TRD Hilux 4000SL vs. LS3 HSV Maloo R8 Review
June 20, 2008 by Matt Brogan
2008 TRD Hilux 4000SL vs. LS3 HSV Maloo R8 Review & Road Test
Models tested:
- 2008 TRD Hilux 4000SL 4.0 litre Supercharged V6 petrol auto – $64,990 (RRP)
- 2008 HSV Maloo R8 6.2 litre LS3 V8 petrol six speed manual – $61,550 (RRP)
- Review by Matt Brogan & Paul Maric. Photographs by Matt Brogan.
When we decided to run two of Australia’s favourite sport utes head-to-head this week, it was bound to cause some heated discussion around the CarAdvice office. Despite the pair of pick-ups having a slightly different application, they are still essentially the same high powered, tail happy tradie trucks that offer something just a bit above the boring old workhorse – real horsepower.
Now before we begin, remove purpose from this argument, because we well know these utes are essentially a sports car with a tray and that outright performance rates far more highly on the consideration list than payload or practicality in this instance. It’s this debate that in certain circles can start a bit of a ruckus.
You see most blokes see these utes as toys, or show ponies if you will, and more often than not will give a bit of lip to the well cut metro male for driving a ute that’s all go and show with no room to stow. But as we found out when it comes to at least one of the pair this criticism is well deserved.
The HiLux is a thoroughbred among working circles and has been, undoubtedly for very good reason, the number one seller in its class for sometime now. Consequently it would stand to reason that enhancing this tried and true formula even further should only improve the already accomplished package significantly – enter TRD.
Toyota Racing Development is the modern day moniker given to a collective of motorsport pedigree stretching back, in Australia at least, over fifty years. In 1957 a Toyopet Crown finished 47th in the grueling Australia Mobilgas Rally and years later, perhaps most notably for us, Corolla won their category two years running at Bathurst (1968-69). Since those humble beginnings Toyota’s motor racing success both at home and abroad has been a varied and triumphant juggernaut.
This heritage has now filtered down in to road going vehicles with HiLux and Aurion both receiving some special treatment, and for but a few simple modifications, TRD have made the current series HiLux not only more powerful, but more desirable and better looking as well.
Back to the topic at hand, yup, the TRD Hilux certainly has wildly deficient on-road characteristics. Downright dangerous, even.
Another small point to note is the expected resale value in 10 years time!!
Sorry Phill I misunderstood what you said before.
Andrew M, what about the Aurion though?
I don’t think it’s such a mystery, DlR1.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Toyota are ABSOLUTELY going after the HSV and FPV ute purchasers here. Despite some fundamental differences in the type of vehicle on offer, they’re not poles apart as some are suggesting.
That’s why the boys did the comparison. They even said so.
To clarify further, if you want to spend sixty-ish on a top-line ute with stripes, Max Kilowatts, red stitching and speccie wheels, these and the FPV offerings are your lot.
That’s why these compete. It’s not hard.
Tom – correct me if i am wrong but motorsport wether it be F1, NASCAR, Drag Racing, WRC/ARC, V8 Supercars or Production Racing is about expressing engineering talent … am i wrong – NO!!
The TRD S2000 Corolla’s represent as much (or as little)to regular Corolla’s as what V8 Supercars do with the Falcon and Commodore.
The TRD Corolla is infact a regular chassis that been retro-fitted with the drivetrain and AWD system from the Celica GT4. No different to the non-production drivetrains fitted to V8 supercars. Infact, Ford Australia doesn’t even sell a pushrod V8 !!
The 2JZ fitted to TRD Drag Aurion (previuosly Camry Solara before the recent re-shell) was co-developed by TRD USA and a drag racing outfit i have sense forgotten the name and was imported by wealthy Toowoomba businessman and long term drag racing enthusiast – Tony Wedlock.
The car is infact the property of Tony Wedlocks ‘Extreme Motorsport’ but with mechanical and technical assistance now coming from TRD Australia in conjunction with TRD USA.
The off-road buggy of Petter Kittle infact uses the 2GR-FE engine.
