TRD Hilux 4000SL vs. LS3 HSV Maloo R8 Review

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Holden have co-developed the best ESP system in the business and the way it catches the Maloo when the unexpected arises leaves little to be desired. It’s also unobtrusive, allowing you to really exercise the Maloo’s full potential.

The stellar cross-drilled rotors (measuring 365mm up front and 350mm at the rear), coupled with AP Racing 4-piston callipers endlessly pull the Maloo up with ferocious demeanour. HSV claims the Maloo pulls up from 100km/h in just 36-metres when it’s dry.

Inside the cabin it’s HSV territory. Dash mounted gauges and white-faced dials impress onlookers. The seats are certainly built for larger folks and as such you move around about during hard cornering – a perfect excuse to eat some more junk food!

Build quality sits in line with the rest of Holden’s range – nothing spesh. Plastics are relatively cheap and the sound system is utterly abysmal. It offers no bass at all and reception is rarely good. There is storage room behind the seats but it’s very hard to reach. The release for the driver’s seat is wedged in between the seat and the B-pillar. The passenger’s side is even worse, with the release located on the driver’s side of the passenger seat.

The rear vision mirror is quite ironic when you consider the only places you can see out of the Maloo are forward, left or right. The rear vision mirror points directly into the hard-top, while the rear side windows offer no assistance when it comes to lane changing.

This is the point at which the ‘Maloo shuffle’ is employed. It’s a move where the driver lurches forward and shuffles their head and body to look toward the side mirror, then out the side window, while trying to catch and glimpse of any activity via the rear vision mirror! A highly complex process!

Powering HSV’s LS3 Maloo is a 6.2-litre V8 producing 317kW and 550Nm of torque. HSV claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 15.8-litres/100km for the manual Maloo. We recorded a higher fuel consumption, this was due to the vehicle still being run in.

At $61,550, the Maloo is the cheapest way to get into a V8 powered HSV. It is an unbelievable amount of fun to drive and gets endless amounts of attention wherever it goes. As performance utes go, they really don’t get much better than this.

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Specifications:

• Engine: 6162cc V8
• Power: 317kW @ 6,000rpm
• Torque: 550Nm @ 4,600rpm
• Induction: Natural
• Transmission: Six Speed Manual
• Brakes: 365mm/350mm
• Fuel Consumption: 15.8 litres / 100km (Combined)
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 73 litres
• Fuel Type: 98RON Unleaded
• Safety: Dual Front Airbags
• Towing Capacity: 1,600kg (Braked)
• Turning Circle: 11.4 metres
• Weight: 1,832kg (Tare)
• Wheels: 19 x 9″ Alloy

Conclusion:

At the end of the day, Toyota’s asking price for the TRD Hilux is almost laughable. The lack of features and lack of driving aids place the TRD Hilux in an awkward position. It’s practically undriveable in the wet with an unloaded tray, while the lack of steering feel and fuel consumption rule it out as a justifiable purchase.

Although the Maloo doesn’t fare much better in the fuel consumption department and carries only half of the TRD’s payload, it defines a sports ute. A sports ute isn’t bought for practicality or to be used as a workhorse, it’s bought to look good and meet a certain individual’s styling requirements.

In this comparo, the win goes to the Maloo – hands down. The TRD Hilux is simply too much of a handful at the best of times and is overpriced when compared to the Maloo.