2009 Toyota HiLux sneak preview
A source deep inside Toyota has managed to sneak out some pictures and information regarding the facelift for the new Toyota HiLux, with production of the new model starting this month.
Although from what we can gather the only significant change is the slight redesign of the front and minor improvements to the interior.
The Thai-made HiLux will also receive cruise control on SR5 manual transmission double cab models.
New kerb and gross vehicle mass weights have also been updated and are listed below (click on image to enlarge):
What do you think of the updated HiLux?

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August 27th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Typical Toyota facelift. New uglier grille and bumper. Very little effort required when you dominate the segment though.
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I believe this is all on the Thailand Toyota website
Its now even more ugly.
No wonder they sell so many Navara’s
Cheers
F-0
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Might give the toyota fleet department something to talk about for five mintues.SSDD,and same price,ouch
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Whats with the gear stick? I havnt seen such an ugly one in about ten years!
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Just as ugly as the current model, makes the Navara look like a supermodel.
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
What do I think of it? Easy.
It’s hideously over-wrought in the grille department and chronically over-bodied/under-tyred everywhere else.
None of this will matter to those who bought the twin rear wiper Camry wagon without question 15 years ago.
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Will sell every one they can get. Hilux is the biggest selling vehicle (all types) for how many years? two, three?
If you cant afford it you wont like it. Same as it ever was… Grill is as per Tundra in the US.
Wait until you see it in the metal until you judge it. opps common sense crept in then, my bad..
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August 27th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
DanMan….your logic amuses me because using the criteria that you described (we only say the hilux is ugly because we can’t afford it) then we must all love the look of cars like the Ssangyong dual cab Ute! That’s and affordable Ute isn’t it???
Grow up and accept the fact that Toyota won’t manage to brain wash everyone with their bullshit marketing and don’t be so bitter about it!
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
DanMan - its a bit elitest the say that the only people who don’t like hilux’s are people who can’t afford them… We are hardly talking about a porsche here mate! And have you seen the people who drive them? None of them look particularly rich buddy! The current model hilux is not as “tough” as previous models, which is what alot of people are complaining about, BUT it is alot nicer to drive on the road then previous models, and in my personal opinion is bettered only by the new navara as far as on road dynamics is concerned. It’s a good truck, but its not best in class anymore, thats just the way it is mate, but for those who have bought ones, they will be very happy with it because as i said, its still a very good truck
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August 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
one very big thing going for the hilux is that more so then any other ute on the market, it has easily the widest range of aftermarket accessories available for it, which is why so many serious 4WDers and people after outback tourers still go for the hilux, even if its not the best anymore, because with the range of accessories available for it you can easily make it into a really excellent truck. I still prefer the triton though, dunno why, just something about it makes me like it more… probably just because its a mitsubishi and i like mitsubishi’s lol
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August 27th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
More whitegood trash >>>> boring !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yawn !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only reason Toyoda sell is because thier advertising hoodwink’s the public.
ZZzzZZ ZZZZZZZZ zzzzzzZzzzzzzz Yawn !!!!!!!!!
Hilux Sux……………..
“OH WHAT A BORING CAR” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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August 27th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Big effort by toyota again.LOL.
OLD MODEL LOOKS BETTER!
Love the overbite grill,NOT!LOL.
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August 27th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
This is uglier than the pre-facelifted version, which was no oil painting. And if prices and standard euipment don’t change much, it will still be the worst value for money in its segment. Not to mention there are better driving alternatives. Given the above and Hilux’s sales numbers, there are way too many blind sheep out there.
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August 27th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Is the fact that the glovebox is open at a sign of Toyotas build quality slipping? or is that the only improvement to the cabin? a roomier place to store the UBD
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August 27th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Looks like a Toyota Crown with crappy cheap 15 inch wheels and drum rear brakes…
Seriously, why would you spend more to get into a Hilux just to end up with less than the competition are offering.
Should come with free kidney belt.