I recently received an email from Todd Connolly who is the manager of TRD in Australia and i will quote 2 sentances from his reply …
quote ” Peter Kittles off-road buggy uses a 2GR-FE engine (eg Aurion) and we have learn’t alot about this engine in the process. As a result, we are now looking at a development of the engine to use in drag racing. We also share our learnings across our teams – for instance, we have recently installed a 3SG engine in our drift car which Neal Bates help with as each of our rally cars use variations of this engine from Celica GT4s to Corolla WRC, Group N(P) and now S2000″ unquote
continue …
quote “Importantly, motorsport provides us with a oppurtunity to conduct R&D in intense and severe conditions. Neal Bates has played a large role in the development of our TRD model range using the lessons learn’t in motorsport. This comes full circle with the TRD Aurion being raced at Targa Tasmania which inturn gave us more valuable data about the car” unquote
Fact is Tom – TRD Australia is directly participating in an array of motorsports in Australia. Such participation is how greater development and improvements come about and in this case, Toyota Australia and especially it’s local operations at Altona now enjoys access to racing / motorsport expertise in the same manner Holden and Ford have long benefitted from.
You may not be aware but TRD Australia also supplies the supercharged 2GR-FE (TRD Aurion) engine to be used in the Bolwell Nagari cars.
As for the TRD Aurion running midfield in Targa Tasmania – wrong !!
Of an original field of 104 competitors in the ‘Modern Competition’, Neal Bates infact finished 21st which effectively placed him and the TRD Aurion within the ‘TOP 1/4′ and considering the field was the most competitive with dedicated performance machines such as the Porsche 911, Nissan GTRs, Subaru WRXs, Mitsubishi EVOs and so forth – that was a remarkable achievement and highlights the integrity of the car.
Worth mentioning – Neal Bates won the 3rd round of the Australian Rally Cahmpionships (ARC) this weekend (just passed)in SE Queensland beating competitors from Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Ford and VW.
That now makes it 3 wins frOm 3 rounds todate for TRD which is a good effort and on thier way of hopefully securing the manufactuers title for the 3rd consecative year.
Im quite a fan of how you change the topic to suit your agenda.
Throwing facts at me that I already know doesnt impress me.
(not sure how telling me a V8 Supercar isnt a S2000 rally car and that both do not resemble their showroom siblings helps here)
Ignoring the bits you dont want to hear doesnt impress me.
(I notice you didnt explain how Beau Yates drift car has no TRD input bar their money)
I do not deny that TRD are heavily involved in motorsports – its a great marketing tool – “we race, you win” P.S Truli put his car on the podium in France – Im sure you will be over the moon.
What I do deny, is that any of their involvement has improved the Hilux.
The fact you exchange emails with TRD head Todd Connolly means either your an extremely loyal fan or you have vested interests.
You can keep shouting figures and facts from the roof tops, or changing the topic to involve 4wd trips to the most northern end of Australia, or payloads, or whatever you want.
Lets even ignore the comparison. Lets pretend the Maloo did not exist in this story.
Read what the esteemed writers here at Car Advice are telling the readers – that the TRD Hilux has flaws. Some of them minor, some of them major.
Or do you wish to call Matt Brogan & Paul Maric liers? I dont know either from a bar of soap, but I’m going to go out on a limb and guess they didnt lie to anger you into posting more then a few times on this article. They are posting because this is their opinion.
Most readers are here for one of two reasons
-because we respect their opinion and the content they supply
-because we wish to troll for arguments.
Im here for A. What are you here for?
Finally, if you dont respect the writers opinion, or dont like them, or think they are lying, then why are you here?
And that goes for anyone, about anything they write. So you can take your Toyota bias out of the final parts of my reply.
Your blatant disregard for any sort of outside opinion, and your approach in replying to those to anyone who dares question you is deplorable. We should be here to share the passion that cars bring to us, not to hide behind keyboards trading pathetic insults to those whos opinions dont match our own.
:)
Tom – i have not ignored anything, well – intentially anyway !!
The drift car raced by Beau Yates is a 1983 AE86 that was specifically modified for drift racing by Technocraft Toyota (or known as TRD Japan) and imported to our shores by TRD Australia.
The car is now thier property and is mechanically and technically manintained by the group. I assume you read my article above dated ‘22 June 10.44pm’ and familarised yourself that TRD Australia and Neal Bated have sense re-engined the car by installing a 3SG.
If you did not read it then please take the time and read my comment in full. I am sure you find much of it interesting and somewhat worthwhile.
