Revo Rocco Gone Soft For Better Or For Worse? – Expert Review

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Today we present you with an expert review of the Toyota Hilux Rocco. The 8th generation Hilux was launched in Pakistan in 2016 following the success of the locally assembled Vigo Champ. The Revo outperformed its previous generations in the local market, initially being the only car in its category.

It first came with the same 1KD 3.0-liter diesel engine, which came in the imported Vigo soon after which it was updated with a 1GD 2.8-liter diesel engine in 2018 with upgraded power figures. The Hilux Revo became the go-to vehicle for off-road travel because of its reliability and toughness.

Toyota Indus then refreshed the Hilux with a proper facelift in 2021 with major cosmetic changes and yet another increase in power, after which the Rocco variant was added in 2022, being the top-of-the-line variant of the Toyota Hilux. Today we will review the Rocco in detail and find out whether it has improved.

Powertrain

The Rocco comes with a 2.8 liter 1GD diesel engine with a variable nozzle turbocharger (VNT), chain drive, and intercooler. Power has been upgraded from 174 hp to 201hp, and torque has been upgraded from 450 to a whopping 500Nm torque. The engine is configured with a 6-speed automatic transmission while the power is delivered to all four wheels.

Exterior

The Rocco gets a considerable amount of cosmetic changes in the exterior compared to the Revo V variant. The most significant change is that chrome has been completely eradicated from the exterior and replaced with a combination of matte and gloss black to give it more of a rugged look. Starting from the rear this time, the Rocco gets LED tail lights with grey bumpers and a matte black trim at the back.

The rear bed-liner is standard with integrated LED lights in the Rocco for visibility. Unlike the V, the Rocco also gets a factory-fitted deck bar in black. Moving to the sides, the Rocco gets gloss black 18-inch alloys with all the previous chrome parts like door handles, and side view mirrors painted in matte black. The Rocco also gets matte black fender arches enhancing its intended tough look.

The major difference is, however, in the front, the Rocco’s massive matte black front grill covers the majority of the bumper with a redesigned fog light housing and a much more aggressive front end.

Interior

The interior features minor tweaks in addition to some new features. The interior is all black, as with the Revo V; however, only the driver seat is electric. The instrument cluster has been changed with an upgraded MID and colour theme for the dials.

The infotainment system also gets a well-needed upgrade but still misses out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Talking about materials, interior quality is decent, though you may see some scratchy plastic on the dash. Passenger space is good for the front passengers, but the upright seats somewhat compromise rear passenger comfort. In terms of legroom, there is ample space with AC vents for the rear passengers, and yes, climate control is now dual-zone.

Drive & Performance

Off Road performance of the Hilux has always been second to none, with features like Diff lock, downhill assist, H2, H4, and L4 assisting the driver. On the flip side, on-road comfort has been a question mark that has been tackled with minor suspension tweaks in the Rocco, which is now much smoother. Bumps do not feel harsh and overall comfort has improved.

The upgraded 1GD engine with 500 nm of torque makes the Rocco much zippier and goes 0 to 100 is around 10 seconds, which is not bad for a truck, and low-end torque reduces the need to rev the car. Top-end performance has also increased due to the higher power output with decent stability at high speeds. Overall, Rocco’s drive has significantly improved in terms of power and comfort.

Safety Features

The Rocco gets a host of features to enhance the car’s safety. To start with, it has three airbags, two at the front and the third at the driver’s knee airbags. It also comes with an automatically limited-slip differential, accordingly providing sufficient traction to individual wheels.

Other features include a Downhill assist, hill-start assist, parking sensors, ABS brakes, EBD, traction control, immobiliser, and ISOFIX child-seat anchors as well.

Fuel Average

The fuel economy has also improved with the 1GD engine; within the city, on normal driving, the Rocco easily gets 10 km/l which goes up to 11 if driven smoothly. On highways, the fuel average increases slightly to 12 km/l if driven on 120 to 130 km/h; however, if more output is taken, it falls back to 10 km/l.

Verdict

Over the course of the 8th gen Hilux’s six years of production in Pakistan, Toyota has timely improved it, and the Rocco showcases that. Along with its well-known off-road performance, on-road performance in the Rocco has been emphasized significantly, with suspension tweaks adding comfort.

The power is awe-inspiring, and the decent fuel average adds up to the overall desirability of this truck. Although some features like paddle shifters, hydraulic struts for the bonnet, and a soft closing back lid would have been the cherry on the top.

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