- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.8DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
130kW, 450Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 8.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2015)
2018 Toyota HiLux Rogue review
What is it?
A new flagship version of the most popular vehicle in the country. The HiLux Rogue is one of three new lifestyle-focused models intended to increase its popularity among urban adventure seekers rather than traditional tradies.
Joining the off-road Rugged and Rugged X twins, the Rogue is designed to be a more luxurious offering than the SR5 model it is based on with revised bumpers, new-look alloy wheels and minor interior upgrades.
How much does it cost and what do you get?
The Rogue costs $61,690 (plus on-roads) and is available exclusively with a six-speed automatic, making it $6500 more expensive than the dual-cab SR5 4x4 model it shares its basic specifications with.
Apart from the new aesthetic elements, the Rogue comes standard with leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, metallic black interior highlights, white instrument cluster with orange needles, front and rear floor mats, a tow bar and wiring harness, body coloured hard tonneau cover, sports bar and a marine-grade tub liner.
That's on top of features already in the SR5 such as eight-way power adjustment for the front seats, climate control with rear air vents and a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen with sat nav, Bluetooth and digital radio.
What's under the bonnet?
There's no changes to the Rogue's mechanical configuration from the HiLux SR5, with a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel that produces 130kW and 450Nm that's hooked-up to a part-time four-wheel drive transmission via a six-speed automatic gearbox.
It's a solid and dependable powertrain that even though it doesn't set any benchmarks for outputs feels strong and accelerates smoothly with plenty of mid-range punch.
Like most of rivals, it's not the last word in refinement and sounds noisy under heavy acceleration and the six-speed automatic can occasionally shift cogs with a thump. But, in most situations, it is intuitive enough to keep the engine spinning in its sweet spot when charging around town or out on the open road at highway speeds.
What's it like to drive?
There's a lot to like about the HiLux Rogue, especially for those looking for a car that can do it all comfortably.
While it can't mask its body-on-frame construction completely, as it will still lean through the bends, the steering is a little slow and vague and the body jiggles over bumps, the HiLux is generally one of the most car-like vehicles of its type, making it easy to drive in any environment.
Around town, the suspension is busy over rough surfaces but never to the point where it feels uncomfortable or skittish, like some dual cab utes.
The high ride height makes it susceptible to cross winds at highway speeds and it will wander slightly on camber changes in the road, but the steering is well weighted enough to make it feel sure-footed and secure.
It's off the beaten track where the HiLux really excels, with a simple four-wheel drive system that offers plenty of traction and excellent ground clearance that means it can go almost anywhere.
It can also tow a heavy load too, with a maximum braked trailer rating of 3200kg and a payload of just under one tonne.
What's it like inside?
The HiLux Rogue's cabin is pretty basic for a car costing more than $60k and being portrayed as a luxury alternative with lots of hard plastics and simple controls – but, then again, the same could be said for all of its top-end rivals.
The dash design is interesting and smart at the same time, and we love the additional glovebox that is plumbed to the air conditioning system and can keep a couple of water bottles cool. Elsewhere, there's decent small-item storage space with deep door pockets, a large centre console and a binnacle at the base of the centre console big enough for a mobile phone.
The colour display stands out in the middle of the dash but its menu and functions are a bit fiddly to navigate, and while it has Bluetooth connection for streaming audio it lacks smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices.
The driving position is well sorted with good variety in the seat and both reach and height adjustment in the steering wheel, and the white-faced instruments in the Rogue are easy to read. One gripe is that the heated seat controls are hidden away on the dash and don't specify which button is for the left and right pews.
The back seats are big enough for the kids, with good legroom and rear vents.
Is it safe?
The HiLux has a five-star independent crash test rating and is fitted with seven airbags as well as basic electronic driver aids such as anti-skid brakes and stability control.
However, it doesn't come with any of the latest semi-automated crash avoidance systems like automated emergency braking or collision alerts.
Would I buy it?
There's good reason why the HiLux is the country's most popular new car at the moment – it's like a Swiss Army Knife in that it can competently carry out a number of roles.
The Rogue builds on the SR5's strengths with a bit more style, the added security of a hard tonneau cover and a standard towing kit to justify its premium price tag.
Personally, I'd divert towards the more off-road focused Rugged X but for those that don't want the out-there looks the Rogue is a good solution.
What else should I consider?
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak is still our pick for the best recreational ute, as it is more comfortable to drive and comes with some of the latest safety features.
But if you're after a premium ambience than the Volkswagen Amarok V6 offers a more car-like driving character, or you can have the shine of a three-pointed star with the Mercedes-Benz X250d Power for the same money.
2018 Toyota HiLux Rogue Price and Specifications
Price: $61,690 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 130kW at 340rpm
Torque: 45Nm at 1600-2400rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, 4WD
Fuel use: 8.5L/100km
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