Key highlights
- Toyota Fortuner and Hilux diesel engines to continue post 2027
- Toyota believes that diesel buyers are critical
- Innova Crysta will be axed in 2027
Toyota is not giving up on the diesel engine, not as of now. The brand’s top executive has recently revealed that the Fortuner and Hilux will keep on using the diesel powertrain in the coming years. Read more about what he revealed about Toyota’s future plans.
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Toyota Fortuner and Hilux diesel engines to continue – Here’s why
In a recent media interaction, Mr Sabari Manohar, Group Head of Toyota Customer Service (Toyota-Kirloskar), revealed that the Fortuner and Hilux will continue to be offered with the diesel powertrain post 2027 as well. This comes after the recent announcement by the brand that the Innova Crysta, the top-selling MPV in India, which comes with a diesel engine only, will be axed in 2027.
While the story behind axing the Innova Crysta is different, as it is unable to match the upcoming CAFE-3 emission norms, the Fortuner and Hilux use a 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine, which will be updated as per the new emission norms, and continue to be offered beyond 2027.
Mr Manohar said that the diesel buyers are very picky and a “diesel is a diesel”, which means that the power, grunt, torque, and drivability of the diesel engines are unmatched, and that’s why most buyers prefer the Toyota cars with diesel powertrain. In fact, despite the strict emission norms, the demand for diesel SUVs and MPVs rose from 17.93% in 2024 to 18.33% in 2025.
Speaking about the future plans, Manohar said that the brand is waiting to see how the government policies shift in the future, but the demand for their hybrids and diesel engines is strong. The brand is also focusing on increasing the demand in the EV segment as it recently launched its first-ever pure electric car, the Urban Cruiser Ebella.
