Toyota Hilux Single Cab Pick-Up Range

Pick-Up Trucks Are Becoming Increasingly Popular As Fashion Accessories But Many Buyers Still Value Their Traditional Workhorse Qualities. Hence Toyotas Hilux Single Cab Range. Steve Walker Reports

The pick-up may have been hijacked by the lifestyle brigade who use it as a facilitator for their wholesome outdoorsy activities but lets not forget that it was a salt-of-the-earth working vehicle first. Long before pick-ups began to frequent beach fronts and beauty spots packed with camping equipment, surf boards and mountain bikes, they were to be found in less picturesque locations, undertaking hard graft on behalf of their owners. Commercial use remains very much part of the pick-ups remit in this country and Toyota demonstrate that they havent forgotten this with their Hilux single cab range.

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The UK pick-up sector has been through a fairly dramatic reorientation in recent times with manufacturers doing their utmost to secure as big a slice as possible of the lifestyle market pie. Car-like levels of comfort and specification, improvements in ride and handling, headline-grabbing special edition models; its all been tried in a bid to woo private buyers, company car users or business people who may want a crossover vehicle for work and domestic use. Amidst all this, ordinary commercial pick-up customers may have felt a little forgotten but Toyota hope their single cab Hilux can correct that. Whereas its the double cab derivatives that have fuelled the lifestyle pick-up boom, the single cab truck has remained a stalwart of commercial customers.

The double cab forgoes some of its loadspace to fit in an extra row of seating while the single cab keeps things simple by offering the maximum amount of room for cargo. The Hilux single cab load deck is 2,315mm long, nearly double the 1,520mm you get in the double cab version. Although, at 945kg, the maximum payload in the 4WD single cab is actually a little lower than the 1,085kg in its five-seater sibling. If you want to carry the maximum and arent too fussed about off-road performance, youll be wanting the 2WD single cab with its 1,170kg capacity.

"The Hilux single cab offers the improved ride and handling of the new generation pick-ups married to the rugged virtues of old-school models"

The main drawback of a single cab pick-up is the lack of secure storage space. There are various oddment holders dotted around the cab and theres additional room on the passenger seat when a passenger isnt in residence but, these spaces aside, its hard to find somewhere for tools or other equipment that could fall prey to light-fingered members of society. The double cab model lays-on rear seats that fold-up to create a decent amount of storage capacity but in the single cab, youre stuck and, unlike some other manufacturers, Toyota arent offering a halfway house king cab version with two seats plus a bit of storage behind. Mechanically, the Hilux single cab is identical to the double.

Buyers benefit from the 120bhp 2.5-litre D4-D diesel engine, double wishbone front suspension and a leaf-sprung rear axle. The engine uses common-rail injection technology to produce decent refinement and reasonable performance. It has received some criticism for its lack of grunt but this is largely from lifestyle-focused quarters where the Hilux double cab is being compared to more powerful high-end pick-ups and even SUV passenger cars.

For most commercial vehicle customers choosing the Hilux single cab, the performance wont present a problem and the superior fuel economy achieved compared to meatier diesels will be a real boon. Double cab buyers seeking more clout can upgrade to a 3.0-litre 170bhp unit. The 2.

5-litre engine arrives capable of producing 325Nm maximum torque at 2,000rpm. Strong pulling power is on tap across a broad span of the rev range and this means that the engine has quite a relaxed feel at low speeds where it rarely sounds overworked and the need for gearchanges is markedly reduced compared with some less flexible powerplants. 2WD models achieve nearly 38mpg on the combined cycle with the heavier 4WD models returning 34mpg. The 4WD Hilux models feature a low range gearbox for serious offroading work and can be switched between standard 2WD and 4WD modes at speeds of up to 50mph.

Theres a rear differential lock fitted as standard to boost traction further and this, along with the engines strong torque characteristics, makes the Hilux a formidable off-road tool. The driving position in this pick-up is excellent with the firm seats giving good support and both the steering and the gear-change will be a revelation to anyone accustomed to piloting a previous generation model. The rough edges that constantly grated with drivers of pick-ups past have been smoothed over to the extent that a Hilux would no longer disgrace itself dynamically in the company of the average family 4x4 passenger car. Double wishbone front suspension and a chassis thats 45% stiffer help to eliminate much of the rolling and pitching from which pick-ups traditionally suffer.

Bumps in the road can still provoke a bouncy reaction in the suspension but this is largely unavoidable in a vehicle capable of carrying over 1,000kg. Build quality around the Hilux interior is now on a par with or superior to many family 4x4s. Toyota claim that instrument panel fit is equivalent to that on their Avensis saloon. The layout is refreshingly simple and unfussy with tough but good quality materials used.

The Hilux single cab is offered only in entry-level HL2 form which tells us a lot about its target market of cost-cutting commercial vehicle buyers. Features include power-steering, a tilt adjustable steering column, an MP3 compatible CD stereo, air-conditioning, an alarm and an immobiliser, which is a surprisingly good haul for a base model. The interior is noticeably down market compared to models higher up the Hilux range but the emphasis is more on durability and standing up to tough treatment in this working vehicle. On the safety front, an impact brace has been introduced between the chassis front and rear cross members to absorb impacts more effectively and protect other chassis components.

Key bodypanels have been 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, a drivers airbag and seatbelt pretensioners. Where some manufacturers may have ventured a little far from their pick-up trucks core commercial vehicle market in search of a piece of the lifestyle action, Toyota have made sure that their Hilux keeps its wheels firmly on the ground. The range looks well-balanced and from the range-topping Invincible double cab right down to the single cab derivatives we feature here, there should be a model to fit in with most peoples requirements.

The Hilux single cab offers the improved ride and handling of the new generation pick-ups married to the rugged virtues of old-school models and for buyers who want their truck to work for a living, this should be a perfect combination.

FACTS AT A GLANCE
PICK-UP: Toyota Hilux single cab pick-up range ENGINE: 2.5-litre D-4D common rail diesel 120bhp TOWING CAPACITY: 750kg braked trailer DIMENSIONS: (length/width/heightmm) [2WD] 5255/1760/1680