The Toyota Hilux is undoubtedly functional but lacks the SUV’s sense of sophistication due to its utilitarian heritage.
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Toyota Hilux interior space & storage
The Extra Cab’s two rear seats are small and should only be used occasionally while the Double Cab’s rear seats can comfortably fit four persons (or five in a pinch). Comfortable seating and a steering wheel that can be adjusted up or down make it simple to settle in. Although sitting straight prevents travellers from slouching after a long day, it does guarantee that there is adequate legroom.
Boot space
The Hilux doesn’t actually have a boot, but it does have a sizable load bay. This decreases slightly if you choose the Double Cab model, but regardless of the specification you select, the Hilux can tow at least 1,025kg, and with the Active Double Cab, that number rises to 1,130kg. The Nissan Navara Double Cab cannot quite handle this.
Towing
The Hilux is more adept than the majority of cars on the road with a 3,200kg towing capacity. Again, the Navara edges it out here by having a 3,500kg weight restriction, but the Hilux ought to be plenty for the majority. Its towing capacity is more than sufficient for a horsebox or a double-axle caravan.
How much weight can a HiLux accommodate in the back?
As you are no likely aware, Toyota just revamped its HiLux 44 lineup. Last week, we tested the new 2021 HiLux SR5 Double Cab Cab Chassis model both loaded and unloaded, on and off the road.
In any case, the modifications to the engine that lead to higher power and torque (see “What’s new?” below) are evident as soon as you press the accelerator pedal. There is a ton of torque available at low rpm, and acceleration is undoubtedly quicker than before.
The new 2021 HiLux’s suspension upgradeswhich are also described in the section titled “What’s new?”lead to a more compliant ride over uneven terrain and strong control while cornering. We began our journey with the vehicle empty. Then, with a lot of weight hanging over the back of the rear axle, we loaded 500 kg of equipment onto the back of the factory steel tray, including five steel wheels and 235/85R16 tires; a recovery box with drag chain, snatch blocks, straps, and more; a hand winch and steel cable; a full 40L fridge; a huge double pit tent; and a few swags.
Why 500kg only? Even if the payload capacity of this model 2021 HiLux SR5 Double Cab is 1105 kg, you still need to account for the weight of the driver (80 kg or more) and the steel tray (around 300 kg), which comes out to about 880 kg. Even though we fell far short of the maximum payload of 1105 kg, we nevertheless carried enough weight to provide a useful comparison of the upgraded suspension under realistic load conditions. As we loaded the tray, the rear descended slightly, but the suspension sag wasn’t extreme, and the steering felt well-weighted.
Aside from that, the headboard and the numerous attaching connections at the sides made it easier to secure items to the factory tray, but there is nowhere to tie on to the back.
Although the lane-departure with steering aid feature acts by automatically applying the brakes when it believes you’re drifting out of your lane, which is a little unnerving, especially when there is weight in the back, the HiLux demonstrated confident handling both unladen and with the load. The technology works best when you’re driving on a motorway; if you’re on a twisting, tiny road, I’d advise turning it off because it could feel too obtrusive.
The 880kg load was easily hauled by the upgraded engine in terms of performance; in fact, the light load barely had an impact on it. Even on the steepest climbs we tested it on, the HiLux could comfortably maintain 100 km/h, and roll-on acceleration was good for overtaking. However, when you put your foot into it, the engine becomes a little boisterous; while it is not a terrible sounding engine, it is undoubtedly noisier than many competitors in its class.
The six-speed automatic transmission moves smoothly and provides a good range of ratios. The taller gears are tall enough to provide easy highway cruising, and the lower ratios are low enough to support nimble acceleration. When the cruise control is engaged, the auto immediately downshifts to assist braking and to help maintain speed. Oh, and the Toyota’s straightforward stalk on the right side of the steering wheel is used to regulate the cruise control. It has a button to turn it on, a down arrow for “set” and “slower,” an up arrow for “faster,” and a button facing the driver for “cancel.” For ease of use, it is undoubtedly the best cruise control system. Having said that, a button on the steering wheel is used to control the distance for the radar cruise.
Our off-road excursion wasn’t particularly longwe only had the press car for a short whilebut a small undulating track quickly caused the HiLux to lift a front wheel into the air, necessitating the engagement of the rear diff lock while the traction control strained to maintain forward motion. Although the power steering pump had been modified, the steering still loaded up quite a bit at low revs, making it difficult for the HiLux to maneuver through some challenging off-road turns. Although the low-range gearing is reasonable and the ground clearance is sufficient, the highway terrain 265/60R18 tyres don’t help the off-road case when it comes to grip.
