Toyota HILUX Pick-Up

Today’s Toyota Hilux adds reasonable refinement and on-road poise to its brawny repertoire, although it’s patently still no Rolls Royce. The previous generation of UK market pick-ups always tended to be pretty abysmal once you got them on the tarmac, a sad state of affairs when you consider that most models on these shores will travel almost exclusively on that surface. Some were better than others but none were better (or as good) as an average family 4x4 of comparative size. This Hilux arrived as part of a generation of pick-ups tasked with being a little more SUV than LCV.

It’s built on a tough ladder frame chassis as serious offroad vehicles traditionally are but torsional stiffness has been upped by 45% over the 5 th generation model. The result is improved body control and fewer vibrations resulting in reduced cabin noise. The front suspension is a double wishbone set-up with coil springs that offer greater bump absorption and improved stability at speed. The actual ride comfort is also enhanced by a longer wheelbase of 3,085mm. The Hilux is definitely better but still not brilliant on the road.

Hilux buyers have the traditional pick-up choice of single, extra or double cab bodystyles. The single cab is offered in two and four wheel-drive form with the extra and double being exclusively 4x4 but the single cab and extra cab models are marketed predominantly as commercial vehicles while the double cab’s generous five-seater capacity opens up greater potential for mixed use. High-specification leisure-orientated double cab models are the cash cows in the pick-up segment and Toyota offer an Invincible version of the Hilux to fulfil this role. It’s job, to mop up sales in the trendy ‘lifestyle’ sector of the market.

In this trendier area of the market, power is important but the Hilux didn’t have it at launch. The 102bhp output from the original 2.5-litre D4-D common-rail diesel engine was more supermini than monster truck. The Hilux looked and felt weedy next to rivals like Nissan’s Navara but the situation was quickly addressed. Today, the entry-level 2.5-litre D4-D produces 118bhp and an eyebrow-raising 325Nm of torque. This engine acts as the workhorse of the range, powering all bodystyles as well as both 4x2 and 4x4 models. The range-topping 3.0-litre D4-D, on the other hand, is the show pony. With 169bhp and 343Nm of torque, it’s a relaxed performer and refined by pick-up standards. It’s offered only in the plusher double cab models but buyers get the option of manual or four-speed automatic gearboxes. In a further concession to image conscious pick-up buyers, all Hilux models now also feature a snarling bonnet scoop that adds even more gravitas to the towering front end.

There’s little doubt that the 6 th generation Hilux is a massive improvement over the 5 th. The UK pick-up market has transformed since the old model arrived on these shores and today’s vehicle reflects the move towards pick-ups as crossover vehicles capable of performing as commercial trucks and family transportation. It’s larger, better built, more comfortable, more powerful and more refined than the vehicle it replaces but it should still be tough enough.