Toyota Hilux - Why the Conquest variant is so expensive?

For the past decade, Toyota has been a staple name in the local automotive landscape having a large market share over the Philippine car industry. Thanks to Toyota’s reputation for reliability, the brand has been the top choice for Filipino families looking for daily drivers and a select few who look for more than capable weekenders. 

Answering our plea for a reliable light-duty truck, Toyota delivered the Hilux, a nameplate that offered impeccable utility and versatility. However, Toyota took Pinoy truck nerds pickup haven with the launch of the Toyota Hilux Conquest. This upscaled trim level offered significant improvements both inside and out with a price tag to match. For the sake comparison, the top-spec Toyota Hilux 4X4 2.8 G A/T is priced at 1,652,000 while the Toyota Hilux top-spec equivalent 4X4 2.8 CONQUEST A/T sells at 1,808,000. 

Interested to know why the Hilux Conquest sports a premium price tag? We’ll start with features that are built for road swagger. 

Bold and Aggressive

To say that the Toyota Hilux Conquest has a dominating road presence is an understatement. Compared to its standard-duty brethren, the Toyota Hilux Conquest sports a more aggressive and dynamic look. 

Toyota Hilux Conquest only comes in three premium color variants; Freedom White,  Nebulla Blue Metallic, and our personal favorite, the Attitude Black. 

Here’s what you’d find upfront. 

• Hexagonal front fascia with a honeycomb grille
• More aggressive bumper with a defined chin
• Projector LED headlamps outfitted with daytime LED running lights

On the side, here are some of the functional cosmetic upgrades the Toyota Hilux Conquest has to offer. 

• Wide side and rear step boards
• Blacked-out tubular roll bars
• Blacked-out handles and side mirrors

To complete the look, the Toyota Hilux Conquest has a black “CONQUEST” decal slapped on the back, letting vehicles behind you know that the truck in front is no ordinary Hilux.

These blacked-out upgrades to the exterior of the Toyota Hilux Conquest are reminiscent of Ford Ranger FX4’s crepuscular enhancements. If you’re looking for a Toyota truck that’s darker and more domineering than Mr. Grey himself, then, the Toyota Hilux Conquest is the truck for you. 

Sleek and Sophisticated

The same blacked-out finish extends to the interior of the Toyota Hilux Conquest. You’ll find relatively dark touches inside the cabin. The chromed trims from the lower-spec variants now don black and ashen tones. The darker notes used in the interior layout of the Toyota Hilux Conquest not only make the seats and the dash more resistant to stain but it also makes the overall cabin atmosphere more stylish and sophisticated. The design language used in its interior layout gives the Toyota Hilux Conquest’s cabin the look and feel of a corporate office. 

Moreover, it’s laden with amenities centered on utility, like the redesigned instrument panel which makes reading and looking at the gauges easier on the eyes. You also get steering wheel controls and an interactive infotainment system. This proves that amidst all the pogi points the Toyota Hilux Conquest has to offer, it’s still packed with features designed and engineered to enhance your driving performance. For those who care about (and can afford to care about) aesthetics, the dimmed look and feel of the Toyota Hilux Conquest are worth every Peso you spend on it. 

Power and Performance

The Toyota Hilux Conquest shares the same engine as its top-spec Hilux variant with a 16 valve, 4-cylinder diesel engine that can be mated to either a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission. 

The maximum power output is relatively similar to the G-spec variants with 174 hp at 3,400 rpm with 450 Nm of torque at 1,600 rpm. 

Toyota Hilux Conquest Price

Toyota recently updated the Hilux price list. Here’s the complete and updated price list for the Toyota Hilux Conquest variants to date.

Toyota Hilux Conquest 4X4 2.8 AT	1,808,000
Toyota Hilux Conquest 4X4 2.8 MT	1,678,000
Toyota Hilux Conquest 4X4 2.4 AT	1,443,000
Toyota Hilux Conquest 4X4 2.4 MT	1,368,000

In our own humble opinion, the functional upgrades to the Toyota Hilux Conquest are welcome improvements that justify its increased price. Its demeaning look and aggressive stance demand respect both in and out of the road. 

Also read: Toyota Hilux 2019: Manual or automatic?