Toyota Hilux Pickup (2015 TOP) MK8 Review

Pick-up attract style-conscious buyers who want an alternative to an SUV, and the cost-conscious company car, so how Hilux than the Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara and a VW Amarok?

The Auto Trader expert verdict:  3.3

The Hilux is not without compromises, and because it’s that little bit rough around the edges, it’s not as big an advance on the competition as it is on its predecessors. Anyone who’s been driving an older pick-up for a few years will love this new Hilux, but if you’re an SUV-owner who fancies something that little bit different, be warned that the Toyota is just that: very different. Put it on your shortlist, but before you sign up, we’d recommend you look at some of its rivals as well.

Pros

• Good range of abilities on- and off-road
• Double Cab version is very roomy for passengers
• You can expect excellent reliability

Cons

• Unrefined diesel engine
• Laboured performance
• Uncomfortable low-speed ride

Exterior

Well, all that surprising, your first impression of the new Hilux is that this is one of the big old beast. Indeed, not only is it bigger than its predecessor, the 2016 Hilux is also longer and higher than the Range Rover. This is the type of vehicle that will shade your house when left in the driveway. And, it is all the more impressive when you avoid the ActiveX model rather seem mundane: go to Icon, or Invincible Invincible trim X, and Hilux you will come up with a large chrome grille, color-coded front bumper, side step, foglamps and wheels.

Inside, it is clear that Toyota has tried hard to make this generation of Hilux is more like a car than its predecessor. Select Icon or slim Invincible, for example, and you get a touch-screen infotainment system is the very latest you will find up-to-the-minute passenger cars such as the Prius or RAV4 - with sat-nav, too, on top models Invincible X. that means it's all nice and easy to use, too. Indeed, there is no getting away from some of the more, err, materials 'durable' who betrayed role Hilux as a commercial vehicle, but there are quite slim upscale (little chrome here, a pinch of black piano there, even the leather upholstery on Invincible X) to give the cabin a feel more akin to what you would find in an SUV same price - it's not like a car as VW Amarok, your mind

Hilux comes with a choice of three bodies - two chairs Single Cab, Extra Cab seats four and the Double Cab seats five - but so far, we have only tested what is expected to be the best-selling model, Double Cabs. You must sit very high off the ground, but even so, there is plenty of space inside: not only will some six-foot adults fit in the front seat in complete comfort, would pair equally well catered for at the back. It will not be too hard to fit a third adult in the middle seat, either, such as low transmission tunnel and not rob too much floor space. Wide-opening doors make for easy access, as well, but with the rear seats set noticeably higher than those in front, you may need to think about packing crampons to help children climb onto them.

If you're more worried about the packages and pallets of the passengers, the good news is that there are many storage compartments dotted around the cabin; bed load is class-leading 1645mm wide; and, Hilux has a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes.

The trip is something specter, as the Hilux make too many ruts and ridges to our liking, and felt quite agriculture, especially at low speeds. Fortunately, things smooth out once you get a little speed through the wheel; and that, combined with the reasonable improvement and a powerful engine in the mid-range, meaning that you can cope with long-distance, high-speed drive without fear; and without ear-defenders.

However, in other respects, the Hilux is the perfect thing easy to drive. Thanks to the steering is light, you do not need to work too hard to maneuver the car (space permitting), while it sits securely on the road. Sure, there are plenty of body roll in the corners of the Hilux without charge, but the movements are well controlled, and only the quick succession of fast, tight corners will have you grabbing passengers seasick pills.

To cap it all, a reasonable on-road performance is supported by the excellent capability of Tarmac. We drove up a standard road cars (ie without all-terrain tires) and were very impressed with how to overcome the rutted tracks, slippery climbs, crossings and wet grass.

Sadly, the impression of a semi-SUV evaporates once you fire up the 2.0-litre engine. It’s nowhere near as refined as what you’ll find in a similarly priced SUV, with vibrations felt through the pedals and steering wheel. Then, once you pull away, that noise just gets louder and more unpleasant. Truth be told, it’s nothing worse than what pick up-owners have put up with for years, but for someone more used to a refined diesel SUV, all that churning away will be really unwelcome. To make matters worse, it’s not as if the Hilux can compensate with excellent performance or economy. In fact, not only is the Toyota slower to 62mph than rivals from Nissan and Volkswagen, it’s also less economical. 

Now, we’ll be the first to admit that this benchmark sprint is as relevant to pick-up buyers as an England football shirt is to Billy Connolly; but even in everyday use, the Hilux feels too laboured too often. We’ve only driven the Hilux with the optional automatic gearbox – which, on paper, is quicker than the manual – but it gathers momentum at a pretty pedestrian pace, with the engine slow to pick up revs and hampered by the slow gearbox.

Running costs Our rating 2/5

Sadly, the Hilux isn’t just below par for engine refinement, it’s also not terribly good when it comes to fuel economy. Most models average about 40mpg, but if you choose the Double Cab with the automatic gearbox, that figure drops to only 36.2mpg – worse than the V6-engined VW Amarok, which is also considerably quicker and smoother. On the other hand, company car drivers may well be tempted by the Hilux as an alternative to an SUV, because they can take advantage of the flat tax rate on pick-ups, which can make them considerably cheaper to run than a more conventional vehicle.

Reliability Our rating 4/5

The Hilux has an enviable reputation for reliability; and, although there is much that’s new on this model (not least the diesel engine), we have every confidence that this latest Hilux will follow in the wheel tracks of its predecessors. It's tough enough to use a working vehicle, so you can use and abuse it without worrying about costly repair bills. What’s more, if you want any extra peace of mind, this Hilux is the first Toyota pick-up to come with the same five-year warranty coverage that you get with any of Toyota’s passenger cars - which is longer than almost all of its rivals.

Safety Our rating 4/5

 2016 Toyota Hilux

Every model comes with a generous safety package

This is one of the areas where you can see most obviously how Toyota has tried to make its iconic pick-up much more car-like. Every model comes with pretty much the full safety package, which includes seven airbags (one protecting the driver’s knees), ABS and Stability Control, as well as Trailer Sway Control and Hill-start Assist Control. At the bottom of the range, Active models don’t come with the Downhill Assist Control that is standard across the rest of the range, while only top Invincible and Invincible X models get the Safety Sense pack that includes Toyota’s Pre-collision system, Lane Departure Warning and Road Sign Assist. Still, with so many different systems available before you get to the options list, we have no doubt the 2016 Hilux is one of the safest pick-ups around.

Equipment Our rating 4/5

On top of the three body styles, the Hilux is also available in four trim levels, although (in keeping with their intended role as working vehicles) the Single Cab and Extra cab models come only in the most basic – and we mean ‘basic’ – Active trim. This does come air-conditioning, Bluetooth and the full safety package, but unless all you want is a tool to do a job, we recommend going for one of the plusher trims. One step up from Active is Icon, and this adds DAB radio, cruise control and the touch-screen infotainment system. Invincible ups the comfort count, adding climate control, automatic lights and keyless entry and start, while Invincible X at the top of the range brings the ultimate in Hilux luxury: leather upholstery, heated front seats, sat-nav, and front and rear parking sensors.

Why buy? Our rating 3/5

We have no doubt that this is the best Hilux ever, and anyone who’s owned a Hilux before or wants to a tool to do a job effectively and reliably will absolutely love it and appreciate the strides that Toyota has made. If you want the best pick-up currently available though, it's worth checking out some of the competition, especially from Mitsubishi, and VW.

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