Toyota HILUX PICK-UP RANGE
By Andy Enright
There arent too many vehicles that can manage the crossover between leisure and commercial activities with any credibility. The
Toyota Hilux must be the key exponent of this balancing act, and in its latest guise, is a far more refined and sophisticated performer than ever before.
Travel to the States and you can hardly move for Dodge Rams,
Ford Rangers and Chevy Z71 pickups, but in this country the sight of a flatbed remains relatively rare. Perhaps the latest Hilux can do something about this. The latest round of revisions has added ABS brakes and twin airbags as standard on all models, while the revised central locking key fob may be noticeable to HiLux aficionados and theres an up-spec alarm system to boot. In truth, few of these vehicles will double up as a true dual activity vehicle.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
 |
| Economy |
|
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
 |
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
|
| Value |
|
Around 70 percent of the pick-up market in this country opts for all wheel drive and over half of these sales are purely leisure oriented. Therefore it makes sense to design into the vehicle the sort of features that buyers expect from their cars without detracting from the rugged nature. That takes some doing and a glance at the latest Hilux specification sheet shows how
Toyota have gone about doing this.
"This latest version of the Hilux takes the traditional values of the pick-up to another stage."
Three bodystyles are available, Single Cab, Extra Cab and Double Cab. To help simplify (?) things, Toyota call a Hilux 2WD a 240, the 4WD version a 250 and the Double Cab a 280, reflecting their respective gross vehicle weights. Two engines an 88 or 102bhp D-4D direct injection common-rail diesel and four trim levels could effectively generate a vast selection of different versions, but thankfully Toyota have limited the available range to eight distinct models. Ready? Lets go.
The entry-level model is the 2WD 88bhp 240 Single Cab. Next up is the 2WD 240 Extra Cab Pick Up in FX trim, which features amenities like air-conditioning. This FX model is aimed at fleet customers and owner operators wholl make use of the occasional seats and the additional luggage stowage capacity, but value items like a CD player, electric windows and central locking. The entry-level four-wheel drive model is the 102bhp 4WD 250 Single Cab in EX trim followed by the similarly engined 4WD 270 Double Cab, again in EX trim.
Still with us? Good. At the top of the range are two genuinely well-appointed models, both 4WD 280 Double Cabs, and available in either GX or range-topping VX grade. The plush VX features alloy wheels, ABS and big overfenders over the rear wheel arches. Leather trim adds nearly £1,000 to the price and every model except the VX now sports swish side stripe decals.
Most people will spot the aggressive frontal styling, the strong bumper lines and low valance panels giving the vehicle a purposeful stance. Theres a different treatment between 2WD and 4WD versions, the all-wheel drive variants being more extreme than the less leisure-oriented rear-wheel driven versions. The headlights are of the clear-lens jewel effect type that Toyota claim have a "state of the art wave design" but which was somewhat lost on us. The instrument cluster is tidier than in old Hilux models, featuring brilliant blue dials, ergonomically superior switches and instrumentation and an oil change warning indicator. Driver and passenger airbags are standard across the range except in the entry-level model, while the seats have also been improved, upspec models getting sports seats and cup holders. Accessories like a Truckman hard top, a Tipmaster tail lift and a Bjerg Cap solid tonneau cover can also be specified when you order, whilst prospective VX customers may well covet the optional aluminium loadspace bed.
The key factor in the Hilux range resides under the bonnet. The D-4D common rail diesel architecture has been proven in Toyotas passenger car range and now features in the Hilux, offering better performance, low fuel consumption and better parts durability. This means a low cost of ownership with the not inconsequential benefit that the Hilux is now more responsive and fun to drive. An advanced oil management system means that you wont need to change your engine oil until 10,000 miles racks up on the odometer and service intervals are now matched to Toyota passenger cars an impressive 20,000 miles.
If you want to find any other pick up with that kind of service interval, the shortlist will be extremely short. Like, zero short. The entry-level D-4D engine makes 88bhp and a decent 139lb/ft of torque. If you opt for the more powerful 102bhp version that torque figure swells to 188lb/ft.
As the worlds first common-rail engine in a pick up, buyers can expect to find the usual D-4D benefits low noise, quick starting and emission levels that wont plague your conscience. These emissions are reduced still further by the use of a highly sophisticated drive by wire accelerator pedal. The pedal position is measured by an electronic sensor which passes this information to the engines brain, the ECU. This advanced throttle control results in better fuel economy, a crisp response when you plant the pedal and cleaner output.
This latest version of the Hilux takes the traditional values of the pick-up to another stage. By including much of the refinement of a car in a vehicle thats already a well-proven workhorse, Toyota is offering the best of both worlds to buyers - the practicality of a pick-up as well as the creature comforts of a car. Britain is already one of Europe's most significant markets for the Hilux. Looks like there'll be no change there then.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Toyota Hilux pick-up range
PRICES: £10,465 - £17,355 (Basic) ENGINES: 2.5-litre D-4D common rail diesel 88bhp / 102bhp
<< Back to Toyota car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Toyota Cars For Sale UK