The 2021 HiLux SR5 Double Cab Cab Chassis, a new model grade to the HiLux 44 lineup, listed at $58,420 plus on-road expenses. The factory steel tray that came standard on our test vehicle increased the cost by $3858 (installed), bringing the final cost up to $62,278 plus ORCs. The SR5+ pack, which adds an additional $2500, includes heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, and leather seat trim. Premium paint costs an additional $600.
The 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine has been revised to produce claimed peak power and torque outputs of 150kW at 3600rpm and 500Nm from 1600-2800rpm. Of course, the HiLux receives a styling upgrade with a new larger, trapezoidal front grille and a little more chrome, but the big news for the new HiLux is the engine (when mated to the six-speed automatic transmission as fitted to our test vehicle). The addition of a larger turbocharger, a new combustion chamber design, a revised cooling system, and a new exhaust system with a revised exhaust manifold and a more effective EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system are just a few of the engine upgrades. A new common-rail injection system with a higher maximum fuel pressure (250MPa) is also included.
To resolve problems encountered by some owners of the previous model, modifications have also been made to the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) system, both in terms of hardware and software.
To enhance the new 2021 HiLux’s unloaded ride quality, Toyota also made changes to the suspension, including new body mounts and retuned shock absorbers, suspension bushes, and spring rates. A power steering pump with variable flow control has been installed, which offers increased help at low speeds and a special mode for off-road driving in low range.
Along with the apparent outward style improvements, there are also interior changes, including a better multimedia system with a larger 8-inch screen (up from 7-inch), volume and tuning knobs in place of the prior capacitive-touch interface, and other interior changes. Finally, the new 2021 HiLux now supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the SR5 Double Cab includes six speakers, a digital radio (DAB), and sat-nav as standard equipment.
A new color 4.2-inch multi-information display (MID) featuring a digital speedometer, trip computer, safety settings, front-wheel angle display, and DPF regeneration status is also available. The speedometer and tacho gauges have also been updated.
The SR5 Double Cab also features under-seat storage bins, a 60/40 split base for the back seat, and an armrest with two cupholders.
The new 2021 HiLux SR5 is still outfitted with Toyota Safety Sense technologies, including a pre-collision system that can detect pedestrians (during the day and at night) and cyclists (during the day), high-speed active cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assistance (via the brakes), and speed advisory sign recognition in the road-sign assist. The SR5 now has two front and four rear parking sonars despite having no reversing camera.
Compared to its closest 44 ute rival, the Ford Ranger, HiLux sales fell significantly in August 2020, but as stock levels rise as a result of the introduction of this new model, we anticipate substantially higher sales volume for the remainder of the year. Will the HiLux’s updates be sufficient to propel it back to the top of the sales charts in 2020? Perhaps, given that it significantly outperforms its predecessor, but there is also fresh competition on the market, including the brand-new Isuzu D-MAX and the impending Mazda BT-50. And we can tell you that the rivalry is now fierce because we recently drove the brand-new, highest-spec D-MAX X-Terrain before getting into this HiLux SR5.
How much weight can a Toyota Hilux accommodate?
The Toyota HiLux is capable of towing up to 3500kg. This is a braked value; if a vehicle is rated to tow that much in the first place, its maximum weight without employing trailer brakes is 750 kg. If you wish to know the tow rating in tonnes, merely divide the kilogram value by 1000. Kilograms can alternatively be written as kilos. To be sure your Toyota HiLux matches the example given here, verify with the manufacturer or your owner’s manual before attempting to tow with any vehicle, ute, van, SUV, or 4×4.
What is the Toyota Hilux’s strength?
Its potent 2.8-liter diesel engine can generate up to 500 Nm of torque and 204 DIN horsepower. When power is delivered low in the rpm range, torque is accessible when you need it.
Can I load my ute with a lot of weight?
The vehicle load rating typically determines the load carrying capacity. A ton or so is the typical load capacity for Utes sold in Australia. There are no loading issues because Bocar Deluxe and Ultimate alloy ute trays are produced with floor ratings of 2.5 tons.
In actuality, employing an Alloy Tray has a larger load capability than using a Steel Tray. A standard alloy tray weighs about 100 kg, thus a vehicle with a 1 ton load capacity may accommodate a load of about 900 kg on it. In comparison, because a steel tray weighs between 250 and 300 kg, you can only load roughly 700 kg onto the same vehicle that doesn’t have one.
