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IHILUX GOES DE LUXE
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There's a time and a place for pickups, and their traditional place is off-road. But the latest generation of pickups are proving to be more than mere hill climbers. Does that icon of the class, Toyota's Hilux, follow suit?
While history may not be any guide to a vehicle's worthiness.it does at least provide an indication of the level of development involved. And while it's fair to say that the Toyota Hilux has been around for a while since I 969 to be precise its roots can be traced all the way hack to 1935 with the original GI pickup.After World War II its true ancestral roots began to emerge with the introduction of the Toyopet Model SB, which survived until 1963.Toyota then upped the ante when it entered the Arnerican market with the Stout in I964.The rest, as they say. is history.
And now we have the sixth generation of Klux in the shops taking the evolutionary process one step further.
It's bigger than the outgoing model considerably so in fact with a 340mm increase in length translating into a roomier interior and more load space.. The chassis is said to be 45% stiffer than its predecessor: there's new front suspension:and the D-4D common-rail engine and gearshift have been to finishing school for relinement lessons. This, after ail, is Toyota's second-biggest seller worldwide so there's plenty at stake.
The latest Hilux is available with a single cab. Extra ('occasional' rear seats) cab or full-blown double cab: transmission comes in either twowheel or four-wheel drive which itself is selectable between high and low ratios as well as the road-hound front-wheel-drive option.
Unusually for a new model,the revised 2.5litre engine has not received a power increase; insteadToyota's engineers have concentrated on flattening the torque curve as well as creating a more relined package. It produces 101hp at 3,600rpm with 260Nm of torque from 1,6002,40Orpm for the 4WD version, and 200Nm from 1,400-3,40t.h-pm for the 2WD.
Unfortunately, for all the company's stressing of the engine's increased flexibility,on paper it doesn't stack up well against Nissan's Navara with I 72hp or Mitsubishi's latest L200 replacement with 134hp (C'M 16 February). Admittedly these vehicles have one eye on the lifestyle market, where bigger is better, but there's no denying the gap in outright oomph. Pickups may not be known as goody-laden Aladdin's caves when it comes to standard equipment, hut the Hilux does arrive with a decent hit of kit. You get driver and passenger airbags,ABS and the standard single-cab 4WD (badged HL2). It also comes with remote central locking, a perimeter alarm, electric windows and air-con. Move up to the HL3 and you get auto-disconnect differential (allowing movement from two to four-wheel drive on the move).alloy wheels, body styling and aThateham Category 1 alarm. At the top of thetree there's the Invincible which boasts a CD autochanger and 16in alloy wheels.
One area where Toyota is making big noises is on the price. Starting at £11,495 for the singlecab 4x2 it rises to 1:16,595 for the bells-andwhistles double-cab Invincible. Our test vehicle was a double-cab HL2 coming in at £14,495. Ibis compares favourably with the equivalent Nissan Miura at 115,745 and Mitsubishi's revamped L200 at 15,943.
Productivity
Following the significant overhaul of the D-4D engine we had great hopes for the Hilux's fuel economy. A laden run around our Kent test route produced 31.5mpg, which eclipsed the competition but was slightly down on our predictions;to be fair the engine was not fully run in so we'd expect it to improve with time.
For the record the 3.0-litre Isuzu came closest with 30.9mpg, while the 2.5-litre Nissan came in with 29.6mpg. Is this a case of torque gaining the upper hand over horsepower? As for the unladen result,things levelled out with a respectable 33.1 mpg.While this was down on the Nissan's strong 33.9mpg it was slightly ahead of the Is= and Mitsubishi.
The double cab has grown 165mm longer, giving it a total of 1,520mm. With increased dimensions comes a larger load bed: deck width has increased by 50nun while the load area works out at 2.3m=. Payload for the double-cab is 1,08,5kg. giving a good overall account in the carrying stakes. To get the gear in, the tailgate is easily dropped 90'. making a solid platform to load onto. If further clearance is required it can be dropped 1800 by unlatching the supporting straps,coming to rest against rubber pads to avoid any damage.
Extra capacity can be found in the rear passenger area thanks to a neatly designed tipup rear seat. Simply unlock the cushion via a protruding strap and it folds upwards to accommodate objects up to 1,064mm. A nice touch.
The Hilux also boasts strong credentials in the ownership stakes thanks to lowest-in-class cumulative servicing time (up to 60,000 miles) and a fuel filter system that monitors performance and alerts the driver to any abnormalities. Warranty is three years/60,000 miles.
--V4101071*On the road NMI!Nj.. After just a few miles, the latest ' model provides V55 a plenty of evidence that Toyota's team of engineers have done their homework.The ride feels far more controlled than its predecessor. while the damping is superb over bumps and uneven surfaces thanks to the new front suspension.There's also a new-found composure through the corners that enables steady progress to be made without the need to back off: especially useful in the wet.
Steering has also improved in feel, and turn-in is precise and direct allowing, quick corrections. It provides a best-in-class turning circle of 12.4m for the 4WD, which is a welcome characteristic for this type of vehicle.
Adding to the drivingexperience is a gearshift that is said to have benefited from no less than 43 part refinements to reduce friction and increase precision. It certainly is a smooth operator. But this refinement does not extend to the vibration it suffers due to the engine mountings, or lack of them; even at idle it moves within its gate.
We also have mixed emotions regarding the engine. Admittedly it's a lot smoother and refined in its operation and that flattened torque curve enables it to pull strongly from low down the range. But unfortunately when fully laden it could prove a hit underwhelminn for some tastes.
Off-road it's business as usual, only this time with a velvet touch that allows excellent progress whatever the terrain, combined with enough accuracy and refinement to keep you removed from the act ion.This is definitely where it's most at home. As well as soaking up the humps, the suspension allows the engine to put its power down without any fuss.
Cab comfort
A cat-like arrangement greets the driver on entering the Hilux cab, with distinctly un-pickup-like smooth surfaces and a curving dashboard. And t his is no had thing. Why have the dated saloon look of so many pick when you can go modern?
Getting comfortable is easy enough I to a multi-adjustable seat and steering, while most controls arc well placed ant simple to use.The handbrake has been relocated from the dash to between thc seats. Minorgripes concern the locatioi several secondary switches, which are t away behind the gearshift, and the desi the eubby holes either side of the central console, making them prone to expel the neatly stored CM mobile phone when turning corners. A clear case of style over substance.
A traditional problem with crew-cabs is a lack of overall interior space, particularly for passengers in the rear seats.While three can squeeze in when necessary over any distance you have to be either very small or a masochist to do so without corn plain ing.
The increased dimensions of the Hilux have gone some way towards addressing this issue. The cabin interior has grown 25min longer. 65mm wider and 30min higher, According to Toyota. its overall space now rivals' Dsegment cars (or the equivalent of a Ford Monde° to you and me). As a result rear-seat passengers can actually get corn fortable, and the raising of the bench height means a more natural seating position can be achieved.
It's also worth noting that the overall insulation from the road was impressive thanks to the robust build quality that produced no squeaks or rattles -and this extra comfort was equally noticeable off-road.