In a world where pick-ups are becoming more and more popular as dual purpose work and family vehicles, Toyota not only needed to address the short fall of high-riding 4×2 model variants in its Hilux pick-up range, it also needed to address the noise and performance of its diesel engine, as well as on road refinement.
Ten years is a long time between model releases, and although Toyota kept the old model Hilux at the top of the market for most of its life time, with recent limited editions such as the Edge 4×2, and the Sportivo and TRD 4×4 models, sooner or later an all-new model was going to be needed.
It’s later to market than expected by the Toyota New Zealand executive team, but the new Hilux is a cut above the old one – the new 2.8-litre diesel engine is light years ahead of the old 3-litre, and the new 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions are also greatly improved in their feel and response.
For those few people who prefer a petrol version, there is a 4-litre V6 engine available with a 6-speed automatic transmission in the low riding 4×2 S double cab variant, as well as the 4×4 double cab SR5 and SR5 Limited.
The new Hilux range grows from 12 models to 21, and includes the new high-riding PreRunner 4×2 models, which mirror the 4×4 models in all aspects apart from not having the on-demand four-wheel-drive system.
There are four Hilux grades: S, SR, SR5, and SR5 Limited. The new PreRunner adds five new variants to the range and Limited specification adds four more new models.
PreRunner is a Toyota sub-brand name that comes from the American-made Tacoma pick-up, which has been used to differentiate it’s high-riding 4×2 models in that market since 1988.
Toyota admits it previously had a deficit in the 4×2 range, particularly not having enough automatic variants, or a high riding variant to conquer the Ranger and other pick-up brands.
Offering the upscale SR5 Limited in 4×2 and 4×4 versions will allow Toyota to sell 700 more units a year into the ‘Wildtrak’ market, says its NZ general manager sales Steve Prangnell.
Prangnell says the company has set a sales forecast of 5400 units for its new Hilux in 2016, with the aim of making a profit on each one.
“We are not going to enter the discounting war,” he told media at the November Hilux launch. “Our game plan is to not watch the competitors.
“Our strategy is to execute our game plan and not to watch the score board,” says Prangnell.
Pragnell says Toyota New Zealand is also expecting a decline in new vehicle sales in 2016 of at least 8% – but says the Palmerston North-based distributor will hold its current market share of 21%.
He also commented that in the last five years the market for light commercial vehicles such as Hilux has grown by 50%, taking share from sedans and hatches, as buyers move into pick-ups, which have become more car like to drive, and offer better specification and safety features.
The new Hilux range offers something for everyone, and there’s a far greater spread of double cab models, as this is by far the biggest selling variant in the pick-up market, accounting for more than 80% of sales, as opposed to 6% and 5% for single and extra cab variants respectively.
Driving impressions
On the recent media launch we drove the 2.8 Extra Cab 4×2 pick-up with the five-speed manual transmission, the 2.8 Double Cab 4×4 SR5 manual pick up, and the 4-litre V6 Double Cab SR5 Limited automatic pick up.
We drove the manual SR5 Limited 4×4 Double Cab over some challenging dirt tracks just outside Palmerston North and were impressed with the vehicle’s engine performance, and the slick shifting manual gearbox which utilises an intelligent shift function to match engine speed to road speed for smoother gear changes.
The Hilux retains it’s off-road credentials and made light work of ploughing through muddy fields and across dirt and metal roads around the back blocks of the East Coast between Palmerston North and our evening destination – the Akitio Fishing Club.
Noise, vibration, and harshness are greatly reduced from the previous generation of Hilux diesel, and I liked the new touchscreen in the centre of the dash which houses the audio, Bluetooth, and reversing camera functions for all model grades – as well as the satellite navigation and SUNA traffic avoidance functions in SR5 and SR5 Limited.
The SR5 Limited offers leather upholstery, a driver’s 8-way power seat, a full size alloy spare wheel, as well as an upgrade to 18-inch alloy wheels from the 17-inch versions fitted to the SR5, and also a chrome fog lamp surround.
The 4-litre V6 SR5 4×4 double cab automatic has quite a different character, both in response and timbre to it’s diesel sibling, yet is equally at home on the tarmac as well on dirt and grass tracks.
The V6 engine offers plenty of mid-range urge, and it is a smooth and responsive unit when shown the cloven hoof, however, and it’s no surprise here, but it’s not as fuel efficient as the four-cylinder diesel.
But Toyota insists that there is a market for the V6 petrol engine, and it will account for at least 200 sales a year to people who want a capable pick up but not a diesel engine.
The low riding 2.8 Extra Cab 4×2 was a complete surprise to us, its the ‘sleeper’ of the Hilux range.
Despite having the lower powered version (123kW) of the 2.8-litre engine, the Extra Cab was no slouch on the open road, and despite only being a 4×2 it was perfectly stable and comfortable to drive over some challenging dirt and metal roads in the East Coast.
On tarmac the Extra Cab was almost sports car like in its handling, turning into corners with ease, and proving that a lower centre of gravity can be preferable to a commanding ride height, although it too offers a good view of the road ahead.
One small disappointment was the occasional suspension oscillation felt through the cabin when driving un-laden on tarmac and chip sealed roads. No doubt a few hundred kg of cargo would sort out this problem.
We came away from the Hilux media launch event more than a little impressed with the new range of pick-ups from Toyota, and even more impressed that the distributor will sell the product on its merits and not enter a discounting war, in an attempt to regain the ‘number 1’ spot.
