The Toyota Hilux is a pickup truck manufactured by Toyota from 1968 to the present.
It started as a small, utilitarian workhorse and grew to a fully-featured, dual-purpose car. The Hilux has maintained the same basic formula from its inception in 1968, with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, 2WD and 4WD drive types.
The Hilux is available in three different configurations: a Single Cabin with two doors, two seats, and a long flatbed cargo area, an Extra Cabin with small rear-hinged back doors and a small rear bench for two or three people depending on their size with a flatbed cargo area almost the same size as a single cabin, and the Double Cabin, which is a good option for families, with four full-sized doors and five seats, and a short flatbed cargo area.
Recently there have been several new entrants in the pickup category from almost every competitor giving the Hilux more opposition than ever, but the Hilux is still a byword for utility and reliability.
At BE FORWARD, a used Toyota Hilux has a price that ranges between US$ 5200 and US$ 66,000.
Engine
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The Toyota Hilux has utilized several engines since the first model came off the production line in 1968. The first engine to be attached to the Hilux is the 1.5-liter (2R) engine, and from there on there have been dozens of 4-cylinder and a few 6-cylinder engines to be fitted on the Hilux throughout its eight generations that range between 1.5-liter to 3.0-liter engines. In this part, we will take a look at two of the latest engines that are currently fitted on the latest Hilux models.
- The eighth-generation Hilux comes fitted with a turbocharged 2.4-liter (2GD-FTV) 4-cylinder diesel engine that produces 150 hp as standard. This engine can pull a load of 3,500kg using the tow bar or carry up to 1 ton in its flat load bed. The engine accelerates from 0-100kph in 13.2 seconds for the manual transmission model and 12.7 seconds for the automatic transmission model. The Hilux’s top speed is 169 kph.
- In 2020 the Hilux received some facelift, and as part of the facelift, a turbocharged 2.8-litre (1GD-FTV) 4-cylinder diesel engine that produces 204 hp was introduced to the Hilux lineup for the first time. This engine accelerates from 0-100kph in 10.1 seconds for the manual transmission model and 10.7 seconds for the automatic transmission model.
These engines transfer power to the wheels via a five-speed manual, five-speed automatic, six-speed manual, or six-speed super-intelligent ECT transmission.
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Interior & Exterior
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Interior
BROWSE LOW COST TOYOTA HILUX MODELS
The 2021 Toyota Hilux interior has been upgraded with new features, such as a redesigned binnacle and a digital speedometer which is now standard. Another new feature is the trip computer which shows real-world fuel consumption.
The biggest change is in the multimedia system which features an 8.0-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring functionality which enables you to mirror your phone’s main apps to the screen for Android and Apple phones.
The model you go for determines how many seats you get in the Hilux.
The Hilux single cabin has two seats. This single cabin does not come with a bench seat anymore.
The Hilux extra cabin has four seats. The rear seats are accessed via the rear-hinged back doors, with a width about half of a regular rear door. These back seats are not comfortable and do not have child seat anchor points.
The Hilux double (dual) cab has five seats. The rear seats offer reasonable space but are not as spacious to tall people’s liking. The seat base can either fold up in a 60:40 or as a piece depending on the design. The rear seats have two ISOFIX child anchor points and that means only two child seats can be fitted at the back
Exterior
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The latest Toyota Hilux has been built to combine workaday practicality with family lifestyle. It ramps up comfortability and the tech is up there and has a one-ton load capacity.
The Hilux is offered in several trims, from the entry-level specs to top-level specs with each market having different names to identify them. The Single Cabin and Extra Cabin models are purely built for work, and usually don’t attract lifestyle buyers, and due to that, they are only offered in basic trim. They are also available as Tippers or Dropside variants.
The Hilux comes with LED headlamps (slim projector headlights on earlier 8th generation models), LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), and LED tail-lamps, and 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels.
Features
Some of the features found on the Hilux include air-conditioning, automatic wipers and lights, steering wheel controls for the stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, Toyota Safety Sense as standard, which includes road sign assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision alert, Downhill Assist Control, autonomous emergency braking, and a road-sign recognition feature.
Standard safety features include seats designed to minimize whiplash in the event of a collision, stability control, traction control, hill-start assistance, seven airbags, and trailer sway control (an automatic system that controls the action of the trailer if it detects that a towed trailer is swaying from side to side (fishtailing).
Verdict
The Toyota Hilux is one of the original pickup models; it is renowned for its tough build quality, dependability, and reliability. The latest Toyota Hilux has become more family-friendly; too, it can be used for recreational duties as well.
This review is about a well-renowned workhorse that needs no introduction, but from this review we have found out that this machine keeps improving and is now the Double Cab is close to being the best of both worlds, meaning that it can be used for work and family recreation. We at BE FORWARD recommend the Hilux, please visit our page BE FORWARD and go through our list to find your Hilux.
Originally published June 12, 2020, updated Aug 24, 2021
I am a car enthusiast and experienced freelance car writer with over 5 years in automotive journalism. Recognized for delivering engaging and informative content across diverse websites and blogs, prominently featured on platforms like BE FORWARD. A passion for cars, coupled with a proven track record of insightful articles, showcasing a deep understanding of the industry.
With over 5 years of writing expertise in the automotive domain, I specialize in comprehensive coverage of car-related topics. My portfolio spans engaging reviews, up-to-date news, and in-depth features, showcasing a versatile understanding of the automotive landscape. This experience reflects my commitment to delivering insightful content that captivates readers across a broad spectrum of car enthusiasts and general audiences.
My favorite car is the Range Rover Sport for its luxurious design, powerful performance, and unparalleled comfort on and off-road.
