Description
Toyota tried to keep the sales figures up for the eighth generation of the HiLux and to achieve that, it introduced a refreshed version of the well-known pickup at the 2017 Thailand International Motor Expo.
The Japanese automaker was preparing a 2018 model year to celebrate the HiLux's 50th Anniversary, and customers loved the enhancements made by the car manufacturer to the 2018 Toyota Hilux Double Cab. Over the years, the well-known pickup went through significant transformations, morphing from a sport truck to a work truck without losing any of its off-road and loading capabilities. In addition, even though it was more comfortable and had similar amenities as an SUV, it was still perfectly capable of carrying heavy loads on top of a mountain, defying the laws of gravity, and conquering rough terrains with ease. However, there were still some areas that Toyota thought might be improved, starting with the exterior and continuing with the interior and the drivetrain.
At the front, the 2018 Toyota HiLux Double Cab retained its commanding look with wide and wedged-shaped headlights. Unlike the non-facelifted version, it featured chromed inserts, new Xenon bulbs, and L-shaped daytime running lights. The main grille between them was reshaped and had a shiny black finish, but the brand's chromed badge kept its shape and position. Another significant change was for the bumper, which featured a reversed trapezoidal-shaped air intake sporting a honeycomb pattern. In addition, it included standard fog lamps integrated into the side scoops that mimicked the shape of the headlamps.
From its profile, there were no significant changes. It had the same shape and proportions that made the eighth generation of the Toyota HiLux Double Cab a sales champion in its segment. However, customers could get the vehicle with shiny black door mirror caps and handles plus a dark set of side sills. At the back, the main differences were noticed on the bumper and on the tailgate's handle. The former had more dark areas, while the latter was completely black. But still, the triangular taillights remained the same.
Inside, the dashboard remained virtually the same as on its non-facelifted version, albeit with some minor upgrades. The instrument panel had new dials with white trim and orange needles instead of blue and gray ones as on its predecessor. However, the 4.6-inch color TFT display between the tachometer and speedometer was unchanged. The infotainment system on the 2018 Toyota HiLux Double Cab was also kept from its predecessor.
Under its skin, the 2018 Toyota HiLux Double Cab featured the same 2.4 or 2.8-liter turbodiesel engines paired with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. For selected markets, Toyota offered the pickup with a rear-wheel drive system only, but it used the same off-road-oriented chassis and suspension as the 4x4 versions. An unusual feature of the vehicle was the DPF switch. This could be used by drivers to manually initiate a cleansing burn of the soot captured by the filter after low-speed driving.
Press Release
AUSSIE-STYLED FACE FRONTS UPDATED HILUX SR, SR5
** New front bumper and grille mirrors premium HiLux Rogue **
** Improved fuel economy for selected automatic models **
** DPF switch fitted to all diesel HiLux and Fortuner models **
Toyota has updated selected HiLux SR and SR5 models with a new front end styled by Toyota's Australian design team based in Port Melbourne.
The bold new face for all SR and SR5 extra cab and double cab models mirrors that found on the top-end HiLux Rogue model that was launched earlier this year.
Toyota's Melbourne-based product planning and development team designed the Rogue in conjunction with the Toyota engineering team in Thailand, where HiLux is manufactured for global markets.
Toyota Australia's vice president sales and marketing Sean Hanley said the fact that the same face now adorns HiLux SR and SR5 models sold in Australia, and the equivalent Thai models, was a testament to the talent of the Port Melbourne team.
"When we styled the Rogue, we knew it was the right design for the growing top-end recreational ute market and our faith in that has now been borne out with the same face adopted on SR and SR5 HiLux models," Mr Hanley said.
"The ute market has clearly shifted in the past decade and as Australia's best-selling vehicle, HiLux now offers a more contemporary, bold and refined style to go with its 'unbreakable' reputation," he said.
The redesigned front end features a stronger, more vertical profile with its large trapezoidal grille, honeycomb insert and outboard fog lamps giving it a broad stance and imposing presence on the road.
The grille and fog lamp bezels are finished with a chrome treatment providing a refined aesthetic with the SR5 models featuring LED headlights and fog lamps and the SR models gaining halogen fog lamps to match its headlights.
In addition to the new front-end styling for selected SR and SR5 models, improvements to efficiency have resulted in most six-speed automatic models offering a slightly reduced fuel consumption.
Combined fuel consumption for 4x2 SR and SR5 automatic models has been cut by 0.2l/100km to 7.9l/100km with a corresponding fall in CO2 emissions to 209g/km*.
Automatic SR and SR5 4x4 models gain a 0.1l/100km improvement with combined fuel consumption falling to 8.4l/100m and CO2 emissions to 220g/km.
All diesel HiLux models - both 2.8-litre and 2.4-litre - now also feature a Diesel Particulate Filter switch to manually initiate a "burn" to cleanse the system and reduce harmful emissions.
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) works by capturing fine particles before they are emitted through the exhaust and regularly burning them off at extremely high temperatures.
Under normal operating conditions, this is controlled by the engine's electronic control unit (ECU) and automatically happens without any input needed from the driver.
But in rare cases if the vehicle is not driven long enough at high speeds to enable this, the filter becomes overloaded.
A warning is then given to the driver who can now use the manual DPF switch to initiate the cleansing of the system and ensure its efficient operation.
A DPF switch has also been fitted to all Toyota Fortuner SUV models that are based on the HiLux architecture and feature the same 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine.
While the updated models offer bold, contemporary and more upmarket styling, prices have not gone upmarket.
Apart from a minor $80 increase for 4x2 Hi-Rider SR models and 4x4 SR extra cab chassis and SR double cab chassis and pickup models, Toyota has maintained pricing on all other HiLux models.
The stylish 4x2 SR Hi-Rider six-speed manual pickup starts at $39,990# and features Toyota's proven punchy 130kW 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine and plenty of creature comforts including air conditioning, premium fabric seats, and a large 7-inch infotainment touchscreen display.
The 4x2 SR Hi-Rider pickup models are also available with a smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission with the extra cab priced from $40,990# and double cab priced from $41,990#.
The premium auto-only $49,940 4x2 SR5 Hi-Rider double cab also features climate control, satellite navigation and 18-inch alloys and a stainless steel sports bar that complement its newly minted stylish front end.
The updated 4x4 SR models are now priced from $42,990# for the extra cab chassis manual and $45,140# for the double cab chassis manual with the automatic transmission adding $2,000. Pickup versions of the double cab SR command only a $1,500 premium.
Stepping up to the higher-spec 4x4 SR5 models, prices remain unchanged with the automatic-only extra cab and manual double cab pickups priced from $54,440#, and the automatic transmission adding $2,000 to the price of the SR5 double cab pickup.
With the new contemporary front end, expansive model range and unbreakable reputation, the updated HiLux models will continue to help ensure HiLux remains Australia's best selling vehicle.