As i said, TRD Australia is now directly involved in variuos forms of motorsport on our shores that will only prove beneficial for Toyota Australia including the local products manufactuered at Altona.
Yes … i am a loyal fan of TRD just like fans exsist for HSV and FPV but what i find unresonable is that a hard nosed supporter of Holden or Ford is acceptable but if you side with TRD then you are critised as being biased and so forth.
Why is that exactly … !!
Ever sense TRD Australia has ramped up operations in recent times, many good products and R&D benefits have already surfaced which is what it is all about. Take the 2GR-FE engine for example … not only has it been supercharged and raced (Targa Tasmania) and will continue to be so but is now adopted in different applications such as powering the Bolwell Nagari cars.
As you should know after reading my comment above – Petter Kittle is a dominate participant in the Australian Off-Road Championships (Buggies) and is powered by the 2GR-FE (Aurion) which is fantastic R&D in intense and harsh environments which all brings about greater development oppurunties. And as Todd Connonlly informed me, they are now looking at a drag racing version of it.
So – YES … i support the operations TRD in Australia and i certainly appreciate thier efforts.
local operations of Holden and Ford have long enjoyed the benefits of HSV and FPV and now – Toyota Australia will benefit from the expertise of TRD which will only stand to bolster not just thier presance in motorsport (that people have long critised for lacking and justifedly so) but hotted up Toyota’s and ongoing improvements to regular production units.
cheers
I am sick of hearing about Toyota’s so called quality and reliability, but regularly i hear of another quality problem. This time it is another vehicle recall. Landcruiser this time. In fact the quality of Toyotas all over the world is on the down slope according to vehicle quality surveys which recently rated Ford in the USA ahead of Toyota in quality and reliability. TRD are a joke. That TRD CAMRY, oh, AURION…….is a joke. It cant even be rated against an XR6 Turbo let alone have the gall to be compared to an FPV F6 !!
AURION………The NAME has changed !!!!
DINGO YOU HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES, CAN YOU PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF THIS SITE GO FIND SOME HELP !!!!!
What a weekend for Toyota in Motorsport :
* F1 … 3rd
* Nascar – Sprint Cup (1st tier) … 1st
– Nationwide (2nd tier) … 2nd
– Craftsman Trucks … 1st
* Australian Rally Championship (ARC) … 1st
WELL DONE TOYOTA !!
* F1 … 3rd
* Nascar – Sprint Cup (1st tier) … 1st
- Nationwide (2nd tier) … 2nd
- Craftsman Trucks … 1st
* Australian Rally Championship (ARC) … 1st
And in other news
Ivor Biggun defeated Phil McCavity in the Caber Toss Championships in Edinburgh
Whats up dingo; not much going on at the mines this week?
Sorry Wheelnut, i must have missed it … did you say the Maloo is not a real ute.
I am sure those who buy the car are informed not to carry any more then a cricket bat and straw hat, don’t wonna overload it and collapse the suspension.
Wheelnut – enjoying my 2nd day off … i satisfy a 4 on / 4 off roster or what we refer to as a ‘rota’.
Anyway, i have just opened a beer to celebrate Toyota’s strong performance in racing this weekned and now i’m off to wash thecars and spend time with the kiddies.
hoo-roo … !!
Dingo, funny that the only team to have won as a Toyota is Joe Gibbs, which Toyota paid to switch to them from Chevy. So where are the other Toyota teams that Toyota themselves setup???? Nowhere, same with Nationwide series.
In ARC Toyota wins again, yeah good work, except what other manufacturers directly compete????? That answer would be zero. They’re competing against privateers. Plus Toyota developed none of the Group N (P) or S2000 Corollas, all work was carried out by Neal Bates Racing organisation before Toyota even setup TRD Australia with them.
Next question how many times has Toyota won an F1 race??? How many times have they won Le Mans? How many times have they won Bathurst outright? The only thing Toyota have won anything in was WRC which were then kicked out for blatently using illegal turbos.
OH WHAT A FEELIN for limited success of their own doing rather than piggy backing with already successful teams
ok ill correct you if you are wrong……..
CORRECTION>……….
