Toyota Hilux Invincible 200 : PICK-UP POWER

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Toyota is looking to raise the profile of its Hilux pick-up with the high powered Invincible 200 special edition. Steve Walker reports.

UK market pick-up trucks don't come more powerful than the Toyota Hilux Invincible 200. With the bold looks and high specification to back up its 194 horses, it looks quite a package and buyers looking to make the biggest possible impact could easily be persuaded.

When Toyota launched this generation of its Hilux pick-up, it had a measly 102bhp. That's a vehicle of over five meters in length with a gross vehicle weight getting on for three tonnes in double cab guise packing less power than a moderately sporty Fiat Punto. It doesn't take a Hawking-esque grasp on the laws of physics to deduce that the Hilux wasn't the sprightliest thing on four wheels. Toyota took steps to address the truck's rather relaxed attitude to forward motion almost immediately and the big bruiser has been getting power options progressively more befitting of its ample dimensions ever since. These days, with the aid of an engine performance kit from Toyota Motor Sport, the Hilux Invincible 200 has 194bhp at its disposal. Only 500 Hilux Invincible 200 models are being made available to UK buyers and its significant power boost coupled with aggressive styling upgrades should be enough to ensure that they aren't hanging around the dealer network for too long. The Invincible 200 is a special edition of the Hilux packing an up-rated version of the 3.0-litre D-4D diesel engine that powers the higher spec models in the standard range. Under normal circumstances, the powerplant develops 169bhp but the Toyota Motor Sport performance kit raises that output to 194bhp. The kit amounts to little more than tweaks to the engine management software but it also increases torque from 343Nm to 430Nm while having no adverse effect on fuel economy or emissions. The Hilux Invincible 200 has its weighty torque output on stream and ready for action all the way from 1,600rpm up to 3,200rpm. It makes for a major gain in flexibility when accelerating from low speeds and will also be of benefit during the towing applications that Hilux models are regularly assigned by their owners. Overall, the Hilux is one of the better handling pick-up trucks but don't read too much into that. The ride is on the bouncy side but is helped markedly when there's a load in the back to compress the heavy-duty rear suspension. The vehicle's sheer size means it isn't the most manoeuvrable but, again, by the modest standards set by its competitors, the Hilux is a composed performer and the extra power of the Invincible 200 model can only enhance the experience behind the wheel.

"The Hilux Invincible 200 sits at the pinnacle of the UK pick-up marketâ€¦"

The Toyota Hilux does a nice line in the aggression and road-presence that's important at the upper end of the pick-up market but the Invincible 200 specification ups the anti a notch or two. Metallic black is the only paint option available and the front end is set off by a stainless steel mesh grille. The interior, although lacking a little in terms of design innovation, is very well put together and should inspire confidence in prospective buyers who plan on giving their vehicle a tough time of it. Toyota's `Shift on the Fly' 4x4 system makes changes from high to low gearing a doddle. Some rivals provide an electric switch to perform this function but there's something reassuring and about slotting the Hilux's Hi-Lo transmission lever into your chosen ratio whilst on the move. The Hilux has a big reputation to uphold when it comes to off-road performance and it features the essentials to help it cover some pretty arduous ground. Fit some gnarly-enough tyres and this Hilux Invincible should live up to its name admirably. The Hilux loadbay itself is quite a size, with the double cab bodystyle (as offered in Invincible 200 trim) offering a 1,520mm load length. The double cab's rear seats are spacious places to be as well and they flip up to offer secure storage space when required. The old Hilux offered little more than a supermini sized rear but, being an altogether bigger vehicle, the latest model is much more capacious. It means the Hilux is better suited to the kind of dual role, split between domestic and business usage, that many buyers need their pick-ups to fulfil. Running costs for the Hilux Invincible 200 are not hampered at all by the engine's power upgrade. The five-speed manual model returns the same 34mpg as the 169bhp standard model, with CO2 emissions of 219g/km. Choose the automatic version and economy takes a dip to 30mpg and 246g/km is on the cards. The Hilux Invincible 200 comes with a prodigious specification which forces you to remind yourself that this is a commercial vehicle. The seating inside is covered with two-tone leather upholstery with heating for the chairs in the front. There's also touch screen satellite navigation while the general look of the vehicle is enhanced by darkened privacy glass, scuff plates and alloy wheels. On the safety front, an impact brace is included between the chassis' front and rear cross members to absorb impacts more effectively and protect other chassis components. Key bodypanels are fashioned from high-tensile steel for extra strength and durability but also to protect occupants in the event of a crash. All Hilux models feature ABS as standard, twin front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners but Toyota are warning customers that independently imported vehicles from the far-east will not feature as comprehensive a safety specification, so check before you buy. When it was launched, the only thing Toyota's Hilux seriously lacked was power and Toyota quickly moved to rectify that one. These days, the Invincible 200 special edition gives buyers the option of a 194bhp Hilux which is close to double what the vehicle was originally launched with. The pace of progress has indeed been fast but few operators will be complaining with the Invincible 200 delivering its significant performance benefits with no adverse effect on economy or emissions. The Hilux Invincible 200 sits at the pinnacle of the UK pick-up market with its powerful engine and luxurious specification. It's targeted very specifically at buyers seeking a utility vehicle for family and business use and it fills that role well. Many will view less extrovert models as all the pick-up they need but if the asking price is within reach, why not go the whole hog? Sometimes understatement is overrated.

Facts At A Glance MANUFACTURER: Toyota MODEL: Hilux Invincible 200 BHP: 194bhp PAY
LOAD CAPACITY: 1,050kg LOAD VOLUME: N/A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 2,940kgt LENGTH: 5,255mm WIDTH: 1,835mm HEIGHT: 1,810mm June 24th 2008