WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Once on the road, the most important aspect is that new suspension tune. Pick-up trucks have a tendency to skip at the rear when empty because they’ve been tuned for heavy loads. However, it’s immediately apparent the new Hilux does a great job of smoothing out the ride. It’s still ‘good for a pickup’ rather than directly comparable with a car, but if you’ll often be driving with nothing on the bed, you don’t have to compromise much on comfort any more. But what about off it? Toyota knows it built its reputation through its ability to survive on the muddy stuff, and the new model hasn’t compromised this ability to appeal to road-going buyers. On a rather taxing off-road course, the Hilux coped with everything thrown at it, from slippery inclines to wading through water – despite only wearing the standard road tyres.