Toyota is renewing its Hilux pick-up with a new design, a powerful 2.8-litre engine, along with claims of improvements in on and off-road driving performance and equipment upgrades. These changes aim to strengthen the Hilux appeal to the growing market for customers who need a vehicle that’s right for both business and leisure.
At the top of the range, the new Invincible X model gains bespoke styling features and premium equipment features, but sacrifices none of the strengths that have made Hilux a global success.
Where practicality is concerned, Hilux’s one-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing capacity are delivered across all three body types: Single Cab, Extra Cab and Double Cab.
Exterior and interior design
Hilux’s frontal design has a completely new look, with a more powerful, three-dimensional treatment of the grille and bumper, increasing the vehicle’s road presence and reinforcing its robust, go-anywhere credentials.
According to model grade, new front and rear LED light clusters are available, plus 18-inch alloy wheels with a contrast machined/black finish. There is also a new colour option called Titan Bronze metallic.
The upgraded cabin features a new-design instrument combi meter and an eight-inch multimedia screen mounted on the centre console. This uses buttons and dial controls for easier use in all driving conditions. The multimedia system claims faster software and screen response, and enables easy smartphone integration using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Top quality features include smart entry and push-button start, satellite navigation, automatic air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors and a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system with an 800W eight-channel amplifier and CLARI-Fi technology for improving the reproduction quality of digital music files.
Customers can choose from a wide range of accessories to personalise their Hilux and equip it to suit their specific work or leisure requirements. Items include a range of hard tops and roll covers, a locking tailgate and a 12V power supply mounted on the deck.
Details of Irish model specifications will be announced nearer Hilux’s 2020 launch date towards the end of the year.
New engine
Hilux’s engine range gets the addition of a more powerful, 201bhp, 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine, up from 150bhp. The new engine generates 500Nm of torque, again up from 400Nm, and can accelerate Hilux from nought to 100km/hr in 10 seconds – up to 3.2 seconds faster than the current 2.4-litre unit. Combined cycle fuel consumption is claimed to be 12.9km/litre (36.3mpg) and CO2 emissions are 204g/km.
The new engine will be available with six-speed manual or automatic transmission. All versions have all-wheel drive.
Driving dynamics
Toyota’s engineers focused on improving Hilux’s on-road comfort, while preserving its off-road capabilities. Hilux remains one of the few vehicles to still use a body-on-frame construction, a design that Toyota clams is hard-wearing and better able to withstand the twisting forces encountered in extreme off-road driving conditions.
Comfort and driveability claim to have been enhanced through improvements to the suspension and power steering. The front and rear shock absorbers have been retuned, there is an improved leaf spring design and new bushing is used. These contribute to a smoother ride with less shock when driving over joints and holes in the road surface.
Toyota claims better off-road performance with the lowering of engine speed at idle from 850 to 680rpm; and accelerator response tuned for greater driver control. Toyota claims that the Hilux stability control has been updated and a new tyre angle monitor has been adopted.
