toyota hilux

The Toyota HiLux continues to dominate ute sales in Australia despite the arrival of newer – and mostly superior – rivals.

The Toyota HiLux was at least updated in 2011 to keep it fresher as it faces its growing list of competitors.

It was back in 1968 when the Toyota HiLux came into existence and not until 1979 that it even got a 4WD system. So it’s been through the past 43 years of improvement that the HiLux has earned its reputation as a proper, unbreakable workhorse or practical family vehicle.

As of today over 14 million Toyota HiLux vehicles have been sold worldwide, of which a staggering 700,000 have come to Australia (1/20). It’s no wonder then, that the HiLux remains the dominant player in its category and one of the best-selling vehicles in Australia in general.

Nonetheless, times are changing and despite its indisputable credentials, growing competition from cheap Chinese utes, a relentless effort by Volkswagen’s Amarok, the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50has meant that Toyota has had to respond.

To give it a more competitive advantage, the updated seventh-generation Toyota HiLux has got its share of new features. From the outside everything from the A-pillar forward has been updated (new bonnet, grille, headlamps and front bumper) and the rear gets new combination lamps (for pick-up models).

The real story however is the added value and price reductions to the new model range, with all 21 Toyota HiLux 4×4 variants gaining between $1960 and $8340 better value. 4×2 buyers also benefit with a host of new features and modest or no price gains, which Toyota says has enhanced value by up to $1640.

To begin our Toyota HiLux review, we set out to test drive the updated HiLux around a challenging four-wheel drive course about 30 minutes out of Townsville. Although the majority of Toyota HiLux 4x4s sold to private buyers will never see dirt, the ability to perform off-road is crucial in the upkeep of HiLux’s tough and robust reputation.

Here is thing about 4×4 utes: the vast majority of them (Great Wall excluded) can perform pretty much any basic to moderate off-roading required. When Volkswagen launched the Amarok, we embarked on an extensive 4WD course that proved the Amarok as being more than capable of overcoming some seriously tough terrain. The same story applies to the Nissan Navara and other Japanese utes. The Toyota HiLux is pretty much the same; it’s excellent off-road and has no problems conquering anything it would ever realistically need to. You can read our Toyota HiLux off-road review for more info.