Toyota Hilux – Is it still the de-facto pick-up truck?

But with the introduction of updated rivals such as the new Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton, does the Hilux has what it takes to maintain its position?

1. Is it powerful?

Despite its 2.8-litre 1GD-FTV turbodiesel engine pushing out 177 PS and 450 Nm, in real-world driving conditions, the engine isn’t as powerful as the figures suggest.

The lack of performance can be attributed to the Hilux’s kerb weight, as it tips the scales at 2,100 kg, making it one of the heaviest pick-up trucks on sale.

As such, its 84.3 PS per tonne power-to-weight ratio falls behind the Ford Ranger (98.8 PS per tonne) and Mitsubishi Triton (93.8 PS per tonne).

2. Is a 4x2 version available?

Unfortunately, Toyota Malaysia has discontinued 4x2 variants of the Hilux due to sluggish sales.

If you need a 4x2 pick-up truck, you may want to consider these alternatives:

• Ford Ranger
• Isuzu D-Max
• Mitsubishi Triton Quest

3. Does Toyota offer a manual variant of the Hilux?

Yes, for those wanting to shift your own gears, Toyota Malaysia has 3 variants of the Hilux fitted with a 6-speed manual.

These variants include:

• Double Cab 2.4G (MT) 4x4
• Double Cab 2.4 STD (MT) 4x4
• Single Cab 2.4 (MT) 4x4

4. Is stability control available?

Most variants of the Toyota Hilux are fitted with stability control, except the Double Cab 2.4 STD (MT) 4x4 and Single Cab 2.4 (MT) 4x4 variants

5. What about other safety features?

Toyota Malaysia offers 3 airbags on manual variants of the Hilux, and 7 airbags on automatic variants of the model.

Apart from that, Toyota Malaysia also offers a range of optional safety equipment, such as a 360-degree view monitor, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and a rear digital video recorder (DVR).

6. Does Toyota offer a single cab variant of the Hilux?

Yes, for those that needs the extra-large cargo space for hauling things, Toyota Malaysia does offer a single cab variant of the Hilux.

7. Is it suitable for businesses?

It depends on the type of business you manage.

If your business requires you to haul heavy equipment or farm produce frequently, then the Hilux Single Cab is a great option.

However, if you need to ferry several workers at the same time, then the double-cab, manual variants of the Hilux are good options.

8. I like off-roading, which variant should I pick?

We reckon that the Hilux Double Cab 2.4 STD (MT) would be the ideal choice for those serious off-roaders, as it's a no frills, basic variant - basically an open template for serious off-roaders to modify/customize.

9. Wait, but the 2.4 STD MT doesn't have Down Hill Assist, isn't that useful?

Before we dissect why Downhill-Assist Control (DAC) is counter-intuitive, let’s take a closer look at how it works.

Similar to how ABS works, DAC works by braking individual wheels to maintain control, without the driver’s input.