If you are in the market do yourself a massive favour (financially and also so your mates don’t laugh endlessly at you) and take a long hard look at Navara; BT 50; Ranger and Triton.
Do the math, all are better value and whats more, better vehicles.
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August 27th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Quote [Millatime] Seriously, why would you spend more to get into a Hilux just to end up with less than the competition are offering.
Same reason you’d spend the extra and still end up in a Corolla; a Camry; a Aurion; a Tarago or a TRD.
There are a lot of other cheaper alternaties to Toyota around with better specifications and features etc
but people are so easily swayed fooled and misled.
For instance look at how popular shows like Big Brother are/were despite the fact there is no real substance to them at all. People just got caught up in the hype - but overtime the appeal wore off. And in a way the same applies to as it does with Toyota’s.
In the end you realise that it’s nothing special…. just another car with the same level of build quality as the competition [in some cases less] same level of performance as the competition [in some cases less] same level of features as the competition [in some cases less]
Yet because you spent so much money on not only buying it but maintaining it you try to convince yourself that it is as good as the salesman or the television told you because no one likes to own up for having made a such mistake
As they say believe half of what you read and even less of what you hear.
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August 27th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Ummm, CA you say a source deep inside Toyota? This information is available to Toyota dealers via their intranet, and has been for months. It’s up to the dealers to keep this information embargoed, and it’s not supposed to be reproduced. I wouldn’t be surprised if TMCA start asking you questions… same applies to your RAV4 article.
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August 27th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
tmca asking questions?LOL.
Free publicity on the new uglier grill.
Hilux owners will be stampeding dealers to upgrade!
Probably camping in front of Toyota dealers to get their order in as we type!
Quite a party ehh?
All jumping around doing the Oh what a Feeling jump!
Then there is the resale.LOL.
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Own a Hilux it is a great car with great fuel economy have had no problems mechanically with it, although this the first toyota I have had that has had recalls, some of which my vehicle was not effected by. I also like the navara but was swayed by the reliability of toyota. What I would like to see is the same motor in the hilux as they have in the prado (more torque) and the five speed auto or 6 speed manual which are far better gearboxes than the current offerings
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August 28th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Would rather a BT-50
Lolux are overated…nothing like they use to be.
All you see now are bling SR5’s
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August 28th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Something that still surprises me is the weight of teh Hilux…
Is the SR5 Double Cab really only about 1650kgs??????
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August 28th, 2008 at 11:46 am
one problem with the hilux is that water floods in the door sills if you try and ford through water. This is a problem alot of new hilux owners are complaining about and so far toyota has not been very helpfull to those owners. I’m not talking about being stuck in the middle of a creek here with water up to the window line, people driving (not stopping) through water that barely even reaches the bottom of the doors are getting the front footwells flooded with water… not good!
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August 28th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I just wish the bloody things would get out of my way.LOL
They are reliable because they are driven by Old Women.LOL.
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Not sure on the new grille but I like the new bumper.
i’ve driven all the utes on the market and yes the Hilux is the most expensive yar yar, however throw a set of rims on it and it’s far better looking than any of the others. . .
And when it comes time to trade it in it would be the only Ute i’d want to be owning. . .
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
How do Toyota owners “know” that their Toyotas are more RELIABLE than anything else when they own/drive nothing else?
Seumas do yourself a favour and get a Falcon ute up ya!LOL.
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I also utilise utes during my working responsibilities,
and i can tell you the Hilux isnt the absolute golden child as you Hilux Heros try to make out or even believe, “and anyone like myself who utilise these vehicles everyday, believe me when i say ‘i know what i am talking about’.”
one day, at least you guys might believe your own stuff
the thing is “Seumas”,
as you said you are exposed to Hilux’s every working day of your life.
perhaps if you werent so blind sided, you wouldnt make such a ridiculous comment.
just because Rio Tinto buys tonnes of Hiluxs on bulk fleet prices, it doesnt mean they are the best.
how many times now has the Hilux been out classed by the Navara, Ranger, BT50 in the 4X4 tests over the years??
