Overview of the Toyota Hilux
The Toyota HiLux was the first ute to become Australia's best-selling vehicle (in 2016), maintaining its status in 2017.
Since its release in 1968, the HiLux has gone on to forge a reputation for trusted reliability and 'unbreakable' toughness. A performance variant called the TRD (for Toyota Racing Development) and featuring a grunty supercharged V6 engine was introduced in 2008 though this lasted only a year in showrooms.
The eighth-generation Toyota HiLux was released in September 2015, retaining its comprehensive line-up of body styles and variants but improving in key areas such as refinement and towing ability.
TOYOTA HILUX GENERATIONS (SINCE 2004)
2004-2015
2015-present
RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Consumption (current model)
4.0L V6 petrol (discontinued late 2017): 11.5-12.0 litres per 100km
2.7L 4-cylinder petrol (discontinued): 10.4-11.1 litres per 100km
2.4L 4-cylinder turbo diesel: 7.1-8.5 litres per 100km
2.8L 4-cylinder turbo diesel: 7.3-9.0 litres per 100km
= Highly economical.
= Good economy.
= Average fuel use.
= Heavy consumption.
Servicing
Every six months or 10,000km, whichever sooner. Each service currently costs from $240. Toyota HiLux parts and accessories can be found on Gumtree.
SIMILAR MODELS TO TOYOTA HILUX
Ford Ranger
Nissan Navara
Holden Colorado
Mazda BT-50
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: TOYOTA HILUX
Huge reputation for reliability hasn't been a fluke, and the latest Toyota HiLux continues that theme.
However, like any modern, common-rail diesel engine, the Toyota's is subject to all the caveats. Those start with fuel-injectors that can fail, comfortably within the first 100,000km. They're expensive to replace, too.
Injectors seem to wear faster with heavy use, so a HiLux that has been used for towing big loads is one to be wary of. A service record is absolutely critical to know that you aren't buying expensive trouble. We'd also be very careful with a HiLux that's been modified for serious off-road work. Not that they won't handle it, but everything wears out faster with harsh use.
Ex-fleet examples have usually been well serviced and don't present too much of a problem, but the one we'd run away from is the ex-mine vehicle. The seller will try to convince you that the vehicle has never been underground (in a mine) but that doesn't matter: The mining industry kills vehicles dead. Best avoided.
And don't pay extra for a car with Bluetooth: Toyota's Bluetooth was rubbish and even the dealers couldn't fix it.
