Toyota has plenty to shout about with the latest version of the legendary Hilux pick up.
It has hybrid technology for the first time and it won the Dakar rally for the fourth time. And it came second as well so not bad for the CV.
Hilux has a worldwide following, 27 million have been shipped out of Japan since it was launched in 1968, setting a benchmark for those that followed. Not that it gets a free ride with strong competition from Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and the KGM (used to be SsangYong) Musso.
The only party pooper is the Government which has put the kibosh on rock bottom commercial tax rates enjoyed by company car drivers who chose double cab pick ups for the lucrative tax break. The double cab is now classed as a car closing the tax loophole.
Trendy lifestylers carrying jet skis and the like to the beach are good for the image but Hilux is still an off road giant, whether it is wading through water, traversing rocky slopes or tackling seemingly impossible descents. Toyota has stuck with the ladder frame chassis for its strength and rigidity and provided all the tech tools to tackle any off road challenge.
I have not been off roading but have been towing my caravan on a 150 mile trek to Pembrokeshire. Lots of hills, lots of twisting roads and lots of poor road surfaces but knowing the Hilux has the capacity to pull nearly three times the weight of my van is a feel good factor and the automatic gearbox takes the drudgery out of what would have been constant gearchanging. It also has trailer sway control, very reassuring with a 23ft caravan in tow.
The headline news is the mild hybrid system, only available with the 2.8 litre engine, which is an electric motor powered by a 48V hybrid battery. This will not give you miles of electric only driving but should give a nudge to acceleration and improve economy.
It has done very little for performance but the engine is smoother while cruising. Compared to my last Hilux review a few years ago, economy while towing is unchanged although I did a bit better than the official average driving solo. The most noticeable improvement is the stop start which is instant now that it does not operate via the starter motor.
For those needing Hilux for heavy duty work there is a huge amount of grunt from the turbo diesel, hardly surprising given its 500Nm or torque. You can’t get away from the agricultural din under acceleration but cruising is acceptably smooth.
On the other side of the coin Hilux is a family proposition although you would want to go up the range for the normal SUV creature comforts. This Invincible X tops 40 grand and comfortably seats five adults with a pick up deck that will take a mountain of luggage and can be covered to the roofline. It is also perfect for hauling a fifth wheeler holiday trailer.
Don’t expect a magic carpet ride, after all this is primarily a go anywhere working pick up.
The slightest road blemish will send a body moving shudder through the chassis, but these are not jarring, so the updates to the suspension have clearly worked.
For this money you get auto dipping LED headlights, all round one touch powered windows, 360 degree view camera, ambient cabin lighting, leather upholstery, windscreen wiper de-icer and on board navigation as part of an extensive spec list. The eight inch touchscreen is small by today’s standards and the camera definition would benefit from a larger unit.
Another strong point are the steering wheel controls for the driver’s display. Everything is logical and easy to fathom and there is a simple button to turn off the lane assist. Why can’t all car manufacturers do that instead of burying it in the touch screen menu?
The Jack of all trades Hilux comes with multiple variations – single cab, extra with occasional rear seats, or a four door double which is the most popular.
The big question is whether switching from an SUV is the best solution when you are paying for a lot of off road technology that might never be used. A family get together around the dining table weighing the pros and cons might be better than a snap decision.
Fast facts
Hilux Invincible X hybrid
£41,525
2.8litre turbo diesel; 201bhp
6-speed automatic
0-62mph 10.7secs; 109mph
27.9-30.1mpg combined
242g/km
3500kg towing capacity
1085kg payload
Insurance group 43
