Motoring
Hilux certainly knows how to pull
its weight – and more Toyota’s latest Hilux, the eighth incarnation of this popular truck, was launched mid-2016. And it is certainly proving popular, reports Dan Gilkes
A
s with many competitors, Hilux has grown, with a larger load area and an increased towing capacity. But the Toyota remains very much L200 and D-Max size when at the wheel, rather than feeling like the massive Amarok or Ranger. The truck is all-new, with a downsized 2.4-litre D-4D die- sel engine delivering 148hp and 400Nm of torque. This is said to deliver up to 40.4mpg and 185g/ km. Service intervals however remain at a relatively mean 1 year/10,000 miles, though Toyo- ta is now offering an impressive 5 year/100,000 mile warranty on the new truck.
There is a larger engine of- fered in some countries, but Toy- ota GB decided to go with the sin- gle power unit, in part as it boasts more torque than the 3.0-litre en- gine in the last Hilux.
There are six-speed manual and six-speed automatic trans- missions to choose from, though all run through a four-wheel drive system that favours the rear wheels in normal use. Toyo- ta expects at least 50% of UK buy- ers to opt for the automatic box.
Improved traction
The rear axle gets a limited slip differential controlled by a switch on the dash, while the front axle uses an electronic diff lock to fur- ther improve traction. There is still no centre diff however, so Hi-
BeBa cleaning the panels on their specialised rotarycleani water spray.
lux remains a two-wheel drive truck when on the road unless its particularly wet and slippery. A strengthened chassis and longer rear springs provide an im- proved ride and Hilux retains an impressively small turning cir- cle. Towing capacity is 3.5-tonnes. There are single, extra and double cabs on offer, with the dou- ble cab taking 75% of sales and the single cab 20%. Top specifi - cations are only available in the double cab models. Talking of which, there are four trim levels, with the base Ac- tive models expected to account for 25% of UK sales. Icon will grab 10% of registration while the In- vincible model should get 45% of buyers. The range-topping Invin- cible X will take 20% of UK sales. All models come with steer- ing wheel controls, Bluetooth, a cooled front storage box, a host of airbags and electrically-adjusta- ble heated door mirrors (not on single cab). Icon models gain a 4.2” display screen, cruise con- trol, DAB and folding door mir- rors, along with 17” alloys, front fogs, rear privacy glass and a Toy- ota Touch 2 multimedia system,
As BeBa Energy UK managing dire Stephen Palmer pointed out: “Getti the start of solar was asmart move it remains agood investment to this particularly for high energy users.
“The problem is that in the early da solar,maintenance was abit of ag area, with most installers selling it a a‘fit and forget’
technology.Thatw completely unrealistic –asmanyfa now realise. Solar is ‘low maintena not ‘no maintenance’.
which looks rather like a tablet computer stuck to the front of the dash.
‘Safety Sense’ The Invincible specifi cation has Toyota Safety Sense, a colour multi-information display, 18” alloys, Smart Entry and Start (keyless), auto headlamp level- ling and electric steering wheel adjustment. You also get auto air conditioning, dusk sensing head- lights and chrome side steps. The top of the range Invinci-
ble X takes the luxury levels even further, adding new 18” alloys, a chrome pack, leather upholstery with heated front seats, Toyota Touch 2 with Go sat-nav and on- board connectivity functions to- gether with three years’ map and connectivity updates. There are also front and rear parking sen- sors fi tted. CV OTR prices
start at
£18,391 for an Active grade sin- gle cab, rising to £29,253 for an
“Farmers who recently started to m their systems after two years or mo no maintenance will have seen am improvement in performance. Thos have done so from new will have se returns above those predicted beca well-maintained system produces m energy.”
Invincible X double cab with the auto box.
It was NFU Approved Supplier BeB that came to the assistance of the N
On the road this latest Hi- lux drives well, thanks in part to those longer rear springs. The en- gine is reasonably strong, though the power tails off fairly swiftly as the revs rise. Given the opposi- tion – like the latest Amarok with its mighty 3-litre engine stand- ard across the range – it will be interesting to see if Toyota’s de- cision not to bring a more pow- erful engine to the market will cost sales. Off road, Hilux remains in-
credibly capable, with electron- ic control systems making it even easier for drivers to cope with tough terrain. Active Trac- tion Control and Downhill As- sist Control make tackling diffi - cult hills safe and secure, even on road tyres.
This latest Hilux is a good looking truck that should have little diffi culty picking up the ba- ton from its illustrious forebears.
72 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2017
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