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August 28th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
i second that Realcars
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August 28th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
But Realcars - is there anything else apart from Toyotas?
First up you have the Image Conscious Yuppie Toyota owners in their Prados/Cruiser/Hiluxes who can’t see anything else on the roads apart from the other Prados or Landcruisers on the Road as they are so high off the ground
Then there are the elderly that drive a Camry/Aurion which has an A pillar thicker than that of a VE Commodre that they can’t see around it not to mention the bad driving position which makes it so that they are peeking over the dash unable to see past the wipers.
And finally the young female owners in their Yaris/Corollas who are so busy either doing their make up in the mirror or talking on the phone etc that theu very rarely focus on the road
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August 28th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Gee quoting Aust Post Management ain’t a good look
Seumas!LOL.
Toyota probably gave the bloody things away as Toyota does when they want to flood the market just as they do with rental companies etc.
All part of their marketing strategy to saturate the market.
Similar to when u pee in your incontinence pad at the sight of a Lexus.LOL.
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August 28th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Gee now I have this weird image of Seumas and his mates standing around the bulletin board tomorrow grunting at each other and sniffing each others farts.LOL.
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August 28th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
What’s this about TOYOTA cheating at Nascar?
Another Aurion Dragcar/gocart DEBACLE EH?LOL.
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August 28th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Seumas is Dingo. Confirmed.
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August 28th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Hey Realcars, yaaaaaaiir. Imagine Seumas’ workmates tomorrow when he explains to them he goes on to a motoring site under multiple aliases to make Toyotas look popular.
I’m sure there’ll be a hush in the room along with an unusual concentration of teabag jiggling and excuses to ring their long-lost brother-in-law, as they ponder the calibre of freako lunatic they’re working with.
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August 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Seumas/Dingo - firstly my comment about water leaking into the front footwells, read the latest 4WD monthly magazine, in the readers letters section, you will see where i got this info from and the 4WD montly editor confirmed that this is a common issue with new hilux owners.
Secondly australia post’s fleet is utes and vans you ignoramous, they won’t be buying corolla’s, aurions and prius’s, they will be buying hilux’s and hiace’s. And the only reason they are replacing their ford transits with hiace’s is because transits no longer come in auto’s, and australia post’s fleet is 100% auto’s. Also they are not replacing their “entire fleet” with toyota’s, because they are also buying merceedes sprinters for their extra large van fleet, mainly because they are the only extra large van available now with an auto box since the transit stopped coming in auto a few years back. They are only using hiace’s for their smaller van fleet.
Get your facts straight dingo before you start going on and on
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August 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
IMMUNITY IS NOT SPREAD TO FORD AND HOLDEN JOB LOSSES AND A SLIDE IN SALES…….
Toyota to reduce production at UK plant as sales continue to skid. Production and job losses will be on cards to from what I read!
Great story on fortunes of Toyota…..so much for those immune ones who think Toyota will never go backwards! Toyota, which is struggling alongside the rest of the car sector to address sliding markets in North America and Europe is not immune to what Ford and Holden going through!
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August 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Only reason they have started using Hilux’s back in the mining industry in W.A is cause there twin air bags and mining companies are demanding more safety as usual.My brother is a driller and has told me that BHP are one of the worse,AUS-DRILL have just started buying them over the old flat trays and aren’t all that happy with them,bulk noisy on the road and still have the nick name ROLLUX!
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August 29th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Good morning Bavarian Missile.
Did you also hear that Seumas is Dingo?
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August 29th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Hey Golfy……….yeah I can see that,when we going to start deleting his comments ya think,why does he waist his time?
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August 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Make that waste!
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August 29th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Seumas - I have looked their mate, and although they are buying some of the other models, the MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIA POST’S FLEET IS UTES AND VANS! I mean thats just bloody common sense mate.. have you ever gone to Australia Post’s Brisbane mail sorting centre at Underwood? Mate the place is crawling with utes and vans! NOT SMALL SEDANS AND HATCHES!
