Published on May 22, 2015
The Toyota Hilux ute is the top-selling ute in Australia. Some months, its the top-selling vehicle in the entire country. 16 million Toyota Hilux ute have sold around the world since 1968
The new Toyota Hilux ute wont be on sale until October, and already, it seems, new Hilux struggles to keep up with todays Holden Colorado, Mazda BT-50 and Ford Ranger.
The 2016 Toyota Hilux ute offers 50Nm less than the auto Colorado andmatches the Ranger, BT-50 and NP300 Navara - in automatic. But in manual, the same engine is de-tuned in the Hilux by seven per cent. Its a cheap, nasty, expedient engineering solution - and Colorado does it too.
This move to six-speed transmissions is nice. The 2.8-litre Toyota Hilux diesel comes with six-speed manual and six-speed auto. But if you tick the box for one of the 2.4-litre Toyota Hilux diesel engines its back to a five-speed manual for you. And that engine is also de-tuned, but this time by a massive 14 per cent, presumably with a similar court jester of powertrains scenario, in the alleged king of utes.
Fuel economy is up - non-specifically. Cats still officially in the bag on economy numbers, until closer to launch, but the smart money is suggesting an improvement of something like 10 per cent. And, together with an 80-litre fuel tank (thats up from 76), that could translate to a handy 15 per cent boost to cruising range - something the outback touring types will enjoy. And Hilux is certainly very popular there.
A reversing camera is standard on every model. Toyota will be the first manufacturer to offer that from the base model up, effectively no longer making the cheap Hilux owner a second-class citizen on safety. (Its worth remembering that getting run over in the driveway is the second-highest cause of accidental death in children, after drowning in the backyard pool. Even more tragically, the person who causes the injury is generally a parent - and if not, theyre likely to be a close relative or a friend. This kind of tragedy changes many lives for ever.) So I cant praise Toyota highly enough for taking this long-overdue positive step. Reversing cameras are also excellent for precision parking, and for getting the damn towball precisely under the hitch on a caravan, ute or trailer. Especially if youre doing it solo.
The new Toyota Hilux ute is right up there for towing. Equal with the best in class performances there from Colorado, Ranger, BT-50 and NP300 Navara.
If you jump under the Hilux rear end, youll see a little piece of the industrial revolution. Drum brakes and leaf springs. Specifications first carved in clay. Hilux is not alone there. But its certainly not out in front.
The lead-up to 2016 Hilux is apparently infected with *** with a supermodel syndrome. The fantasy makes you think the new 2016 Toyota Hilux ute was going to be something really special - a game changer. But the reality
you just expect it to be better. I know I did.