Toyota Hilux

The Hilux is good value, OK to drive – and near-unbreakable!

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On the road price: £18,275 - £21,800
For : Durability, 3.0-litre performance, decent driving dynamics
Against : Hard to reverse, not as refined as a regular SUV

Driving
Drivers of the Hilux shouldn’t expect road manners comparable with a regular SUV. The more utilitarian underpinnings are designed, above all, to be tough, durable and unbreakable. Standard four-wheel-drive means it's accomplished off-road, too. However, take all this into account and you may be surprised by the latest model’s on-road abilities – it’s much more composed and agile than previous versions, while the ride quality is more settled, too. Light controls and good forward visibility help in town – though it’s tricky to reverse without parking sensors, as the rear deck is both very long and impossible to see from the driver’s seat! The 2.5-litre engine is durable, but we prefer the beefier 3.0-litre from the Land Cruiser. Acceleration is impressive for such a large machine, and it’s more refined at a cruise. An optional automatic gearbox is available, too.

Marketplace
The first Hilux pickup appeared back in 1968. Today, the model is renowned for its dependability – with the current sixth-generation model, Toyota was sure not to change the formula too much. In Double Cab guise, it has four doors and seats for five, plus a huge rear deck. Many owners fit a rear load cover, for added security; Toyota dealers offer a huge array of options. There are two diesel engines, the 120bhp 2.5-litre D-4D and a punchier 171bhp 3.0-litre D-4D. Three trim lines include HL2, HL3 and the lavish Invincible. The latter comes with distinctive exterior styling, privacy glass, even full-colour sat nav! Rivals include the Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi L200.

Owning
The latest generation Hilux was described by Toyota as being ‘one step up’ from the old model, and a much roomier cabin reflects this. The driving position is almost comparable with that of an SUV. The dash is constructed from hard, durable plastics, but quality and assembly are first-class. It feels much less utilitarian than you’d expect, though the workmanlike roots show through in there only being two airbags available. You can’t get stability control, either. Various tax breaks mean business users can claim back VAT on the Hilux’s purchase price, and pay less Benefit In Kind tax than for conventional cars – hence the model’s popularity. Competitive prices are another factor here, with even the top-line Invincible looking good value. Fuel economy is comparable with a Land Rover Freelander Td4, and retained values are very impressive. What’s more, the Hilux’s reliability record is brilliant!