Their is a small corporate fleet their of corolla and yaris sized cars, but by a long margin the MAJORITY of australia posts fleet is utes and vans. I mean why on earth and i even justifying this? ITS COMMON SENSE DINGO YOU IDIOT! Do you see posties lugging bags of mail around in the back of corolla’s? No! They transport them in vans you goose!
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August 29th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
haha i see your now switching your argument to australia posts CORPORATE fleet now that i have proved you WRONG! Australia Post’s CORPORATE fleet does NOT consist of 1000 vehicles mate! Barely a couple of hundred! So wow a couple of hundred more toyota’s on the road with Australia post! Big whoop when their van and ute fleet is SIGNIFICANTLY larger!
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August 29th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Seumas - way to show how little you actually know about australia post. A good portion of australia posts ute and van fleet are NOT already toyota’s! Almost all of Australia Posts van fleet are ford transits actually, and they are now in the process of replacing the transits with mercedes sprinters due to the fact the transit no longer comes in auto’s. Also, while a number of their utes are hilux’s, the majority of their utes are actually mazda dual cab’s! So why don’t you learn a little bit about what your talking about hey bud?!?
Also on that site where you read about the falcons possible demise, did you also read about the engineering excellence award the FG falcon won? No? oh i see you just glossed over that one did you even though it was at the start of the page and your doom and gloom story about the falcon was towards the bottom of the page!
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August 29th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Hey Richo seems CA have got the delete button working……..hehehe
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August 29th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
he still didn’t take the hint BM!
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August 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
The anger’s coming through. What a delicious way to finish a Friday afternoon.
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August 29th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Demise of jeffro’s comments coming soooooooooooon…
mmm I can taste it now.
Most delicious of all.
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August 29th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Dingo are you desperately trying to find someone else like you to make yourself feel better? Sorry mate its not going to be me… I’m too busy working two jobs mate!
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August 29th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Here here I second the motion about the dipstick……
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August 29th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Geez Golfy I better watch myself,keep in your good books or Ill find myself deleted,have I told you how good your looking today…….hehehe Can I drop a bottle of red down to you? 5 weeks till Wheelnut moves in so we’ll all do a Friday night catchup soon. Perhaps up here over looking the lights of Perth on Kalamunda’s escarpment,should be warmer then!
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August 29th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Good evening bavarian Missile. Take no notice of the post at 8.19pm. It was written by someone who’s getting a little, shall we say…angry :)
I’ve never had Dingo impersonate me before, so there’s a first time for everything.
Anyway, accepted! Will talk wi ya soon.
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August 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Yep I noticed they went on as me on the Caddy post………arnt we lucky !
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August 29th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Another funny thing, Bav Mis, this is the first tme he’s spelled Golfschwein correctly. I can picture him now, going letter by letter, tongue hanging out of the sifde of his mouf trying nut to get it rong cuz he’s nut weally smart.
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August 29th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
True Golfie….he is snott wheely smartt and is quiet a simple ton duf-us yeast swill-er! How can 1 take a tossa like that seriarse!
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September 1st, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hello
I\’m new to this website and drive a ba falcon ute so I\’m no Toyota fan but I can\’t believe some of the drivel being written about Toyota here. Last time I looked the Market capitalisation of Toyota was TWENTY FOUR times that of GM.
That kind of number is made by people putting their money where they are going to get a return not because give 2 stuffs about a brand one way or the other. But alot of people commenting here seem to think Toyota has brainwashed everyone into buying their cars hmmmmmmm interesting theory because they just keep buying them. Fellas your all too emotionally involved but the market isn\’t.
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September 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 am
Now this is why Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara are going to dominate the ute segment.
I wouldn’t be able to justify an extra $4,000 for a Toyota badge. Would you?
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September 15th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Does anyone mention the half star occupent safety rating the navara recieved recently??The nissan deisel engine that goes pop but was fixed by nissan with a longer dipstick?? Not to mention the resale value! To call all hilux/toyata drivers sheep is just stupid….I did the math (not the emotion)
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