Do HiLux utes weigh one ton?
Most utes are available in 1 tonne versions. While providing a measure of mass, this does not help to make dimensions more clear. When transporting heavier, bulkier goods like beds and longer items like bookcases, tables, etc., dimensions would be more important. When a ute has an open tray rear rather to one with a cage, they are just as adaptable in carrying higher things. A Toyota Hilux ute, one of the most popular utes you’re likely to see, is categorized as a 1 tonne ute.
What is a Toyota HiLux’s GVM?
The full-steel tray, which weights a substantial 308kg, raises the conventional kerb weight of 1945kg to 2253kg. To avoid going above the 3050kg GVM, the regular 1105kg payload rating must be decreased by the same amount, leaving a lower peak payload of 797kg.
It is also capable of towing braked trailers up to 3500 kg, but with its 5850 kg GCM limit (the most amount it is permitted to carry and tow at once), that would leave only 97 kg of payload capacity, which would be consumed by the driver alone.
Even while it is technically possible to pull 3500 kg, doing so is impractical in the real world, and few ute owners actually need to tow more than 3000 kg. Tow limitations should be based on the HiLux’s 3050kg GVM, which reduces the tow rating from 3500kg to 2800kg while maintaining over 800kg of payload. That is a more useful collection of figures.
The strong checker-plate floor and tube-section headboard of the heavy-duty all-steel tray have vertical spikes on each side to hold lengthy lengths of lumber, PVC, copper pipe, etc. Along each side, there are under-floor rope rails and a window protection frame. If hauling loads with the rear panel removed, the three drop-side panels can be simply removed, and extra support for the two side panels in the shape of pivoting brackets is offered at the back.
But because there are no internal load anchorage points, loads like ours that need straps or ropes to be secured must instead be fastened to the external rails. This means that transporting loose building and landscaping materials like sand, dirt, rocks, woodchips, etc. is most suited for the HDS tray.
In addition to flexible storage pouches on the front seat backrests and two small-bottle/cup holders in the fold-down center armrest, the rear seat passengers enjoy a large-bottle holder and small storage bin in each door. In order to access two underfloor storage compartments or to provide more internal load space, the split-fold base cushions can be stored vertically.
How much weight capacity has a pickup truck?
After finally spending the money to purchase the boat you’ve always wanted, you might realize that towing it around in the old family sedan isn’t the best idea. The moment may have come to upgrade to a truck. What kind, exactly, is the question. You’ll quickly find that choosing the proper truck might be challenging once you start your search. It’s simple to become bogged down in the sea of words and safety regulations when it comes to heavy duty towing and hauling. Some automotive professionals, much alone first-time truck buyers, are unable to comprehend the true meaning of a “half-ton” pickup, for example.
Does a half-ton vehicle weigh 1000 pounds (453.5 kg) when a ton is 2000 pounds (907.19 kg)? In reality, the name has nothing to do with the truck’s weight. In reality, pickup trucks that weigh half a ton weigh significantly more. The curb weight of a truck refers to its weight without any goods or passengers. According to Edmunds, the curb weights of several 2007 half-ton pickups range from 9000 (4082.3 kg) to 11000 (4989.5 kg) pounds.
The term “half-ton” is used to describe the payload capacity of the vehicle. This indicates that the vehicle can accommodate both passengers and up to 1000 pounds (453.5 kg) of freight in the cab and bed. However, if you look at the statistics for contemporary half-ton pickups, you’ll see that their payload capacity are greater than 1000 pounds (453.5 kg). Since at least the 1960s, new and improved half-ton pickups have been able to securely handle more, surpassing their namesakes, even if early half-ton pickups could only carry maximum loads of 1000 pounds (453.5 kg). Autotropolis is the source.
However, old habits are hard to break, and the term “half-ton” is still in use today. It still serves as a useful general classification term, separating the group from the larger, heavier one-ton and three-quarter-ton pickups (also obsolete terms). Checking the specific truck’s specs online or in the owner’s handbook to see what the manufacturer suggests is a better approach to learn the maximum payload capacity.
Therefore, don’t overlook half-tons because you believe you need more capacity because their name misrepresents their actual hauling capacity. In fact, Consumer Reports advises against purchasing a vehicle with a higher hauling capacity than you require because the ride would be more uncomfortable due to the higher-capacity suspension [source: Consumer Reports]. Payload capacity and towing capacity are two different concepts that you should be aware of if you intend to pull a boat or trailer.