Page 22 - issue-27

New launch: Toyota Hilux eighth generation
Hail the mighty
Hilux – king of
the 4x4 trucks
On road or off-road, the eighth generation Toyota truck simply blows the socks off the opposition. John Threadgold reports
The Toyota Hilux is the grand- daddy of 4x4 trucks, having been launched in the UK 1972, well ahead of the 4x4 truck explosion of the early noughties. To date some 18 millions Hiluxes have been sold worldwide and last year it was Europe’s best seller in the sector.
The new model is available in Active, Icon, Invincible and
Invincible X equipment levels and prices go from £19,177 to £29,435 ex-VAT.
While it doesn’t look a whole lot different from the old one, carrying over those chunky macho looks so much loved by drivers, there
is a mass of changes under the metal that take this truck to a whole new playing field of smoothness, economy, power and technology.
One point to notice for trade buyers is that, unlike the Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Amarok, the new Hilux will be available as a single-cab. In fact 20% of sales at present are for the “cooking” version.
There will also be extended cab versions with occasional seats along with the double-cab versions, which were the only ones available for
driving at the launch event.
The new truck has more interior
space, more comfortable seats and a wealth of practical storage spaces.
The driver’s seat has been raised by 10mm and 15mm has been added to the seat’s height adjustment range. The steering wheel is now adjustable for reach as well as rake and the front seats provide 8mm more headroom and 19mm more shoulder space.
Quieter cab
The intrusion of engine, wind and road noise into the cabin has been reduced and is now at class-leading levels.
This has been achieved by introducing sound absorption and insulation measures throughout the vehicle. Expansion foam is injected throughout the bodyshell and foam is used in all seal points to help quieten things down.
The cargo deck, meanwhile, has been made larger and stronger, with maximum deck width increased from 1,544mm to a class-leading 1,645mm. The tailgate is fitted with stronger, link-type hinges, with support from heavy-duty steel plate
ffffffSpec sheet
Gross vehicle weight (kg): Power (bhp/rpm):
Torque (lb-ft/rpm):
Load volume (cu m): Payloads (kg):
3,080-3,210 148/3,400 295/1,600-2,000 n/a 1,025-1,055 36.2-41.5 178-204
Comb fuel economy (mpg):
CO2 emissions (g/km):
Basic prices (ex-VAT): £19,177-£29,435
22 TVD lssue 27 2016