Toyota Hilux 2WD steps up

As the ute wars hot up, the introduction of a high-riding 2WD utility from Toyota is a significant development. John Oxley reviews the Hilux Prerunner SR5 Limited.

One of the reasons Toyota marketing boss Steve Prangnell gives for his company’s inability to knock the Ford Ranger off its perch as top ute in New Zealand last year, is that Toyota did not have a high-riding 2WD Hilux to compete head-on against the Ranger 2WD. And so it was no surprise when Toyota announced at the launch a couple of months ago that it had added just that, although the name chosen, Prerunner, is less significant, being the name used for a practice vehicle in a US off-road event. Names apart – and the sticker is very easy to remove for those who don’t like it (why would you buy a 4x4 lookalike, then advertise to your neighbours that it’s not the real deal?) the Prerunner is an excellent vehicle, well-executed, and offering almost everything the 4x4 models do except drive through the front wheels. That means the same 700mm wading depth, the same high ground clearance, and only slightly reduced braked tow rating (2,800kg vs 3,000kg) and payload (965kg vs 970kg). What’s more, in SR5 guise it has the same very high level of specification, especially in terms of safety and technology equipment. This starts with the basics – a full suite of seven airbags, including driver’s knee protection, ABS and its features, VSC stability control, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hillstart Ascent Control (HAC), traction control, and trailer sway control, power windows and mirrors, cruise control, and a reversing camera. These are all standard across the Hilux range, but in addition SR5 Limited models gain an electrically-adjusted driver’s seat, leathertrimmed steering wheel, soft-touch stitched black synthetic leather console trim, tilt and reach steering wheel adjustment, climate controlled aircon, leather seat trim, sat-nav with SUNA traffic channel, self-levelling LED headlights plug fog lights and DRLS, remote central locking via smart key with push-button start, and 18 inch alloy wheels. Bluetooth is also standard, and the whole infotainment system, is controlled by a seveninch touch screed set individually onto the dash panel, almost like a “glue-on” ipad! There’s also a voice recognition system plus music streaming and the usual USB ports. A feature I particularly liked was the 240V/110W plug in the centre console which alloys phone charging via your normal charger, much quicker than via USB. You could also plug-in your laptop or keep your power tools charged. It all looks very modern, and takes the Hilux from the 20th Century right into the latest 21st Century thinking and styling. If one were to find a short form to describe the latest Hilux, it would be something on the lines of “a ute with SUV sophistication”, because that’s just what it is. None of these features would be out of place on a modern SUV, and many an SUV owner would wish his vehicle had them! The latest Hilux is in fact new from the wheels up, with a stiffer and stronger ladder-frame chassis, more-sophisticated suspension (double wishbone front), and better brakes and steering. The new 130kw/450nm DOHC 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine is shared with the latest Prado, and it’s linked to a new six-speed automatic gearbox which offers both Eco and Power modes to suit your choice and conditions. As far as styling goes, well you can still see some of the old Hilux, but the new one has evolved into a thoroughly modern design which still retains the Hilux “tough look”. At the same time it’s cleaner and more modern than the one it preplaces, and sees a longer nose and flared wheel arches, as well as having 45 percent more spot welds for greater strength and rigidity. Toyota claims 286mm ground clearance – at the exhaust pipe – but this is an unusual way of measuring ground clearance, and we’re more inclined to consider the 228mm diff. measurement. That said, it does make it a high climb up into the cab, although there are side steps to help. One settled, the driving position is nice and comfortable, and the driver benefits from electric seat adjustment as well as from the tilt and reach steering wheel. And ride quality is much, much more comfortable. Other than that, it’s typically ute. Although the interior dimensions have grown a bit, it doesn’t feel a lot bigger than before, but once moving you immediately notice the improved suspension refinement, the quiet and smooth engine, and the quick and smooth gearbox. In short, the Hilux has added a level of refinement that, firstly, it sorely needed, and secondly, takes it into the new world of modern and comfortable work vehicles. Handling is as expected – you can still chirp a rear tyre coming out of a tight roundabout, but the traction control will catch it quickly before any harm can be done, and it does still understeer in hard cornering, though not as much as before. After all, when all is said and done, it IS still a ute!