Why would I buy it?
- Powerful engine
- Off-road capability
- Toyota’s reliable network
Why would I avoid it?
- Cumbersome for city dwellers
- Expensive
Engine and Performance
Hilux is powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, with transmission options including a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed torque converter as seen here. This mill churns out over 200bhp and 420Nm of torque. Well, it’s 500Nm in the case of this automatic and is evident as soon as you push the start button. There's a mild shake as the engine comes to life, but it quickly settles into a silent idle. On the go, the engine feels refined as long as the revs are below 2,000rpm, which is the case most of the time. Nevertheless, you won’t mistake this for anything other than diesel. If you push beyond 2,000rpm, the engine noise starts coming in. Still, it's still not an annoying clatter.
Besides, the cabin is fairly well insulated and the NVH levels are quite low. With the windows rolled up, you barely hear the engine or feel any vibrations from this oil burner. You also don't feel any lack of power as the Hilux is always eager to move ahead. With ample torque, its delivery is linear and even the gear shifts are smooth though noticeable. It doesn't upshift early even in the eco mode and never hesitates to downshift with the increase in throttle inputs. Then, there is oodles of low-end torque for the vehicle to amble along at low rpms. And after making progress, it remains stable at highway speeds.
Ride and Handling
The suspension set-up on this Toyota is fantastic in absorbing the jolts from rough patches and bad roads. At high speeds though, there's a bit of a bounce on undulated surfaces. Although the brakes do their job of bringing the car to a halt well, you will need to remember that it's a big car. With the increase in speeds and loads, one will have to be more mindful and cautious in braking. Also, it's in the city where its sheer length makes it a pain, especially when you need to make U-turns. It has a big turning radius, making three-point turns necessary almost every time. The Hilux does have a body roll but is sure-footed and doesn't make you feel nervous. Also, there's some effort one needs to make to steer this behemoth. But it provides good steering control with the pick-up's nose pointing where you want it to go.
Now, Hilux’s outdoorsy and rugged image has indeed quite a lot of capability under the skin. We got a taste of it off the road. Paired with the low range and 4WD lock, the Hilux tread all the off-road sections effortlessly. Needless to say, whenever one takes it to off-beaten paths and unknown territories, it will come out unscathed. All thanks to good ground clearance and higher approach and departure angles. Moreover, a higher break-over angle and low centre of gravity made it take on steep side inclines. We climbed a steep off-road hill climb by engaging 4LO and the differential locks without losing any traction. Similarly, we came down that slope relying on DAC, which is basically hill descent control. And it manages constant braking or throttle without any driver input. Upon its activation, the vehicle could sense that it was going down a slope and actuated engine braking. We only had to steer the way down.
Exterior
The Toyota Hilux is a lifestyle pick-up truck, which is high on luxury — as the name suggests. So, does it look the part? Certainly yes! It's a car worth close to half a crore rupees and does look premium. After all, it shares its underpinnings with the Fortuner and so the finesse and all, it's all there. Thanks to its sheer size, it has an intimidating road presence. The bulky proportions have a nice rounded edge and are well finished; even the elements like the front bumper with L-shaped fog lamp pods and the integrated skid plate. Not only is it functional, but has been tastefully done giving it a nice character and not a bare-bones utilitarian look.
Comfort, Convenience, and Features
When you step inside its cabin, it makes you feel special with that king-of-the-road feeling. There's leather upholstery, and smooth edges around things that you will touch. And though there are not many things that catch your eye, it's a good place to be in. The Hilux comes equipped with this eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity but it is a pain to connect with a cable every time. It's not one of the most attractive systems we've used but has a responsive UI. Unlike the nine-speaker unit in the Fortuner, this one is a six-speaker unit with satisfactory output for a small cabin. Similarly, the instrument cluster is useful. There's not much off-road tech on display, but it shows the crucial bits. Now, the front seats are eight-way power-adjustable, and there's dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, and even automatic headlamps. Then, the dashboard with soft-touch leather, firmly padded seats, cooled glovebox, and wireless charger are some of the things that make you feel special. None of these feels crude, as is the impression with utilitarian pick-up vehicles. In fact, it's well above what any other pick-up trucks in India have to offer. Even in terms of safety, it comes with seven airbags, vehicle stability control, traction control, variable flow control steering, front parking sensors, a rear-view camera, and park assist. These are a notch above the competition or rather any of the other pick-up trucks available.
Now for the practical bits, if you are using it daily and are alone in the car, it's good as things are within reach. There are plenty of storage and stowage places for water bottles, wallet, phone, and even larger things in the centre console. Opening and closing these spaces feels durable and even the plastic quality feels robust. This Hilux 4x4 AT has everything that the Fortuner 4x4 AT has, except for the third-row seats. So, if you're using it as a family vehicle, you'll have to opt for the accessories package to store luggage for 4-5 occupants. Moreover, the backrest is more upright so occupants here shouldn't expect the utmost comfort on a long drive. However, as it goes with utility, the base of this seat can be raised for storing items. In the car we had, we stored a toolbox below these seats.
Now bringing in the real lifestyle part, which is this huge bed. It will fit in your motorcycle or a quad bike and easily packs in all your camping equipment. It’s also useful for many people who stay on a farm, make trips for weekly ration for the family or staff, and get LPG cylinders or diesel barrels for their generators. Then, you can also go camping or fishing, or visit golf clubs with luggage and golf sets. No other vehicle would be able to do all of this in one go.
Conclusion
To summarise, the Toyota Hilux is not an ideal city vehicle, but a delight in the countryside. One thing you may have noticed though, the Hilux is a perfectly balanced vehicle for a pick-up truck but one of the most expensive ones at Rs. 36.8 lakh (ex-showroom). But then, to come to think of it, the pick-up truck community is already too small in India. We've had the Mahindra Bolero Camper, Getaway, even the Scorpio Getaway, and the Tata Xenon. But most of these were quite crude and it's only the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross which raised the bar in terms of feel-good factors. Now, the Hilux has stepped up the luxury quotient by a big margin, although it will remain to be a niche lifestyle product. The Toyota Hilux then is a lucrative option for those who are looking for a unique yet capable workhorse. It is exceptionally good at off-roading and packs in practical features with a premium cabin. And then, it's reliable with Toyota's famed after-sales service network.
Pictures by Kapil Angane
