Car Of The Week - Toyota HiLux

Pick up trucks are some of the most versatile vehicles. Pickup trucks are proven, reliable workhorses that can transport passengers, haul cargo, tow loads. The pickup truck was originally made for use as a utility vehicle, but in recent times the role of the pickup truck has changed as more and more of them are being used to transport passengers. Some of the most popular pickup trucks are – Ford F150, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, and Toyota HiLux amongst others. We are going to tell you how the Toyota HiLux won the hearts and minds of customers the world over!

The HiLux has been a very successful series of pickup trucks sold by Japanese car giant Toyota in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South-East Asia and South America. The Toyota HiLux is currently in its 8^th generation and has sold over 19 million units globally. The HiLux was first introduced in 1968 when Toyota entered an agreement with Hino Motors of Japan to jointly manufacture a pickup truck based on the Hino Briska light-utility vehicle. The first HiLux was powered by a 1.5 L petrol engine producing 76 bhp of max power output mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox and had a payload capacity of 1000 kg.

The third generation Toyota HiLux introduced in 1978 saw a line-up of 3 standard-length and 4 long-wheelbase models, hence giving the pickup more versatility. The HiLux now had better ride comfort and car-like specifications. 4-door variants of the HiLux were subsequently added as well. The first 4WD variant of the HiLux was introduced in 1979 and shared some common technology with the Toyota Land Cruiser. Front disc brakes were made standard on the higher-end variants. A 2.2 L diesel engine producing 67 bhp of max power output was added for both the 2-door and 4-door variants.

Australia’s love affair with the Toyota HiLux goes back a long way. The first HiLux pickups came to Australian shores in 1968 when Toyota distributor Thiess brought them to Australia for duty in the mines and various construction projects of Queensland. In Australia, the HiLux can be found everywhere! Be it mines, rural parts of the country, construction sites, cattle stations, highways, or even garages…Toyota HiLux is everywhere. One of the biggest strengths of the Toyota HiLux is the versatility it offers and it has been unrivaled in this segment both in Australia and globally. The Toyota HiLux is the go-to vehicle for anyone who needs to get a load carried to any part of Australia.

In 1983, the fourth generation HiLux came with a revised exterior and interior design and was also available in an extra-cab design (additional space in the cab/cargo section). The HiLux got a new independent front suspension, giving better ride and capability in rough terrain. The major changes were seen in the engines as the new HiLux received 3 diesel engines and a new turbo-petrol one as well. This gave the HiLux customer a wider range of options while buying their perfect car. This generation of the Toyota HiLux was the blueprint for the Toyota 4Runner. The Toyota 4Runner is a popular SUV manufactured and sold across global markets.

The HiLux is as reliable and indestructible as they come. This was proved in 2003 when British TV series Topgear tried multiple ways to ‘kill a Toyota HiLux’. On the show, a Toyota HiLux was put through a grueling series of tests to check out how indestructible the car really was. The HiLux was driven to its limits…through flood, fire, a falling caravan, and a collapsing tower block; to everyone’s surprise, the HiLux lived through it all and was still functional to drive!! Now that’s a car which is built to last. The Toyota HiLux is a high achiever and a vehicle that knows no limits. The HiLux holds the distinction of being the only vehicle driven to both the North and South Poles. The HiLux has also participated in the Dakar Rally, one of the world’s most challenging rallies and has a pretty decent track record at Dakar too. The Toyota HiLux is the only UV (Utility Vehicle) to top the car sales charts in Australia.

The HiLux is a Toyota through and through. Toyota as a brand stands for simplicity, reliability, efficiency. The HiLux is a great testament to this. These values have been carefully incorporated into all eight generations of the Toyota HiLux and the success story is evident for all to see. A key to the success of the Toyota HiLux in Australia is the fact that Toyota has understood the customers, market very well, and proactively worked upon the customer feedback received.

Over the years the Toyota HiLux has been refined and shaped well into the stalwart that it is today. The current generation Toyota HiLux was introduced in 2015 and had sold approx. 16 million units at the time of introduction. The current generation HiLux is now much stronger, reliable, and capable as ever and comes loaded with the latest technology. The HiLux is available in over 30 variants including all body types and powertrain options. There is a wide array of both petrol and diesel engines on offer. With such a wide range of variants, Toyota has ensured there is a HiLux for all types of car buyers.

Is the pickup truck on its way out? That’s a question which can be hotly debated by car critics the world over. But, one thing can be certain the Toyota HiLux is here to stay even in the future. Becoming a vehicle an entire nation (Australia) swears by is not an easy task…but the Toyota HiLux just makes it look so easy!