Toyota Hilux: What makes it desirable?

What makes an ideal pickup truck? Reliability, powerful and fuel-efficient engine, reasonable pricing, spacious interior with decent features, payload capacity, and decent looks. Perhaps, these are some of the features of an ideal pickup truck. And it seems the Toyota Hilux has them all.

We are saying this because last month Toyota Philippines reported that the Hilux was the best-selling pickup truck in the country during the first half of 2019. The Japanese giant sold 10,554 units of Hilux in that period of time and recorded a growth of 35%. All this signifies that the Hilux is indeed a desirable vehicle in its segment and people are loving it. So what makes it so desirable? Let’s find out.

Reliability and brand value

Toyota has been in this business for the longest of times. It is known for making reliable and durable machines. Having a Toyota badge on a pickup truck means it can take a beating without breaking a sweat. The Hilux is one of the most successful pickup trucks Toyota has ever made. People have shown their trust in the brand and that’s one of the reasons why the Hilux is such a popular pickup truck in the Philippines.

Engine and performance

Toyota Hilux comes with two diesel engine options. There is a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine which churns out a max power of 147 hp and 343 Nm of torque. And the other one is a more powerful 2.8-litre engine that produces 174 hp and 450 Nm of peak torque. There are many variants of the Hilux available that offer 4x2, 4x4 drive, 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. Depending on your requirements and usage, you can pick one up. All of the variants are rock-solid so you wouldn’t need to worry about anything.

Good looks

The Hilux might not be the best-looking pickup truck available in the market right now but it is certainly not the worst one either. Toyota has done a good job in balancing out the looks and functionality of the Hilux. The front end of the Hilux features a nice chrome grille and a simple yet handsome front bumper with fog lamps. The headlamps are neither too big nor too small. They are of the right size that suits the pickup truck. The higher-end models get projector type headlights with LED daytime running lights which enhance the overall look and styling.

The side profile of the Hilux gives us a set of decent-looking alloy wheels. There’s a large floorboard to step on while ingressing or egressing. It works both as an aesthetic and functional element. The rear end of the Hilux features good-looking tail lamp cluster and a big and sturdy bumper.

Interior and features

The Hilux has an all-black interior theme which adds a bit of sportiness to the cabin. The features on the inside vary depending on the variant you pick. Some of the interesting features include automatic climate control, 6.5-in touch screen infotainment system with inbuilt navigation, Bluetooth, AUX, and USB connectivity, 6-speaker sound system, flat and simple dashboard design, etc. Although the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel is pretty conventional, we like its blue background lighting that makes everything legible even in a dark environment without stressing your eyes.

Safety features

Some of the safety features mentioned in the Toyota Hilux specs sheet that caught our attention include seven airbags (including for the driver’s knee), 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). These are quite advanced safety features and we are glad Toyota is providing them with the Hilux.

These were some of the key reasons that make the Hilux a desirable pickup truck. It isn’t perfect; it has its flaws. But they are overcome by its pros. The Hilux does what it is meant to do without a hiccup. Available in six colour options - Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Freedom White, Attitude Black Mica, Orange Metallic and Spark Red Metallic - the Toyota Hilux price starts at Php 829,000 for the most affordable base model.

Also Read:- Toyota Hilux - Buyers guide