Clarkson bought the Toyota from a farmyard and started trying to kill it (to be classed as dead, you had to not be able to start the engine or drive it). He stepped all over it, drove it carelessly through Bristol and into a tree after driving it down some stairs. The bonnet, which folded in after it slammed into the tree, was the only thing that was hurt. Then Clarkson tried to submerge the automobile in the Bristol Channel. Amazingly, the mechanic managed to get it operating again after clearing away all the silt, despite the lack of spare parts. The windscreen falling off was the only damage. After fixing the windscreen, Clarkson immediately took it to the test track where it was dropped from a crane, crashed through the production office, and then a caravan was placed on it, only managing to force the roof in and prevent the doors from opening. The last ditch efforts by Jeremy were to use a wrecking ball and set it on fire. Amazingly, it made it.
In This Article...
When was the indestructible Hilux created?
March 1968 saw the release of the first model. This pickup truck couldn’t be killed by Jeremy Clarkson. In total, 18 million pieces have been sold.
What truck is the toughest to destroy?
The most durable pickups are the Toyota Tundra and Honda Ridgeline.
- Toyota Tundra, 2022.
- Honda Ridgeline model year.
- Toyota Tacoma for 2019.
- Nissan Titan 2020.
- Chevrolet Silverado 2020.
- 2019 Ford F-150.
What was done to the Hilux by Top Gear?
May intervened to provide a hand after Clarkson’s failed effort to destroy the Top Gear Hilux. He made the decision to raise the truck to the top of a residential building that was about to be torn down. The Hilux vanished into the ensuing dust cloud when the explosives were detonated.
Fortunately, the Hilux wasn’t completely buried in the debris, but it was bent and broken almost beyond recognition. A digger lifted it off the top of the pile and set it on wheels. The mechanic from the opening phase of the challenge came back to try his best. Amazingly, the powerful Toyota Hilux’s engine started after everything it had been through. Additionally, it was still able to drive.
A Hilux’s strength is what?
The Hilux has a payload capacity of at least 1,000 kg, and that increases to 1,030 kg for the Active Single and Double Cabs. Each Hilux can tow up to 3,500kg while braked (or 750kg while unbraked), which is comparable to most of its competitors.
Reliability and safety
While reputation isn’t everything, Toyota has a reputation for producing incredibly durable goods, and the Hilux in particular has always been a remarkably robust and dependable car.
Although the diesel engines in the Hilux have only been available since 2015, the sturdy box frame chassis and configurable 4×4 system underneath are a tried-and-true setup. The engines employ some cutting-edge new technology to increase efficiency and performance, but we’d be astonished if they weren’t just as durable over the long haul as the older-generation diesel engines.
However, the Hilux has actually seen improvements in safety. All models other than the most basic single cab are equipped with front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, and the model range now features seven airbags, including curtain airbags and one for the driver’s knee. Additionally, Isofix child seat mountings and front fog lamps are standard on double cab variants.
There are many safety features fitted in every Hilux under the skin, so it’s not just about what you can see. ABS, Emergency Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Trailer Sway Control, and Downhill Assist Control are standard on every model. Double cabs also come with Downhill Assist Control. The Safety Sense package from Toyota’s line of passenger cars is also available on trucks. It consists of lane-departure assistance, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and (on some models) traffic sign recognition. It has a degree of technology that clearly surpasses earlier Hilux models and a number of competitors’ pickup trucks.
Euro NCAP only gave the Hilux’s conventional crash protection rating of three stars in 2016; however, with Safety Sense installed, that rating increases to a full five stars. Toyota claims that the ladder-frame chassis is 20% stronger than before, therefore it ought to be able to handle significant collisions better than the previous model. All versions have an alarm and an immobilizer for further security.
What is the lifespan of a Toyota Hilux?
The lifespan of a Toyota Hilux is between 250,000 and 300,000 kilometres. Any Toyota Hilux can easily surpass 300,000 miles with routine maintenance and repairs. Your Hilux should last 10 to 15 years with average annual mileage of 20,000 to 30,000 miles before needing significant maintenance.
Why did Toyota cease production of the Hilux?
The so-called “Chicken Tax” is to blame for the lack of Toyota Hiluxes in the United States. This tax refers to a 25% tariff that the U.S. government levies on imported goods like brandy, potato starch, and dextrin as well as light trucks like the Hilux. If the Toyota Hilux were produced in the United States, it could be sold for a reasonable price and not be subject to the Chicken Tax.
Toyota must produce a truck in the United States in order to avoid paying this tax. The Tacoma is essentially Toyota’s answer to the Chicken Tax.
Therefore, Chicken Tax prevents the Hilux from competing in the American pickup truck market since this tariff drives up the price of the vehicle. On the other hand, you are free to import a Toyota Hilux from someplace else in the world. There are no legal restrictions on purchasing a Toyota Hilux in the United States.