2009 Toyota HiLux Review & Road Test
November 20, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Toyota HiLux Review & Road Test
HiLux SR is one tough unit
Model Tested:
- 2009 Toyota GGN15R HiLux SR 4.0-litre, petrol, 4WD automatic – $35,190 (RRP)
Options:
- Metallic Paint $300 (Fitted – Sterling Silver)
Strong economical engine; capable off-road; robust build
No ABS, ESP or TCS; poor paint quality; rear centre lap seatbelt
CarAdvice Rating: 
- by Matt Brogan
Unbreakable. We’ve heard it time and again, but does the saying still ring true for the latest incarnation of Toyota’s number one selling light commercial?It would seem that whoever had this particular HiLux before us was determined to find out just that, for as a car with only 2000kms on the clock, it sure was looking a little worse for wear.
Scratched from end-to-end, caked with mud and gravel inside and out, battered and bruised the length of the tray, plus squeaks and rattles galore, this ‘Lux had been given one heck of a hard start to life; and not being one to back away from a challenge, I thought I’d continue the initiation.
So with two weeks up my sleeve, I thought I’d throw some real world R&D at the revamped MY09 HiLux, and with a proper four-wheel-drive system underneath and a very respectable 1115kg (total) payload, the HiLux was not about to get off lightly.
Not much has changed from last year’s design, in fact I was hard pressed to spot the difference, but I’m assured it now features a trapezoidal grille and redesigned front bumper – which is said to give the impression of a lower centre of gravity.
I threw a range of tasks at the HiLux, including a long highway drive, urban stop-start mundania and some off-road work, while varying the load carried continually – this was partially assisted due to the timely borrowing of the HiLux during house renovations.
On the highway, HiLux performed well, and the cruise control was a very welcomed addition. Sure the ride was a little stiff due to the wishbone/coil independent sprung front and leaf rear, but I guess that’s to be expected given the vehicle’s purpose; and though cabin noise was evident, it was not as intrusive as some of the competitors I’ve driven.
Tags: Toyota HiLux
How can any car in 2008, not have ABS standard?! A major flaw in my opinion.
should have abs. Good ute the hilux, but it’s no longer the be all and end all in utes like it used to be, but its still trading at stupidly inflated prices over it’s rivals. Simply bad value for money, as good a ute as it is.
Nice to see the direction Car Advice is taking with some practical reviews as well as the Aston and other dream car ones. Can’t say I’ve ever driven a petrol version and the 3.0TD pulls fairly well, it’s no landcruiser cab chassis in terms of pulling and bashing around at work and doesn’t cost as much either. The review summed up it’s purpose and capabilities well. Car Advice has become more purposeful over the last 6 months while still having the entertainment factor, very well done.
I wouldn’t complain if our hiluxes had ABS, but I’m still one of these people that gets nervous with ABS on dirt roads at speed coming into corners, the feeling of applying brakes and brakes refusing to stop because of the ABS is scary stuff, I’m sure it’s being/been ironed out in the new systems though?? I’m sure someone on here has the technical knowledge of ABS to explain the developments over the last few years.
Yeah, I get a little frustrated at the inaccuracies that seem to creep into car advice’s news articles, it’s easy to think that they should research their news articles a bit more before posting them (car advice team, please view this as constructive criticism) but as far as the reviews go it’s hard to fault them!
The price of the V6 auto SR 4wd Dual cab is actually $41,440 not $35,190 as stated. The big surprise is that this is actually $1,050 less than the equivalent Holden Colorado LX V6 auto 4wd Dualcab. Nissan and Mitsubishi only offer Auto V6 models in higher price and equipment levels (ST-X & GLX-R). Who would have thought… the “overpriced” Hilux is actually the least expensive V6 Auto 4wd Dualcab on the market!
Austin – i know exactly what you mean! Australian built (and therefore australian calibrated abs systems) cars seem to have it reasonably sorted it, they allow a little bit of lockup before working, whereas alot of the european systems try to avoid any lock up at all which means on dirt road, the brakes just don’t work at all! It’s quite frightening actually.. but as i said the australian systems seem to allow the brakes to lock for a bit longer between pulses then the euro systems which maybe isn’t as great on tarmac (although i would suggest the difference is fairly marginal) but it allows the system to work so much better on dirt.
Dlr1 – i should have qualified my statement, in diesel trim, its very overpriced compared to rivals, especially in SR5 trim.
The one pictured is not the 2009 version, Grille is wrong and so is front bumper,
ABS is optional mainly becaus eso many people do not want it in a n off road sense, Its has taken a lot of development to get it where it is, For instance on the new 200 series it has what they call off road ABS, where it senses your on gravel and will brake accordingly, The hilux doesnt have the sofisticated electronics and sensors to run the unit and so they go for the traditional lock up sensor on each wheel, no where near as effective off road hence the option extra.
The only model that looks any good is the sr5 4*4.
The rest look fugly with little wheels and lower ride height.
Notice others give u the high ride height even with 4*2 which improves the look of the things.
Just buy a falcon ute and save heaps and enjoy the drive.
