Toyota now has a strong foothold in the Indian market. It has 13 products on sale here- inclusive of Toyota products and badge-engineered Suzukis. The carmaker is reportedly working on an aggressive product offensive for India. It seems to be looking at a comprehensive portfolio expansion spanning powertrains and body styles. As many as 11 launches are to be expected over the next few years.
The carmaker will retire the Innova Crysta in 2027. A lower-spec Hycross hybrid is expected to be introduced as the replacement. It will also cater to fleet buyers, and will thus have fewer features than the regular Hycross. This will help Toyota keep costs under check and price it competitively. The Crysta replacement is also likely to be flex-fuel compliant.
If so, it will be able to run on blended fuels beyond E20, aligning better with India’s push for blended fuels. While flex-fuel compliance will keep emissions under check, its strong hybrid setup will compensate for fuel efficiency losses due to the use of blended fuel.
The regular Hycross is also expected to get a facelift in late 2026. The update will bring subtle design changes and notable equipment upgrades to the vehicle. The cabin experience is expected to improve significantly with the inclusion of features like a larger touchscreen and a better instrument console. The updated model will continue with the outgoing model’s powertrain options- 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre strong hybrid petrol.
Toyota’s first electric car for India will be a badge-engineered version of the Maruti Suzuki eVitara. Expected to launch in April, it will be underpinned by the same HEARTECT-e skateboard platform and will offer two battery pack choices- 49 kWh and 61 kWh. The latter will have a claimed range of 543km per charge. The bigger battery version’s powertrain will make 172hp and 189 Nm, while the other will have 142hp and 189Nm on offer.
The company also plans to bring the ninth-generation Hilux and the next-generation Fortuner to India this year. Both these products will be based on heavily modified versions of the IMV platform.
The ninth generation Hilux will feature a completely different front fascia. It will have a sharper, more aggressive styling which the company calls ‘ Cybersumo face’. It will have sleek headlamps, a large, uniquely styled grille, redesigned bumpers and more. Thew side view will remain more or less unchanged, except for new wheels and foot-steps placed toward the rear. There will be minor design tweaks at the rear end as well.
Inside, the new Hilux will have a thoroughly revised design and better colours and trims. The feature list will also be revised. The new Hilux will come with a bigger infotainment system, a large full-digital instrument cluster and more. The design of the steering wheel and dashboard will also evolve in the new generation.
The upcoming Hilux is expected to continue with the 2.8-litre diesel engine in India, although international markets get an EV version powered by a 52.9 kWh battery pack. Notably, the suspension setup has been improved on the new model. The 9th generation has better ride quality than the model it replaces.
A generational update to the Fortuner, based on the ninth-generation Hilux is also said to be in the works. It will get notable styling improvements over the outgoing model. The design will likely draw heavily from the new Hilux and its ‘Cybersumo face’. The side profile will get minimal design changes. The new-generation Fortuner is expected to get a new set of alloy wheels, connected LED tail lamps and a revised rear bumper.
The cabin experience will improve on the new model. It will get a longer list of features, including a large infotainment touchscreen, 360-degree camera, digital instrument cluster and more. The interior design may stand close to that of the new Hilux.
The upcoming Fortuner will use the outgoing model’s powertrain options- 2.7 naturally aspirated petrol making 164hp and 245Nm, and 2.8L turbo-diesel with 201hp and 500Nm on offer. The 48V mild hybrid setup will also be retained. There are also reports of the carmaker developing a new strong hybrid petrol for the new Fortuner. Time remains before we learn more about these.
Toyota seems to be readying a seven-seater version of the Hyryder SUV. A test mule of this was recently spotted, giving us clues of what to expect. Spy shots show it to be longer than the five-seater. The wheelbase will be longer as well. When launched, this model will compete with the likes of Hyundai Alcazar, Kia Carens Clavis and even larger models like Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV 7XO.
The five-seater Hyryder was first launched in India in 2022 and is now awaiting a facelift. Expected around festive season this year, the update will focus on improving the cabin experience. It will likely bring features like a larger infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, premium audio system, powered seats and even ADAS to the SUV. Minor styling changes are also likely to be introduced. On the powertrain front, the existing strong hybrid and mild hybrid setups will continue. All Wheel Drive (AWD) will also be offered on certain variants.
The Urban Cruiser Taisor is essentially a badge-engineered Maruti Fronx. A series-hybrid version of it is expected to debut around late 2026 or early 2027. The series hybrid system will use the petrol engine as a generator to charge the battery pack, while the electric motor drives the wheels. This can improve the overall efficiency significantly. The Taisor hybrid is expected to use the familiar 1.2-litre Z12E three-cylinder petrol engine at the core of this setup.
Maruti Suzuki’s second all-electric offering for the Indian market will be an MPV. Currently codenamed YMC, it will also get a Toyota counterpart. It will be based on the same HEARTECT-e platform as the Toyota eBella and Maruti eVitara, and will likely use the same set of battery packs as well- 49kWh and 61 kWh. It will be a three-row EV and will compete with the likes of Vinfast VF MPV7, Mahindra XEV 9S, and Kia Carens Clavis EV when launched.
Toyota also plans to strengthen its lifestyle SUV portfolio with the upcoming Toyota Land Cruiser FJ and another SUV based on the IMV 0 modular platform
Expected around 2027, the FJ will have a boxy, retro-inspired design and will be based on the updated IMV ladder-frame platform. It will likely be priced in the range of Rs 35-45 lakh, ex-showroom and will initially be offered with a petrol engine. The diesel versions will join later.
Further down the line, Toyota is also developing an SUV based on the IMV 0 platform. This model, expected around 2028, will be approximately 4.5 metres in length and could offer both diesel and strong hybrid powertrains. It is expected to be positioned in the Rs 20-30 lakh bracket.
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