2008 TRD HiLux 4000SL Review
June 27, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Turn on the ignition key – thankfully there is no start button – and the 4.0-litre comes to life, although without much of a roar. If you want to nail it, leave it in 4WD, unless of course you feel the need to entertain yourself.
So how does 225kW and 453Nm of torque feel in a HiLux, it feels good, but not great. The Ute can rush from 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds, which is not bad, but is by no means quick.
Also while it’s getting you to the speed limit, the whine from the supercharger is not what one would expect, it sounds more like a Prius on steroids. A very tinny electric noise, which left many passengers extremely confused.
At least the gear shifts are smooth, thanks to Toyota’s five-speed automatic transmission. Even then, it has a tendency to hunt gears on the odd occasion.
No doubt the Bilstein shocks help (a little), but don’t expect to go around any corners like you would in even a normal sedan, there is still enormous amounts of body roll – again, why the TRD badge?
The HiLux actually comes from Thailand but the TRD bits are put together here in Australia and if you open the bonnet, this becomes rather obvious.
I am not nit-picking here, but even the clips which hold the wiring looms are of random colour, then of course, there is the cold air intake which sits in the driver side wheel guard, this is great for performance, but I thought this was suppose to be a capable off-road utility? Not exactly water proof.
Speaking of off-roading, the HiLux was taken to a 4WD track near Australia Zoo and I humbly bow down to the Toyota gods as this thing can pretty much go everywhere. It can also carry a 948kg payload.
Fuel consumption is officially 12.9L/100km, although real world tests returned around 14L/100km according to the car’s own trip computer. The HiLux also sips 95RON fuel and I would need a lot of convincing not to go for the 3.0-litre turbo diesel.
No doubt it’s a confusing car to analyse. On one hand it’s every tradesman’s wet dream, on the other, it’s nothing more than a glorified HiLux undeserving of the TRD badge.
Perhaps I am far to concerned with the actual performance and feel of this car and I am not appreciating it for what it is. Maybe I had much higher expectations of TRD?
Either way if TRD wants to be taken as a serious performance brand, some serious thought is absolutely essential!
CarAdvice overall rating: 
How does it drive:
How does it look:
How does it go:
Specifications:
- Engine: 3956cc V6 DOHC 16 Valve VVTi
- Power: 225kW @ 5,400rpm
- Torque: 453Nm @ 2,800rpm
- Induction: Eaton M90 Supercharger
- Transmission: Five Speed Automatic
- Differential: 3.58:1 (LSD)
- Brakes: Disc/Drum (with ABS)
- Fuel Consumption: 12.9 litres / 100km (Combined)
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 76 litres
- Fuel Type: 95RON Unleaded
- Safety: Dual Front Airbags
- Spare Wheel: Matching Alloy
- Towing Capacity: 2,250kg (Braked)
- Turning Circle: 12.2 metres
- Warranty: 3 year / 100,000km
- Weight: 1,850kg (Tare) / 2,810kg (Gross)
- Wheels: 17 x 7.5″ Alloy
Phil – naaa … just a warm and fuzzy feeling !!
OH WHAT A FEELING
ooooow, there it was again
Quote -Luke GT [Dingo}: I have passion to challenge what i consider is wrong, mis-informed, unjustified and so forth.
Thats just it! you challenge it because you consider or believe it to be wrong ill-informed misguided etc even though it may actually be right.
However; you get on the offensive [what am I saying; you're always on the offensive] when people challenge your views for exactly the same reason.. As proof there’s 100s of your replies which contain personal insults
I mean just because the majority of people don’t read the “Toyota Weekly” [or use it as their reference] doesn’t mean their views are any less founded or researched than yours.
At least the majority of people on here are willing and able to talk about cars other than Toyota instead of hijacking a blog to talk about their beloved make of car as it’s the only thing they know about cars
I can barely remember when we used to have civil friendly discussions about cars on this website and most of the time we stayed on topic…. Not any more
People have an opinion that is different to yours – that’s life…. get over it
Quote [Dingo}: Better still – it’s a raw bitter pill to swallow in accepting Toyota is screwing your beloved GM (Holden) and Ford to the wall with a size 20 steel capped boot.
