Toyota Hilux – Pros & cons

Just last year in 2018, the Toyota Hilux commemorated its fiftieth anniversary. Toyota launched the Hilux pickup truck for the very first time way back in 1968, and this first-generation model was internally known as the N10. In its early years, the Hilux was much smaller in size than the ones we see today - and were labelled as a compact pickup truck for that very reason.

It was only when the fifth-generation iteration of the Hilux was released in the late 1980s, that the Japanese carmaker increased the size of its favourite pickup truck -- from now on, the Hilux will be a mid-size pickup truck.

As for the Philippine market, the fifth-generation Hilux made quite an impression and was even started rolling out of Toyota’s local plant. Following this, Toyota brought along the sixth-gen avatar somewhere in the late 1990s, with the all-new eighth-generation, facelifted Hilux entering our market in early 2018. This new Toyota Hilux is currently available in seven variants, with prices ranging from Php 829,000 for the base trim and Php 1,640,000 for the range-topping G DSL with four-wheel-drive and an automatic transmission.

However, despite its incredible popularity and legendary reputation, the Toyota Hilux isn’t without its pros and cons. So, let’s check them out now…

Toyota Hilux Pros

Pricing

It doesn’t come as a surprise that most Toyota vehicles usually tend to be more expensive when compared to their immediate competitors -- however, when it comes to the Hilux, that doesn’t really seem to be the case - at least not here in the Philippines. The absolute entry-level variant of the Toyota Hilux is the Cab & Chassis, costing Php 829,000. Meanwhile, the equivalent variant of the Chevrolet Colorado and Isuzu D-Max cost Php 1,250,000 and Php 1,210,000, respectively. At the end of the spectrum, the top-of-the-line variant of the Hilux costs Php 1,640,000, which, though not exactly cheap, is still less pricey than the fully-loaded trim of the Mitsubishi Strada and Isuzu D-Max -- these start from Php 1,670,000 and Php 1,700,000, respectively.

Reliability

If there’s one category where the Toyota Hilux absolutely rules the roost and decimates many of its rivals, it has to be its unbreakable reliability record. In several of its appearances in popular automotive TV shows,

the Hilux has been showcased repeatedly surviving almost every scenario it was thrown in - with barely any signs of catastrophic mechanical failure. No matter how modern the Hilux might become as the years roll by, one thing will likely never change -- Toyota’s commitment towards producing an almost bullet-proof and utterly, utterly reliable pickup truck.

Dependable powerplants

There’s no point in producing a pickup truck that’s all rugged and tough from the outside but houses a powerplant that gives up the ghost the moment it encounters one too many obstacles. Fortunately, that isn’t even remotely the case with the Hilux. Toyota boffins have spent not just tonnes of money on thorough research and future-proof development, but have maintained their focus on producing some of the most competitive and dependable engines to ever power any vehicle.

In the Philippines, the new Toyota Hilux is offered with one of two diesel engines - the lower-output unit is a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-banger that makes 147 hp and 343 Nm, while the other motor is a 2.8-litre four-cylinder that develops 174 hp and 450 Nm of maximum torque. The entry-level variant comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox and two-wheel-drive, though at least three variants are available with four-wheel-drive. Depending on the version, buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. Anyway, whichever combination you go for, the Toyota Hilux’s entire powertrain is hard to fault for its unfaltering dependability and “go anywhere” personality.

Features

Some of the most notable features of the new Toyota Hilux specs sheet (fully-loaded trim) include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps and front fog lamps, keyless entry with push-button ignition, diff lock with auto-disconnect feature, automatic climate control, 6.5-inch touch-infotainment system with built-in navigation, Bluetooth, AUX & USB connectivity, 6-speaker sound system, and rear parking sensors among others.

The new Hilux is also equipped with safety gizmos such as 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).

Toyota Hilux Cons

Poor refinement

The Toyota Hilux’s engines are capable and adept at carrying out their responsibilities with no signs of breakdowns insight. However, both (2.4-litre and 2.8-litre) four-cylinder diesel motors are far from refined - they sound pretty coarse throughout the rev range, while vibrations from the larger mill become evident the moment you crank it up. There’s also wind and road noise that enters the cabin, especially as the speed builds up.

 

Unflattering ride quality

While the Hilux could effortlessly pummel speed humps and road imperfections, its suspension setup isn’t ideal for everyday road use -- there’s your typical truck-related jiggle, bouncy ride, and a sense of ‘float’, which becomes more apparent at higher speeds and an empty bed.

Slow

While most of those buying a Hilux may not care about this factor much, this is one of the slower vehicles in its class. Even the most powerful variant of the Hilux takes 13 seconds to cross 100 kmph.

Also Read:-  Toyota Hilux - Buyers guide