YOU ARE WRONG!!!!!!!!
how many recals have been placed on the Hilux in the past 12 months?
did they include that figure in your subscription of toyota times?
you can fabricate your load lugging stories all you want, but whether or not you like it, the falcon can legally carry every inch as much weight as what a Hilux can legally carry. (in base form thats a genuine 1 tonne)
the best bit with the falcon is that it actually has the grunt to pull the load.
making the springs/chassis good enough to support 1 tonne is only half the job. whats the good of being able to support the load if you are going to throw a gutless 4cyl or 6cyl in it (which is the case with the Hilux).
TRD Aurion,Toyota’s attempt to woo FPV and HSV sedan buyers.TRD Hilux Toyota’s Attempt to woo performance Ford and Holden ute buyers.Both fall well short of the mark.As someone already said TRD Austraila is a joke compeared to the TRD’s of Japan or the US.TRD Australia is the Clayton’s TRD of the world,The TRD you have when your not having a TRD.
I can understand why Holden (GM) and Ford don’t like outside competition because thier performance becomes lustre and of course a greater challenge to keep thier loyal fans happy.
Nissan made a complete mockery of the local V8’s while even the imported Ford Cosworth Sierra put them to shame. Now Toyota is doing a similar thing in Nascar. It’s easy to beat your own chest and keep the crowd happy when there is no outside competition but unfortunately for Holden and Ford in Oz and Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge in America – as soon as outsiders enter the fray, all of a sudden they don’t look so good.
B.Ketcell _ one Question,(and to anyone else if they know) can you buy a Ford or GM in Japan? I have always wondered about that.
Does Toyleta sell a V8 Camry ???????????
If not, how do they claim so called fake racing results…….
Dingo is a head case!!!
Crawl back into your hole Dingo!!!
Dingo,
im not saying the Hilux isnt acceptable,
im actually saying it is acceptable, but rather trying to knock down the attitude that the Hilux is the BEST, because it is not.
you forgot to add “pigabilty to drive” to your list of traits
drop your Hilux is the be all and end all of work utes rot, because it is just that……..rot.
and now you are questioning the “toughness” of the F-Series??
talk about living in denial.
2 questioins
if the prius is so economical, why dont they tour it around OZ or the UK like many other manufacturers have done to prove its efficiency.
i bet they damn well know it wouldnt fare too well.
a sweet 50 says they wont publish the results.
and another sweet 50 says they have secretly done it already and chose not to publish.
if the Hilux is so unbreakable,
then why dont they swing it around in a gravatron by the tow hooks, or drop it out of a plane to prove its unbreakability like they have done a few times with the F-series?
i say a little less talking toyota.
they make so many claims yet never back them up.
do i need to remind of the recent couple of claims they were forced to remove
you can
Interestig stuff Andrew M. I don;t think the newest Hi-Lux’s have the solid reputation of the older version as destroyed on Top Gear.
Andrew the prius bit has been done, remember the BMW 5 diesel versus the Prius across Europe. BMW wiped the floor on over all economy for general day to day travelling, but the Prius would of course by far better the BMW in solid town driving. www . cleangreencars. co . uk has interesting articles.
No Name,
thanks for the memory jogger.
i do remember that test with the BMW now.
it also reminds me of the Ford Territory on LPG Vs Prius where the Territory came in at the cheaper one to run on the same combined test route.
im surprised none of the toyota know alls didnt remind me of those couple of tests……. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
*waits for excuses*………
no name,
i suppose your vehicle choice comes down to your circumstance.
i mean if you travel a main road/hwy then the poor economy of such a small hybrid (on hwy) would cancel out any gains made during your city stint.
it could become a matter of false economy if you follow windscreen stickers as your main choice.
thats why i reckon both cycles should be displayed seperately, so the consumer can make a better judgement for themselves.
i mean, a work traveller that trades his large sedan for a small rice burner for his Hwy stint to work, may think he will save bucket loads. that wont always be the case
Ford F Series is much better than Hilux Sux, been proven on you tube and various web reviews all over the world, you are a fruit cake Dingo.
Ford private sales are higher than Toyota? The Falcon sells 80% to Fleets… Toyotas highest fleet seller (Corolla) only makes 60%. I think you are misguided. Not to mention, they could afford more fleets and still sell more to fleets… they have in excess of double the market share of Ford
Corolla sales is infact 40% fleet and 60% private as published by DRIVE.com
Unlike Holden and Ford – Toyota infact enjoys a strong fleet and private market which is why thier sales are making records.