Realcars – i know you have a set against japanese utes and all, but mate this is a review on:
a) a dual cab; and,
b) a 4X4
Both of which you can’t get with a falcon ute. Perspective buddy…
Just buy a Lancer and a Falcon ute for work and have money left over.LOL.
to be honest i think the Ford Ranger/MazdaBT50 twins are much better value, more manouvaerable size and have sweet engine specs to match.
toyota dare i say, is very very much over rated. Bestfriends dad just bought a diesel Hilux SR5 twin cab, replacing a 2001 Nissan Patrol, with the 3.0 diesel. He regrets it…alot.
Patrol was much better to cruise in to.
Realcars = a Lancer ($20,990) plus a Falcon ute ($29,000) would equal $50,000, much more than an SR5 Hilux. On top of that, you have extra registration, insurance, and servicing costs each year, plus you then have to worry about where to park the second vehicle (if you live in an apartment, you’re lucky to be allocated ONE parking space).
neither the lancer or the falcon will go off road either…
Plus the Falcon ute only seats 2. Going to come in real handy if you want to go out with the guys for lunch or to the pub after work.
The Hi-Lux is a Pick-Up NOT a Ute!!!!
The worlds very first ute was derived from a Ford Sedan from the 1920-30s and used the same chassis/platform.. just as the current Ford [and Holden] utes do; which is why they handle so much like a regular Falcon sedan.
Whereas the Hilux [Triton Rodeo F-150 Dodge Ram etc] are built on a seperate rigid “ladder” chassis which is why they handle and steer more like a truck/sherman tank
Don’t Falcon utes have a ladder frame chassis at the back too? Technically the original Fords and current Holdens are Coupe Utilities. “Utes” is only a colloquial contraction and as such can be applied to any similar vehicle. So don’t blow a valve over it. LOL.
Remember that cars used to use ladder frames as well, including the utes that were based on them.
Flow,
I doubt youd buy an SR Hilux to put your kids in and drive about, its still got a 4 star safety rating. ESP and ABS are not always desireable especially when 9 out of 10 SR hiluxs go up north on gravel roads.
Horses for courses.
Don’t know about the fg but u could get a bench seat in the bf2 ute.
Realcars,
yep,
you can still opt a 3 seater falcon.
in the falcon they throw the gears on the column meaning if you have your mate beside you in the centre, you dont have to search among his sweaty “Gonads” to change gears.
I think Tyson is right.
This doesnt look like the 2009 model to me either.
Yeah Ford think of everything.LOL.
Im waiting to see the TRD Lux advert where his best mate is in the centre beside him.
he reaches for a gear, but grabs the wrong knob. whilst he has his hand full of the merchandise, his mate just gives him that “TRD Nod and grunt” of acceptance and no words are exchanged
there is an anti ad for the footy show next year
I don’t know why anyone thinks that TRD has any connection whatsoever with Australia. Toyota seem to compare to HSV and FPV, but TRDs are available overseas and well and they get many more models than we do. There are TRD Corollas in Asia and TRD Tacomas in the US, for instance.
Mark,
can you get a TRD Aurion overseas??
TRD also has an Australian arm
true that TRD is not a performance name unique to Australia, but the models it delivers here are
Andrew M,
The TRD Hilux is a 5 seater!! There is no reason to get too personal across a center seat, like in a falcon ute!!
Tomas,
you missed it, go back to sleep
maybe you should realise that the sport model falcon utes cant have a bench option aswell…….
Jekyl & Hyde, sure RRP is the starting point, but you cant prove otherwise based on innuendo and hear say. The hilux is $1050 less than the Colorado on similar spec truck. Nissan and Mitsubishi charge more for V6 auto. I’m not saying that Hilux is the cheapest of all models, only in V6 auto, which is what the review was about. Just live with it. But just to make you feel better the manual V6 triton is about 4-5K less than hilux. Now go and wipe those tears away, all will be OK.
JEYKL & HYDE Says:
November 24th, 2008 at 10:52 am
dir 1,
just go on believing what you want to believe.you can get a colorado on road for a touch over 37 grand,onroad.that’s not innuendo or hearsay.good try with the cheaper toyota thing though…now i’ll go back to crying in my cornflakes,and you go back to fantasyland…
You will be crying in your cornflakes when you go to trade in your colorado a few extra thousand spent to start with on a hilux will save you many more when it comes time to sell ;)
GET OUT! CARS DEPRECIATE! THATS A FACT I DIDNT KNOW!
(some just depreciate at a better rate than others due to supply and demand, hence why it does matter what badge is on it! and to add to that the Toyota is better at what it does, lasts longer, and is better built)
JEYKL & HYDE Says:
November 27th, 2008 at 10:36 am
tyson,
anybody buying any dual cab pickup with a 6 cyl petrol needs their head read.and buy the way,pretty much all cars work their way to nil value,don’t matter what badge is on it…
Hilux’s are way over-rated, any of the current Jap pick-ups can do just as good a job, if not better than a boring Hi-lux.
Haha, no I dont own a Toyota, I drive one everyday as a work car, and yes selling them is great :) Facts can support they last longer and are better built as its written in the faces of everyone who decides to own one.
