Yeehaw! Our Geraldine Herbert discovers her inner cowgirl in the eighth-generation Toyota Hilux
What is it? The Toyota Hilux is the quintessential pickup truck and it has achieved iconic status for its quality, durability and reliability. Even Top Gear’s Clarkson couldn’t kill it despite it being drowned, torched, crashed and dropped from a great height.
Who is it aimed at? If the choice of car reveals more about you than you think certainly my week behind the wheel was proof that not too many women are found at the helm of a Hilux as I got more than the occasional stare of curiosity, although the “Crimson Spark Red” colour probably didn’t help.
Styling? Pretty, it’s certainly not but practical it certainly is and while it doesn’t look radically different to the outgoing model it is now longer and wider and improvements include a more menacing presence outside and more space inside.
Under the Bonnet? Powering the new Hilux is an all-new 2.4 D-4D engine with 148bhp and 400Nm of pulling power. There is also the choice of a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
What about inside? Inside it feels much more like an SUV than its styling might suggest and the cabin is comfortable with soft touch materials. All the controls are exactly where your want them to be and its easy to get comfortable in the driver’s seat plus it never gets noisy inside. Our test car came with a seven-inch touchscreen that controlled the Toyota Touch 2 infotainment system. Depending on which model you opt for loadbay length varies from 2,315 in the single cab to 1,525mm in the double cab. Even a trip to the recycling centre with a decade of forgotten “treasures” from the garage didn’t even put a dint in its capacity.
On the Road? Despite its size the Hilux is capable and comfortable on or off-road. The handling is impressive and for those who need to haul even more around the towing capacity has improved and is now up to 3.5 tonnes. Those wishing to venture off road will be reassured to know that the Hilux comes equipped with a new improved 4×4 system that can be easily switched from 4WD high, 4WD low range and 2WD just by the turn of a dial and not by a second gear lever in the floor as in previous versions. For serious off-roading a rear differential lock is standard.
And Safety? You won’t have to fret about safety, as a full set of airbags, Pre-Collision System with pedestrian recognition, Lane Departure Alert and Road Sign Assist all come as standard.
What are my options? There is a choice of a single cab (designed for one driver and one passenger ) or double cab body styles (can seat up to five individuals, with two in the front and three in the back.) along with three trim levels to fit all budgets DLX, SR5 and Invincible. Standard equipment includes Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), rear diff lock, seven airbags, air con, Bluetooth, front cool-box and Follow-me-home headlights. Step up to the SR5 grade and you get all of the benefits of the Toyota Safety Sense system, driver fatigue warning, Active Traction Control, Downhill Assist Control, trailer sway control, cruise control, 7 inch Toyota Touch multimedia, retractable mirrors, front fogs, privacy glass and side steps. Hop up to the top-of-the-range topping Invincible and you get 18ins wheels, Smart Entry & Start System, LED headlamps, Leather Interior Trim, Push-button start, Automatic air conditioning and Heated driver & front passenger seats.
Will it break the bank? You shouldn’t have to worry about breaking down or it needing costly repairs, as Toyota is known to build reliable cars. Prices for the new Hilux start from a €29,250 right up to €47,650 depending on the model. Fuel consumption is a reasonable 7.0 litre per 100 km (40.4 mpg) and CO2 emissions are 185g/km so motor tax is €750.
Verdict? The Hilux is a really good balance between the worlds of on-road and off-road driving and its easy to drive making it the ideal car if you need to blend an endurance workhorse and an SUV. It may look rugged on the outside, but inside it is impressively comfortable, well equipped and quiet. All you need now is a map of the North Pole and a sense of adventure.
Why you’ll buy one? Iconic; Indestructible; Practical
Why you won’t? There is no disguising its size; fuel efficiency could be better
Rivals
Fords Ranger
Nissan Navara
Volkswagen Amarok
Mitsubishi L200
Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4L Diesel 24D- (150 HP) Manual 6
Engine: 2393cc, 150bhp @3400, 400Nm @1,600
Max speed: 170km/h
Emissions (Motor Tax) : 185g/km (€750 )
Model price range: €29.250 – €47,650
No of Doors: 4 doors
Euro NCAP : 3 stars ( 5 stars with optional safety pack fitted)
Fuel type: Diesel
Fuel Economy (combined cycle): 7.0 l/100km, 40.4mpg
Payload kg: 1110
Car Seats: 2 Isofix fittings in the rear
Length: 5330mm
Width: 1855mm
Height: 1815mm
Wheelbase: 3085mm
For more information on the new Hilux check out Toyota.ie , the Toyota Ireland Facebook page or follow Toyota Ireland on twitter
Geraldine Herbert
6th September, 2016
