Sundaymail Editor
THE Toyota HiLux ute is a cornerstone of what makes Toyota very popular: reliable, predictable, capable and, well, just that tiny bit boring.
And yet, here is the Toyota HiLux in the last year of the current generation’s life becoming a bit of a trailblazer.
Well, mildly so.
In essence, with what it calls V-Active technology, Toyota is giving the HiLux a small electric boost, thanks to a mild-hybrid drivetrain that is said to improve acceleration and fuel efficiency.
The SR5 is the most popular model in the HiLux line-up and V-Active technology is what many of us would have seen referenced previously in other places as 48-volt mild hybrid.
What Toyota has done is to make V-Active technology mandatory with the powertrain combination of 2,8-litre turbo-diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission version in the SR5 specification.
If you want the SR5 without V-Active, then you will be getting six-speed manual transmission.
Inside the HiLux SR5, there is a new wireless smartphone charger and a slot to put your phone in the centre console that replaces one of the two cup holders.
There are also two rear USB-A ports now.
Carry-over interior gear for the Toyota HiLux SR5 includes fabric seat trim, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection, AM radio that is all-important in regional areas, dual-zone climate control with rear vents and a smartphone app that can monitor your HiLux remotely.
The 2024 Toyota HiLux SR5 comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, up to six years of roadside assistance (but you have to pay for it), short 10 000km/six-month service intervals and capped price servicing.
Toyota HiLux exterior design
New black trimmings and dark-finish LED headlights are exclusive updates for the SR5 in 2024, while a new grille and bumpers are more widely distributed among Toyota HiLux variants.
Otherwise, exterior equipment levels stay familiar. The HiLux SR5 comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, side steps and a sports bar, but there is no tub liner or tonneau cover.
In terms of overall dimensions, the Toyota HiLux is now one of the more compact dual cab ute offerings.
But at 5 320mm long, 1 855mm or 1 865mm tall and with a 3 085mm wheelbase, it is still a sizeable beast.
What is the Toyota HiLux like inside?
That compact size — in ute terms, anyway — does the Toyota HiLux SR5 no favours when it comes to interior space.
There are few issues for front seat occupants, but the HiLux is upright and cramped for knee space in the rear.
It is not the type of environment where a tall passenger is going to be comfortable for long. The Toyota HiLux’s interior is also getting pretty dated.
The infotainment screen is small and the resolution unimpressive.
At least the Toyota HiLux still comes from the design age where there are hard buttons to control audio volume and air-conditioning temperature.
No drilling into screens with the SR5, thankfully. Less pleasing is the lack of features and technology for the money you are paying. Storage around the HiLux’s cabin is nothing more than average.
A double glovebox is the only feature beyond the norm.
The HiLux SR5’s tray has the ability to carry up to 900kg, but it cannot fit an Australian-spec pallet between the wheel arches.
Is the Toyota HiLux good to drive?
Most of what you experience behind the wheel of the 2024 Toyota HiLux SR5 will be familiar to HiLux drivers, because there are no changes to the car’s fundamentals — ladder frame, double wishbone front suspension, leaf spring rear suspension, hydraulic-assist steering and disc/drum brake combination.
With the HiLux SR5 you get quite nimble handling by ute standards, but a pretty rugged ride, too. Typical Toyota HiLux basically.
So, it is all down to the HiLux’s powertrain. The new enhancements are a motor-generator, a small 48v battery and a DC/DC converter.
The bare essence of it is the battery juices up the motor generator, which provides acceleration assistance to the HiLux SR5’s engine at tip-in and low percentage throttle, while also saving fuel with the assistance of a new start-stop system.
And it does work. There is less lag and a smoother response when initially accelerating, thanks to the mild-hybrid system.
It is not night and day, but it is palpable.
The HiLux SR5’s start-stop system is almost transparent in its operation.
And on our test loop, we found a consumption improvement average of about 2 litres per 100km compared to the old SR5 auto. But the higher the engine and road speeds, the less impactful the HiLux SR5’s system is. The coarse, noisy and vibey nature of the engine reasserts itself.
What is the Toyota HiLux like off-road?
V-Active technology theoretically makes the 2024 Toyota HiLux better off-road.
Low throttle movements should be smoother, and the battery’s regenerative braking should aid downhill.
There is also a new multi-terrain system that provides powertrain and traction tuning in the 4×4 system’s high and low range.
However, the Toyota HiLux is already one of the best utes for off-road driving with its fundamental mechanical grip, so these new features only provide marginal performance improvement.
By the way, the Toyota HiLux SR5 has a claimed 3 500kg braked towing capacity, but do the gross vehicle mass sums and it only has a 200kg payload if you choose to tow at the maximum weight. — RACV
Online Reporter