before being introduced to South Africa in February 2016. In 2025, Toyota SA Motors registered 36 525 units of the 8th-gen Hilux locally, seeing the stalwart comfortably retain the bakkie sales crown – and indeed the title of SA’s top-selling vehicle overall, one it has held for more than half a century.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When will the 2.4GD-6 engine join the 9th-generation Toyota Hilux lineup, and how will it be configured?
A: Toyota SA Motors has officially confirmed that the 2.4GD-6 turbodiesel motor is scheduled to join the local 9th-generation Hilux range in the first quarter of 2027. Unlike the initial 2.8GD-6 derivatives which use a 6-speed automatic transmission, the incoming 2.4GD-6 powertrain is expected to be offered exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Q: What is Toyota’s launch timeline for the 9th-generation single-cab variants in South Africa?
A: Production of the new 9th-generation single-cab derivatives is scheduled to kick off at the Prospecton facility in KwaZulu-Natal in August 2026. Initially, these workhorse models will be offered in the SRX trim level, utilising the 2.8GD-6 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission in both 4×2 and 4×4 layouts.
Q: What platform does the new Hilux use, and how successful was the outgoing generation in the local market?
A: The 9th-generation model retains Toyota’s proven IMV platform, enhanced with updated hydraulic engine mounts and shear-type cabin mounts to improve overall ride comfort. The platform change builds on the massive success of the 8th-generation model (introduced in 2016), which finished 2025 with 36 525 local units registered to comfortably maintain its decades-long crown as South Africa’s top-selling vehicle overall.
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