Toyota Hilux

INS Indestructible

The auto enthusiasts amongst you will remember the test Top Gear conducted back in the day, when they parked a Hilux atop a demolished building. Somehow, the Hilux survived that! Drive it off a cliff, park it underwater overnight, or set it on fire, the Hilux will (mostly) survive. That's how reliable the Toyota Hilux is to this day, in spite of everything else that has changed about the truck.

What the older model of the Hilux lacked in finesee and modernity, the current one more than makes up for. It caters to a new audience of wanderers and lifestyle enthusiasts as opposed to  just farmers and militants. Based on the same platform as the Fortuner and  powered by the same engine, the Hilux boasts many components that Indians already love and approve of. Does that make this niche offering a desirable proposition for an even wider audience than Toyota targets? Let’s find out.

Toyota Hilux Pros and Cons 

Toyota Hilux Exterior Design 

The Toyota Hilux shares its platform with the Fortuner and the Innova Crysta, and looks like it, especially from the front. It looks like Fortuner’s pick up derivative, with bling and pizazz. Even in its stock form, it looks like it means business. Slap on a few mods — which most consumers will — and it looks like it’s ready to conquer Mars. The purposeful and rugged looks may not  be for everyone, but neither is the Hilux! And when compared to the few lifestyle pickup trucks seen in the Indian market, the Hilux looks the most polished and premium.

If you thought the Fortuner was huge, think again! At over 5.3 metres in length, the Hilux is over half a metre longer than the Fortuner. In fact, it is even longer than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. But the Hilux’s capacity is evidenced by its width and height. Photographs don't do justice to its outlandish dimensions. India gets the double cab version, which is a 4-door / 5-seater cabin + loading bay. The loading bay has generous storage space, be it for your adventure gear or farm produce. And if you don’t like the pick up look, Toyota will also sell you a canopy for the loading bay, as an accessory. In fact there’s a host of other accessories on sale too, including desirable things like a roof top tent!

Toyota Hilux Interiors 

Getting into the Hilux is a trek in itself, and you will be reminded of the commitment you made each time you step into it. You can’t step into the cabin without holding a grab handle or two and hauling yourself in. The good news is that all ingress/egress points get two grab handles each, one above the door aperture and one on the A- or B-pillar. 

As you’d expect, the interior is as utilitarian as the exterior, but it isn’t as rugged as an off-roader — similar to the exterior. The cabin is finished in an all black theme — barring the roof lining — which should help  keep it clean after a day in mud and dirt. However, many finish surfaces are hard plastics, making you sometimes forget that you're in a car that costs close to 40 lakhs. Features are also limited; you don’t get many creature comforts, but it does pack the basic kit to get you going. 

Toyota Hilux Comfort 

Most of Hilux’s comfort quotient is exhausted on the front row passengers. The front row gets large and supportive seats that provide enough cushioning to keep you comfortable for even 16-hour journeys. The seats are easily adjustable, helping you find a suitable seating position, and the position does make you feel like you are driving a truck. Things at the back aren’t as simple. Despite having its own set of doors, the second row of seats have only passable knee room and head room. Sadly the seat backs also feel like they are too upright, making longer journeys less comfortable.

Adding to the woes of rear seat passengers is the suspension set up. Being a pick up, the Hilux’s suspension is designed to carry a ton of weight (or even three, if someone chooses to) on top of the kerb weight. However, when the loading bay is empty, the Hilux makes for  a very jumpy and bouncy ride; felt most at the back seat. There’s also a fair amount of body roll when going through corners. However, when it comes to dealing with bad terrain, the Hilux feels bulletproof. You will find yourself attacking large potholes and broken roads like a hot knife through butter. Yes, the suspension won’t necessarily keep you comfortable at all times, but for the utility it offers, it is a fair compromise. The question is, do you need the utility?

Toyota Hilux Performance and handling

From behind the wheel, the Toyota Hilux is unmistakably a truck It lacks agility meaning you  can feel all of the weight and bulk of the car when you are going through a corner. However, the bulk gives the Hilux a feeling of surefootedness, allowing you to glide over anything almost recklessly. And that is fun in itself! Helping the cause is the torquey 2.8-litre diesel engine, which also powers the Fortuner. And the 500 Nm torque — with automatic transmission — will ensure that the Hilux can push itself up almost any motorable slope. On the manual transmission however, the torque available is lesser, at 420 Nm. The 201 bhp figure does sound on the lesser side considering that this is a 2.7 ton vehicle which can be loaded with another ton of luggage and humans, but out in the real world, the power is sufficient to never let it feel out of breath. 

When it comes to off-roading, the Hilux also packs a few hardware features that make the going effortless. A 4-wheel drive with a low range mode is obviously included, but the Hilux also gets an electronic locking differential. Hill descent control is also a part of the features list, and all of the mechanical and electronic aids come together beautifully to make the Hilux a brilliant off-road tool. Its massive size is its only drawback,  restricting it from going through narrow trails as easily as something like a Jimny.

Toyota Hilux Key specifications 

Toyota Hilux Safety Features

While this generation of the Toyota Hilux has not been tested by the Global NCAP yet, the 2015 model scored an impressive 5-star crash test rating.  The new one has the same underpinnings but even more safety features. It is expected that the Hilux will retain the 5-star rating, should it undergo a test. The list of safety features includes some clever features such as whiplash injury lessening (WIL) seats, and other mainstream features like ABS, brake assist, seven airbags, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill assist, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and more. 

Toyota Hilux Technology and Infotainment

On the dash of the humongous Hilux is a rather humble 7.9-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. The system feels slightly dated to use, but it does get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It is paired with a 6-speaker setup which does a decent job of delivering audio for your long road trips. The instrument cluster is also utilitarian and simple, with a TFT MID flanked by analog gauges. While the Hilux does well on off-road tech, it isn’t the best equipped in terms of tech features. Most creature comforts are missing, and some features like a wireless phone charger are only a part of the optional accessories catalogue.

Is the Toyota Hilux for you?

Toyota Hilux is one of the most aggressively purpose-built passenger vehicles in our country. In the name of lifestyle choices, many people use Thars and Jimnys as their daily drivers, but having a Hilux as a daily driver is not as simple. Yes, as off-roaders with ladder frame chassis go, the  Hilux is bouncy and rolly on uneven surfaces, especially without any cargo load. But the woes don’t end there for Hilux, as its massive size, lack of rear seat space and comfort, and lack of premium features also make the Hilux’s case severely weak as a daily driver. 

However, for the purpose it is built, there literally is nothing better than a Hilux in India. It can go up every conceivable trail, can carry a literal ton of weight (partially in the cabin and partially on the loading bay), and will almost never break down anywhere, even if you drove it through waist deep water, or volcanic dust. All while looking cool. Add to that the variety of customizability options using aftermarket parts, and you can make the already purposeful Hilux better suited to your needs. Simply put, for people who lead an adventurous life, the Hilux offers all that’s necessary, and then some.