Take Toyota commercials for example … hugely popular across all facets of the market – farmers, tradies, industries, mines and privately !!
Doesn’t get much better then that.
OH WHAT A FEELING …
Dingo Dog – So the Prius being designed for urban transport as your admission means that those wishing to take a longer journey, as many people do, will have to buy an additional vehicle (which in turn uses up the so-called savings the prius supposedly gains in carbon emmission) just to take a long jourbney.
So what you’re admitting by is the prius is a farce beyond all recourse.
Well done Dingo Doggy. Ouch!! Eat your little hybrid batteries out.
NOW if you don’t agree with Car Advice you get deleted!!!! pretty poor way to treat you readers guy’s!
Carl me old cobber – quite a few post were deleted on this article, mine included but i was only pointing out something about you-know-who, who continually write yards of drivvle that is mostly incorrect and largelyoff topic. i agree with CA on this occasion. Tis irritanting though.
Off to post my Prius comment on the correct article. lets see if they leave it then!!
225kw says “Beliebve me – the Ford Ranger is got nothing on the Hilux as a genuine working vehicle.”
Can you then tell me why the forestry dept in tassie is trading all of their hilux’s in for Ranger’s?…No?….
How about i let you in on a secret! when a hilux is optioned up with a steel bullbar and winch(essential for forestry work)it is over the maximum load limit for the front axle load!!!!
Ahh so basic cheapy leaf springs on the rear (purely for middle eastern markets, where they are known the overload (taliban troop carriers)) and whimpy front sus not capable of tugginga few stick around. something ain’t right there. You sure?
Carl,
The posts were not deleted for disagreeing, some of these you may notice remain. Posts were removed however for the following reasons as we simply will not tolerate this behaviour on our website.
- Comments or remarks of a profane, offensive or prejudicial nature
- Comments or remarks which are unrelated to the topic, context or theme of the article
- Comments or remarks that are derogatory or that intend to insult or offend other readers, the manufacturer or subject matter in question, CarAdvice or CarAdvice staff
Matt.
oh what a feeling – on one hand u say 80% of people do urban driving – so Pirus is better – Yet when this test was done – as a on road test not off – or as u say 80% of what people do – u say the comarison is invalid – make your mind up. as the tester says teh Hilux on the road is a dog
Peterd – the Hilux on the road is not a dog. Infact, it is well mannered but obviuosly due to it’s higher ‘CofG’ it is not as well mannered as a regular ute – as expected !!
You don’t have to be a smart cookie to work that out … do ‘ya !!
That said, correct me if i am wrong but the Hilux is a very popular work ute that very much spends bulk of it’s time off-road especially when employed by Farmers, Industries amd Mines.
As for regular passenger cars – it’s fact … most of them spend most of thier time in an urban environment so once again … where is that 800km suburban comparison between the Prius and BMW !!
Twist comments to your hearts content but fact remains – doesn’t change the reality of the market even remotely and at the end of the day – not only are Toyota commercials the most reputatable (and setting new sales records) but Toyota outsells Holden and Ford combined not to mention continues to set new records with the previuos records set by itself.
What more do i need to say …
Oh What A Feeling – you asked above ‘What more do i need to say?’. Please say nothing, not a thing. Even just for a few days, sit back and read other peoples comments instead of jumping on everything. Can you try this? Just for a few days would be really appreciated.
Mr Toyota you have added 25% of the replies above, do you understand this?
Getting the picture?
TP Says:
June 24th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
“….Toyotas highest fleet seller (Corolla) only makes 60%.”
Wrong Paul, Hilux only sells almost 1 in 5 to private. Even you can work out thats more than 80% fleet.
Another Reader: The individual does make some very valid points. I am commenting from a neutral corner and believe that the approach and manner, reduces these valid points well below the value.
Simply suggesting (not insisting) that you learn more by listening (like I have done with Mr Toyotas replies) rather then dictating.
Well done to Car Advice for cleaning up the comments here, a good third of them. On the occasions I’ve seen mine disappear, it’s generally for good reason and I take the fall.
You’ve only got another third to go.
Another Reader: We have established that he does produce some great information, no doubting that.
I mentioned “Getting the picture?” in a previous post, it has been taken out of proportion. It was supposed draw attention to Mr Toyota making up 25% of the discussion. Nothing more.