Toyota Hilux is a series of vehicles that falls into the category of pick-ups and is manufactured by the Japanese automobile company Toyota. The car is known for its commercial purposes and its off-roading capabilities. 

The first-generation Toyota Hilux was introduced in March 1968 with a 1.5 liters inline-four engine and four-speed manual transmission. The car was produced as a replacement for Hino Briska.

The second-generation Hilux was launched in 1972 with a more comfortable interior and improved exterior. The pick-up was received well globally and came with options in transmission and engines.

The third-generation Hilux was introduced in 1978 which had a 4WD variant. The new Hilux was redesigned with wider front and rear base and had new suspensions. The 4WD variant was only available with engines of 2 liters and more. 

The fourth-generation Hilux was launched in 1983 with an improvement in design. The pick-up came with an option of 6 inches of extra in-cabin space. It later received a facelift with minor external improvements such as addition of a front bumper and a new grille.

The fifth generation debuted in 1988 and had minor improvements. The only noticeable difference was a larger wheelbase. The sixth generation Hilux was produced up till 1999 and was the last model to be produced for the Japanese market till 2005.

Seventh and eighth-generation Hilux was manufactured outside of Japan. These generations had modern design with better technology. The name “Revo” was introduced for the eighth generation in 2015. It came with the trim Hilux Revo Rocco which had different front design and different fog lamps. It further received a facelift in 2020 with minor external and internal improvements and added safety features. 

Toyota Hilux is also known for its commercial use around the world. It is also usd by the Pakistan Police Force for patrolling services.   

Toyota Hilux Exterior

With a bold yet sharp exterior, the Toyota Hilux 2022 has a dominating presence. The front is embellished by a bold trapezoid grille coupled with Hi-grade bi-beam LED halogen lamps. Below these headlamps lie LED fog lamps. The rear houses LED rear combination lamps. The rear also has a high-mounted LED stop lamp.

Toyota Hilux Interior

The new Toyota Hilux 2022 supports smart entry into the all black cabin. Common features of all the trims of Hilux double cabin include air conditioner, heater, side defogger, adjustable headrests, steering controls and infotainment system. Only the Hilux E lacks air conditioning, steering controls, and an infotainment system. 

Except the Hilux E, the rest of the trims of the double cabin have power door lock with speed, jack-knife wireless key, power windows, window wipers with mist, illuminated entry system, and 12V DC accessory connector. 

Hilux 4x4 is the only single cabin trim with manual air conditioning while the rest lack air conditioning all together. Common features of the single cabin trims include heater, adjustable headrests, illuminated entry system and immobilizer. The single cabin comes with safety features such as key reminder, engine oil level warning, light reminder, clutch start safety, anti-lock braking system and airbags. 

Toyota Hilux Engine

The new Toyota Hilux 2022 comes with turbocharged engines with options of petrol and diesel. The single cabin trims include Hilux deckless which comes with 2393 cc diesel engine, the Hilux 4x2 Petrol which comes with 2694 cc petrol engine, the Hilux 4x2 and Hilux 4x2 UPSPEC which come with 2393 cc diesel engine, and the Hilux 4x4 which comes with 2755 cc diesel engine. 

The double cabin trims all come with 2755 cc diesel engines which include Hilux E, Toyota Hilux Revo G 2.8 Manual, Toyota Hilux Revo G 2.8 Automatic, and Toyota Hilux Revo V Automatic 2.8. 

Toyota Hilux Mileage

With a fuel tank of 80 liters, all the Hilux trims have a fuel economy of 9 km/l in the city and 11 km/l on the highway. 

Hilux Ride & Handling

Toyota Hilux is known for its strength and off-roading capabilities. The new Hilux 2022 is even better when it comes to going on off-road adventures. Its stiff suspension and strong engine make it superior to its competitors and it delivers a quality ride. The stiff suspension might be bothersome in routine drives but that is what allows the Hilux to bear heavy weights. The manual transmission is more responsive than the automatic transmission but takes more time to reach maximum speed. 

Overall, Toyota Hilux 2022 provides a comfortable ride but requires some expertise for handling as it is a pick-up.

Hilux Maintenance

As Toyota Hilux is locally assembled, its parts are easily available in Pakistan. The downside is that its auto parts are expensive which might make maintenance difficult.

Hilux Specs

In Pakistan, Toyota replaced the 2.8L engine in 2021, now Toyota Hilux Revo 2022 comes with 2.8L Turbocharged 1GD-FTV engine.

Engine

• 2.0-liter inline4 Petrol
• 2.4-liter inline4 Diesel
• 2.5-liter inline4 Diesel
• 2.7-liter inline4 Petrol
• 2.8-liter inline4 Diesel
• 3.0-liter inline4 Diesel
• 4.0-liter V6 Petrol

Gearbox

• 6-speed manual
• 6-speed sequential automatic

Hilux Competitors

Toyota Hilux 2022 faces competition with Isuzu D-Max in the Pakistani market. Other competitors include Nissan Navara, Toyota Tacoma, and Mitsubishi Animal which are imported and are not locally assembled.

The strongest competitor Isuzu D-Max comes with some additional features such as child lock, remote control boot lid and a better mileage. It also lies in the same price range as that of Toyota Hilux. Hilux has an upper hand when it comes to having an Anti-lock Braking System.

Hilux Pros & Cons

Pros

• Refined diesel driveline
• Strong off-road ability
• Resale value

Cons

• Basic interior
• Bouncy ride
• Poor maneuverability