Otago Daily Times

What’s it look like?

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We’re testing a ute here, so an upright look with plenty of presence is taken for granted.

The SR5 models are the most visually altered of the updated Hilux line. Picking up a chunky look that draws in part of on Toyota’s North American pickups, they feature a redesigned and bolder grille, new LED headlights and LED taillights.

The SR5 cruiser takes up a matte black grille surround, black tinted alloys shod with 265/60 R18 tyres, special decals and tinted rear windows.

These features combined with a black paint finish to give the test car plenty of road presence. prominent eightinch touchscree­n replaces the six and seveninch units used previously. Along with being larger and clearer, the new screen, which is neatly integrated into the dash, is the interface of the ICT system that now includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functional­ity.

Allied to a very good ninespeake­r JBL sound system, the ICT interface is a huge step up. Wireless connectivi­ty is seamless, too, though just the single USB plugin point is provided.

The instrument binnacle takes a new 4.2inch multiinfor­mation display screen, and the blue colour theme to this and the convention­al gauge needles links neatly to blue strip lighting in the door trims.

The cabin features dark trim colours and, despite the appearance of some contrast stitching, all major interior panels aside from the padded centre armrest are robust hard plastics.

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