On a feature note Toyotas have always been off the pace, but what they lack in gadgets and gizzmos, they make up for in a very well built boring car ;) its why there the only manufacturer in the world to not be in debt, they own everything out right :)
Im not the best sales person in the world and will never claim to be, It just takes a lot of clear explanation and justification. Confidence is 9/10ths of it, Arrogance is in someones perception and has nothing to do with selling the car, an arrogant salesman will never do well.
So Jeckyl and Hide, if you would like to come in, Id be happy to show you over a vehicle of your choice show you what Toyota has to offer, and physically show you the quality engineered into the car. Believe me its better than half the stuff you read about on the internet :)
How can you Diss the Triton for Having too Much Plastic. If anything the Hilux and Colorado. Not to mention the Navara are all PLASTIC FANTASTIC!
Take a look at the other vehicles closer caradvice.com
You will see that the Triton has the least plastics by far
No-one buys V6 auto 4WD utes. Most dealers that have them end up with them going old stock. Ford and Mazda don’t even bother with them in their range.
Tyson you are kidding yourself if you believe The Hilux is best in class. But as J & H say’s, your income is dependant on you believing that so there goes your objectivity. Toyota will also bombard you with The Toyota Way, and other corporate rubbish until you really do belive it. Credit to you though for owning up to being a lowly car salesman, ranked in the bottom 3% of all occupations.
haha Lowly Car salesman, You have obviously had poor dealings with them. Statistics are a wonderful thing :)
As for objectional? Ive sold Nissans, Mitsubishis, Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai. I’m also a qualified mechanic and dealt with all of the above. Believe me Toyotas give the least amount of grief :) If I didnt feel they where the best Id go sell something else ;)
Toyota Hardly bombard us with the “Toyota Way”, its as you say corporate rubbish, and has nothing ot do with selling the cars, I also never said it was best in class, that comes down to a customers wants and needs and whats going to fulfill them, But Ill offer the same courtesy to you, come in and ill show you over a hilux, and if after that you still think there overpriced POS then ill take my hat off too you sir.
what you are talking about???
this is the best one
I am looking at the Hilux SR5. Wow it is expensive. They want $54K for a pre August 2008.
I can get the DMax for $10K less.
i am looking at buying an SR5, what engine is better, diesel or petrol, i do some rock crawling, but not as much, love mudding and also love power. but the siesel has more get up and go.
Does it have, due to the light clutch, on this model?
The SR5 might be all well and good on paper, but before you consider one, consider trying to live with the base model- the Workmate – to see what sort of car the Hilux truly is.
It is absolute rubbish- and you would never know unless you never put your Toyota blinkers aside and try anything else. While base models of other cars in our fleet manage to get minor luxuries like remote central locking and power windows, the Hilux doesn’t even have intermittent wipers. Toyota want you to pay extra for this simple safety feature. While other cars in the fleet are slow and recalcitrant (except for the Mazda), the Hilux four cylinder manages to be slow and thirsty. Oh, but Toyota’s are bullet proof and reliable, I hear you say? Honestly, tell me how many new cards do you see broken down now days?
It goes on. The interior is cheap and nasty. The initially aesthetically pleasing looks are quickly disbanded with a closer inspection and a quick prod. It’s truly insulting that those horrible materials will outlast you, myself, our children and everyone you love dearly. Someday they will all be gone, while this crap interior will sit in a landfill refusing to decay, or maybe get recycled into another crap interior like the equally horrible dashboard of a car that is just as contemptuous to it’s loyal paying customers – the Toyota Yaris.
It has the turning circle of a battleship- and this is the base model with lowly small wheel sizes. The front bench seat is fixed. The gearshift is lousy. The motor (4 cyl) sound wheezy and like a canned fart at the very best. The cabin is so much bigger than the superseded models yet somehow feels more cramped for tall people. Is paying more for a Toyota truly regained with supposed increased reliability and resale value?
When you consider all of this, the famous quote “No one got fired for buying IBM” comes to mind.
Yeah, I am not comparing apples with apples because I slagging off a workmate against an SR5. Remember, though, that a fundamentally bad car still translates to a fundamentally bad car further up the models.
Toyota built their impressive empire for being boring but with outstanding reliability, value for money, quality and engineering that forced the rest of the world to sit up, take notice and lift their game. It seems they are trading on this reputation without really offering any of that today.
Where can I get one of these at $35190 – I’ll take 2.
Gee…this debate has been going for a while…it all comes down to opinion…
I take pocession of my new SR Hilux on Thursday…CAN’T WAIT!
Been a long winded process…reviews, test drives, comparisions, advice, test drives again…
For a while there, was not sure if I would ever get anywhere…doesn’t help when you have been bit by a 3ltr 2001 Patrol doing its guts at 147,000km.
What I can say though is the Hilux bet all hands down!!! (FOR ME OFCOURSE)
I drove the BT50, Ranger, DMAX, Colorado and Triton…was impressed by each for different reasons…but…everytime I climbed back into the Hilux, I just knew this had to be it…I now have the local ARB ready to add a couple of extras to help me in the bush and as more monies become available, more extras to be added.
I CAN’T WAIT!!!