Can Toyota keep the ute crown with the eighth-generation HiLux?

INCREASINGLY, Australians are choosing one-tonne utes as the family car, attracted by the generous capacity for lugging tradie tools and materials during the week, but then kids and camping gear on the weekend.

Along with advances in comfort and drivability, the all-purpose ute is also breaking new ground in safety and fuel efficiency with equipment not seen before in the segment as well as ever more frugal diesel engines, which are tough on the trail but kind on your wallet.

Australian shoppers are spoiled for choice in the light-commercial vehicle market, with pumped-up 4x4 dual-cab utes offered by many of the main brands, but despite the excellent options on offer, Toyota is still the pick-up stalwart on red dirt.

With a new (dare we say it - softer look) Toyota says it is broadening the appeal of its highly-popular HiLux.

Now in its eighth-generation, the ephemeral HiLux brings the a blend of high-riding off-roader looks with dependable Toyota mechanicals, but adds to the familiar formula with more features to appeal to owners wanting one car that does it all.

Full details are being withheld until the new model’s full launch in October, but the company has revealed the next-gen HiLux will get keyless entry and a reversing camera in all variants and improved cabin comfort with reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

The chunky HiLux look has been moderately rounded to appeal to a wider audience while maintaining the existing and loyal customer base. At the front end its new face has projector headlights with LED daytime running lights.

With a locally-tuned chassis and all-terrain tyres, Toyota says its new HiLux handles off-road environments as well as ever.

But improvements in comfort and looks mean nothing to some of the HiLux’s biggest fans if it can’t hold its own on Australia’s tracks and trails. Toyota says skeptics need not be concerned.

Underneath the new version, its suspension has been honed by a local chassis team to give the best blend of on-road comfort as well as delivering the trail-munching ability that the model has become famous for.

For those owners not requiring the full off-road suite, the HiLux will be available as a high-riding two-wheel drive and a workhorse single-cab WorkMate rear drive will also cater for less-ambitious all-terrain drivers.

Interior packaging has been improved, with shoulder room up 19mm, headroom up 8mm, seat height up 15mm and rear kneeroom up 35mm.

Toyota says there will be something for everyone in the new 31-variant line-up including dual-cab, extra-cab, and single-cab, automatic or manual transmissions driving two or four-wheels and a choice of four engines.

A new 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, code-named 1GD-FTV, makes 130kW and 450Nm of torque between 1600–2400rpm when coupled to the HiLux’ s new six-speed automatic transmission. Torque falls to 420Nm between 1600-2600rpm when the revised six-speed manual gearbox is specified.

Significant revisions to the body and chassis include thicker chassis rails, more welds in the body, greater use of high-strength steel and greater levels of underbody protection.

A new 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, code-named 2GD-FT, puts out 110kW and 400Nm of torque between 1600rpm-2000rpm with the six-speed automatic transmission. Its five-speed manual drops the torque output to 343Nm between 1400-3400rpm. This will be the main engine for 2WD variants.

The revised 2TR-FE 2.7-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine now makes 122kW – a five per cent boost – and 240Nm. No details were provided on the V6, which carries over from the previous HiLux.

Towing capacity has been increased to 3500kg, up 500kg from the previous model, while “up to 1240kg” of payload capacity is available.

Last year, the company announced rolling changes to the HiLux that lifted the ANCAP crash safety rating to five stars for a number of variants, but Toyota says the new version is expected to score the maximum star rating across the board.

A full suite of active and passive safety measures have been fitted to the HiLux, including stability and traction control, ABS, reversing camera, seven airbags, hill-start assist and emergency stop signal all standard across the range.

The 31-variant HiLux range will kick off with a tradie and services-focused WorkMate variant with two seats and as many driven wheels.

But is it all enough for the improved Toyota to retain its title as Australia’s favourite against rising pressure from formidable competition?

In just this year alone, Nissan has launched the new Navara, Mitsubishi wheeled out a much anticipated new Triton and Toyota should be justifiably worried about Ford’s upcoming addition to the market with a high-tech Ranger on the way.

The HiLux has stiff competition from many brands, but with segment-leading safety gear, Ford’s top-end Ranger variants are a real threat.

Not only does the Blue Oval ute consistently creep up on the HiLux sales, the updated model will bring a raft of segment-first safety technology such as active cruise control, lane-keep and departure warning, forward collision mitigation and a driver fatigue monitor.

And if that wasn’t enough of a threat Volkswagen will sell you a sharply styled Amarok with a little European charm thrown in, while Isuzu can offer the tough but attractively priced D-Max. For those not convinced by the Ford’s styling, Mazda’s BT-50 shares its underpinnings with the Ranger.

How can Toyota possibly endure that kind of competition?

Daniel Gardner GoAuto.com.au

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