How the f–k do you screw something to the wall with a steel capped boot? most professionals use a cordless driver drill or at least a trusty old screwdriver. Then of course theres a Nail Gun…. but that’s another matter
Quote [Dingo{: As it stands, no owner has been reported a failed TRD Aurion unlike literally hundreds of owners of cars from Holden and Ford over the years.
Could that be because as it stands Toyota aren't or haven't sold that many TRDs...?
given that they have reduced the price of the TRD Aurion
3-4 times and they are no longer selling them through selected dealers indicates that they're not selling that well unlike HSV or FPV [which unlike TRD have waiting lists for their cars]
Which means its hard to make such a comparison.
I mean you could take a TRD Aurion HSV Clubbie and FPV GT and those 3 cars mightn’t have any problems at all – alternatively you could take another TRD HSV and FPV all of which could have a mechanical problem of some sort
In the same way the ANCAP tests dont actually test the build quality or safety of a particular model car…. more like the safety of a particular car of that model. Your car might be unreliable etc but someone elses might be perfect.
I find it strange that Dingo criticises V8 Supercars and its Bogan fans yet he follows NASCAR which is essentially the same form of [silouhette] motorsport and which also has its fair share of Bogan fans
So when you look at it even though he would like to think that he is in some way better than the Aussie Ford and Holden fans… because he follows a similar sport he is no better than the rest of us
At least our drivers actually have to change gear and contend with hairpin corners etc,, they don’t just drive round a huge bowl the way a pooh does when you flush your toilet
PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!PING!!!!
That’s the sound of Dingo’s dummy :D
Wheels July 2008 pg 54 – HSV and FPV both breakdown on track day … AGAIN !!
Why is that when a Commodore or HSV is reviewed or taken to the track they are reported to have brokendown, identified with faults or bare minimum a complaint is lodged about quality issues … it is an all to often and regular occurance.
The latest edition of WHEELS has highlighted my point … AGAIN !!
Todate, 1 TRD Aurion failure has been reported yet over the years, hundreds of failures have been reported with HSV’s and FPV’s and nothing remains any different today and that is the RAW TRUTH … no-doubt painful for some clowns to accept but it doesn’t change the facts – not even remotely.
First quote of the sentance “It seems that HSV’s and track day just don’t go together”
Buy the magazine and read the rest – what a joke !!
What else has there been lately – MOTOR reported brake fade on a HSV after a single lap, The HSV wagon (or SS – what ever it was) that suffered brake failure and resulted in a crash, WHEELS testing of a FPV about 6 mths ago but was cut short when the car decided it was ‘GAME OVER’ and not restart … the list can endlessly continue. This is just on the very top of my head without taking a minute to think of a many, many more.
Oh yeah – what about the fact that MOTOR reported 12 faults with 12 different variants of the VE Commodore they tested not to mention the rather lenghthy list of recalls and quality issues that have been indentified and reported associated with the VE Commodore.
Would you like me make a list … i rest my case !!
Like GT – you idiot, How many HSV’s or FPV’s have ended up on there roofs during a Wheels test?????!?!?!?!
Oh I’ve just become a fatality!!
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Does anyone know of road legal good looking rims that fit 2005-2008 4X4 hilux dual cab. looked at procomp but offset too large giving 4o mm track variation limit of 25 mm permitted NSW. also can speedo be recalibrated for larger wheel diameter
I’d like it – if it want so silly overpriced….
Your all f&%cked in the head.
Its a car over priced yes but you want more power in the bush buy it, you want to blow someone of the lights buy a Maloo.
Put it in perspective yes Toyota should not have branded this truck under the TRD banner and i think 5k cheaper would be a fair price but who gives a sh*t people i have met who own one of these say its a ball tearer of a hilux not a maloo a hilux.
Goes great off the road cant compare it to the daily driver for performance on the road but it was never meant to just a better performing dual cab ute.
I came to this site to find some informative criticism on this vehicle but obviously none of you have driven this car or are even remotely interested in an off road vehicle
the review was good but not as indepth as it could be. F&%king bunch of know nothing posers.
That goes for the TOYO fan too.