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2021 Toyota Hilux SR5 review

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Sam JeremicThe West Australian
2020 Toyota HiLux SR5.
Camera Icon2020 Toyota HiLux SR5.

The Toyota HiLux has long been pitched as unbreakable in Australia — but given its recent sales dominance, perhaps “invincible” would be a more appropriate tagline to its ads.

But while it’s been Australia’s biggest seller for the past four years and WA’s for the past dozen, nothing is for ever in the automotive world no matter how strong things seem (see Commodore, Holden).

There’s no shortage of quality contenders nipping at the HiLux’s rear bumper, so its biggest overhaul since the current generation arrived in 2015 has a fair bit riding on it.

It succeeds — but not by such a large margin it shuts the door on its competitors.

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We had the upper-spec SR5 dual-cab automatic, which makes up the bulk of HiLux sales.

2020 Toyota HiLux SR5.
Camera Icon2020 Toyota HiLux SR5.

It’s well equipped, with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a digital speedo now standard across the range, with the SR5 adding perks such as sat nav, digital radio and auto-levelling LED headlights.

It’s all easy to use, with the new dials for volume and tuning making a small but positive difference.

The lack of dual-zone air-conditioning given the price is a bit disappointing, but at least the HiLux has air vents in the back.

Aiming to make the HiLux more car-like and family friendly hasn’t really extended to the cabin, where there is still a lot of hard plastic to be found.

Of course, this is a ute so hard-wearing materials can’t really be vilified too much; on the other hand, our test car had the $2500 Premium Interior package adding leather-accented seats and door trim and heated electric front seats. We’d probably want a bit more bang for our buck.

Unfortunately we were unable to head off-road, but there’s a locking rear differential and the steering has been recalibrated to be more precise in rugged situations.

The SR5 also gets downhill assist control.

2020 Toyota HiLux SR5.
Camera Icon2020 Toyota HiLux SR5.

Its 2.8-litre diesel four-pot has had a power boost, while Toyota has also tweaked the suspension, steering and noise, vibration and harshness levels in an attempt to make the HiLux more genteel and refined.

The 20kW and 80Nm bump in output doesn’t have a stark impact on driving, but the flatter and wider torque curve helps make the HiLux pretty swift for its class off the line.

Improvements to the six-speed automatic are also noticeable, offering slick shifts and now more sure of itself when tasked with finding gears when overtaking or cruising down hills.

Claimed fuel use is claimed to have dropped, but we still used 10.5L/100km over our work.

NVH levels are improved but — much like many of the updates — don’t necessarily put the HiLux into best-in-segment conversations. Under acceleration the engine is quieter without approaching Volkswagen Amarok levels of refinement, but once up to speed it’s pretty quiet.

2020 Toyota HiLux SR5.
Camera Icon2020 Toyota HiLux SR5.

At freeway and country highway speeds, wind noise is noticeable, as is a vagueness in the steering.

It’s in contrast to its relative heaviness around town — which we personally prefer to the feather-light approach found in, say, the new Isuzu D-Max.

Dynamics and body roll at speed are pretty good for the class.

Empty-tray ride comfort was a big focus for Toyota and we think this is arguably the best improvement on the new ’Lux.

Around town it’s a lot more comfortable than before — not to be confused with comfortable in general — and though things get a bit more skittish at speed, it takes the biggest bumps to really feel anything close to harsh.

It’s a pretty good improvement, especially given the HiLux loses none of its payload or towing capability — in fact, all automatic 4x4s can now tow 3500kg.

Despite being a five-star crash-rated vehicle, the HiLux was tested under older, less strict criteria than the current standard, meaning it lacks items such as rear cross-traffic alert, blind zone warning, lane keeping assist and a centre airbag found on more recently tested utes.

The HiLux continues to be a great all-rounder, without necessarily exceeding in any particular area (save for perhaps durability and resale value, which aren’t inconsequential by any means).

It does a lot of things right without doing much wrong, since it seems to have sorted out its diesel particulate filter issues.

Speaking of which, our vehicle performed an automatic burn-off while driving, though we wouldn’t have known aside from a message on the instrument display.

You can do it manually by pressing a button if you want.

So the HiLux has improved in all areas without sacrificing anything, which is a win ... but these changes aren’t free.

Prices are mostly up across the board, with the uber-popular SR5 now up from mid-$50K drive-away to north of $60,000. You’ll have to pay extra to get a tub liner, as well.

We’ll have to see whether buyers still think it’s worth it or if it will cause their eye to start to wander.

VERDICT

The Hilux’s updates should be enough to see it remain numero uno in sales for a while — but with all-new versions of competitors coming thick and fast in the coming years, it will be interesting to see whether the changes are enough of a leap forward to maintain the status quo.

  • Price $59,920
  • Engine 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
  • Outputs 150kW/500Nm
  • Transmission Six-speed automatic
  • Fuel economy 8.1L/100km

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