Toyota Hilux – Hits & misses

Toyota is one of the automotive giants that have a long history of pushing out vehicles that go on to earn a stellar reputation, even garnering fan-following in some cases. The latter is absolutely true and applicable for the legendary Hilux nameplate. The Toyota Hilux is a class of mid-size pickup truck - an extremely popular segment in the industry, and gaining more and more traction with each passing year.

In Malaysia, the recently updated and facelifted Hilux was introduced in late 2017, and it’s the latest of the breed. Interestingly enough, during the first quarter of 2019, the Toyota Hilux was reported to be the fourth most stolen car in Malaysia - an alarming statistic if you own a Hilux, but nevertheless an interesting one. Its chief rivals include the Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton, Mazda BT-50, and Chevrolet Colorado. While the new Toyota Hilux is a fantastic pickup in many ways, it definitely isn’t without flaws. So let’s go ahead and list them out for some clarity.

Toyota Hilux Hits

Styling

Yes, the Toyota Hilux isn’t an overtly-styled, blingy pickup truck for someone living in a mansion or wanting to portray a similar lifestyle. However, that was never the Japanese marque’s intent behind the pragmatic and functional design of the Hilux. But, for the latest iteration of this truck, Toyota has waved their design wand to bring the Hilux into the 21st century, with the cosmetic changes being really apparent on the range-topping L-Edition variants. This more ‘upmarket’ avatar of the new Hilux features a thoroughly revised front fascia, with an overhauled and grittier-looking bumper section, prominent skid plate, and a more expressive grille with an “in your face” hexagonal design. Apart from all that, the L-Edition also sports bolder-looking, dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels.

Meanwhile, even the standard variants (higher trims only) of the new Hilux look far more fetching than their precursors. The main styling changes can be seen along the sweptback headlamps, chiselled bumper with a large air dam, and distinctly-styled fog lamp housings. However, if you’re expecting to find major design alterations on the rest of the new Hilux, you won’t.

Pricing

While Toyotas are usually on the expensive side of the spectrum, that doesn’t seem so in the case of the new Hilux price. The absolute base variant, the Single Cab 2.4 (MT) starts at RM 90,000. Meanwhile, for just RM 10,000 more, customers can opt for the Double Cab 2.4 STD (MT) variant, which comes with slightly more kit and of course, seats for five. On the other hand, base variants from competition such as Mazda and Chevy are pricier.

Dependable engines

All except the top-most trim of the new Toyota Hilux are powered by a 2.4-litre common-rail four-cylinder diesel engine. The 2GD-FTV motor produces a fairly modest 148hp and 400Nm of maximum torque, and combines that grunt with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission and a selectable four-wheel-drive system. Meanwhile, the fully-loaded, top-of-the-line Double Cab L-Edition variant is assisted by 174hp and 450Nm, churned out by its larger 1GD-FTV, 2.8-litre turbocharged four-banger oil-burner. This one is paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, and along with its higher-output engine, can push the Toyota Hilux to a top speed of 182 kmph. Of course, both these engines and their respective transmissions are designed to take almost any level of punishment -- the 4WD system and its mechanical bits are just as robust.

Features

While the Hilux is not the last word when it comes to extensive equipment list, Toyota has added several features to its darling pickup truck. The high-end versions get automatic LED headlamps with LED DRLs, LED front fog lamps, keyless entry with push-button start, perforated leather upholstery, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic climate control with rear vents, cruise control, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, drive mode selector, 4.2-inch colour multi-information display, 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with AUX, USB, Bluetooth, SD card support and DVD playback, split-folding rear seats, and parking sensors with a reversing camera.

On the safety front, the new Hilux specs sheet tells it offers seven airbags (including for the driver’s knee), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Downhill-Assist Control (DAC), and Active Traction Control (A-TRC).

Reliability

Last but certainly not the least, is the sheer reliability and peace of mind that the Toyota Hilux offers in return for your money. If there’s one pickup truck that you’ll likely never see broken down on the side of the road, it’ll mostly be the Hilux, period.

Toyota Hilux Misses

Performance

The Hilux was never built to go fast on the road, and that really shows. While it’s not astronomically slow, it’s positively sluggish to be too much of a fun drive - taking 13 seconds to hit 100 kmph. And the 6-speed automatic transmission isn’t quick-witted, either, blunting the performance further.

Refinement

While the 2.8-litre diesel engine provides decent punch to get out of sticky situations, it’s far from refined. It rattles and sounds pretty rough at almost any revs, and the clatter can surely be heard from the cabin.

Ride quality

This isn’t a con on just the Toyota Hilux, but it’s definitely worth a mention. If you’re expecting this body-on-frame pickup truck to glide over road undulations and imperfections, look elsewhere.