Toyota Hilux 2009 car review

New car report; Bullet-proof workhorse

There is no dictionary definition for "Hilux". But if there was, it's a safe bet it would read something like "Tough pick-up truck with durable off-road capability that can carry anything from livestock to hay bales, fence posts, concrete blocks and building materials. Goes for ever over hundreds of thousands of kilometres with bullet-proof, iron-clad reliability."

Now, the Hilux has been around for over four decades, and has set benchmarks with each new generation. So we could mount a credible argument for a dictionary entry, after all, words like Jeep, Hoover and Fridge can be found. These names are established in our language and originate from brands and products which carved out a solid reputation for performing a particular job exceedingly well.

And nobody would argue that the Hilux doesn't do its intended job very well indeed.

The Toyota Hilux is now offered in numerous formats, with 2 wheel drive, four wheel drive, Single Cab, Double Cab, Extra Cab, petrol, diesel, manual and automatic. There's a Hilux for every application.

For 2009, Toyota's robust pick-up has had something of a facelift, with the mild makeover extending to subtle grill and bumper enhancements, extra chrome finishes outside, a few subtle mods on the inside and some engine enhancements.

Three engines are offered for the new Hilux, a 118kW 2.7 litre petrol producing 241Nm of torque, a 126kW 3.0 litre turbo diesel producing 343Nm of torque and a 175kW 4.0 litre petrol powered V6 producing 376Nm of torque.

The ride is predictably bumpy when the tray is unladen, but improves enormously when the Hilux is used for its main purpose of carting a heavy load. Load up the tray and the bouncy ride disappears and the vehicle becomes far more tractable.

Speaking of tractability, we found the 2 wheel drive versions, with their smaller wheels and car-like tyres lacking any real traction on wet, smooth seal surfaces. Under these conditions, particularly on an incline, anything greater than the slightest throttle opening induced wheel spin any boy racer would be proud of.

And as our parking spot is deep in the dungeon of our office block's parking basement, the daily grind of navigating the 4 x 4 Hilux around concrete pillars and narrow ramps became something of a chore.

But we're being unfair to Toyota's trusty workhorse by putting it through its paces in our city slicker environment. Yes, some of the Hilux models did seem like fish out of water under these circumstances, much like taking an aircraft carrier through a jet-sprint course.

Get the it out off the beaten track and the Hilux really comes into its own.

Of the models we tested, the 3.0 turbo diesel SR5 double cab 4x4 versions provided the best combination of on road stability and handling, coupled with high ground clearance giving excellent off-road capability.

Available with a 4 speed automatic or 5 speed manual transmission, the 3.0 litre turbo diesel engine provides plenty of power no matter how heavy the load. In fact, the heavier the load, the more the Hilux seems to like it. Fuel consumption for the 3.0 diesel is quoted at 8.3L/100km for the manual and 9.3L/100km for the automatic.

The 4.0 litre V6 petrol engine is only available in the SR5 Double Cab and only with the automatic transmission, but in this case, it's a 5 speed unit. Fuel consumption for the V6 is quoted as 13L/100km.

Inside the SR5 cab, you'll find a car-like interior, with plenty of space and logical, well laid out instrumentation and good ergonomics. Interior trim is of a high standard and switch gear is of the quality we've come to expect from Toyota.

The SR5 also gets a multi function steering wheel with radio and cruise control functions, as well as a 6 disc MP3/WMA CD changer with 4 speakers, Bluetooth and audio input jack and carpeted floor covering. The Double Cab is a full five seater while the Extra Cab seats four.

Entry level models have a slightly more agricultural specification level, but we are talking "tough truck" and not "luxury limo" so creature comforts are not necessarily the Hilux's purpose in life.

Toyota Hilux 4WD Double CabSafety equipment includes ABS braking, driver and passenger airbags and front seatbelts with force limiters.

In summary, if you are in the market for a sporty, nippy and nimble city commuter, the Hilux isn't for you and you won't be looking anyway. But if you want what is arguably the most reliable and tough workhorse money can buy, you'd be struggling to beat the trusty Hilux.

New Hilux Pricing

Model Doors cc Kw Nm