Toyota Hilux

As robust as it looks from the outside, the Toyota Hilux is all appealing from the inside as well. As you get inside the Hilux, you will be surprised to see such styling elements that could even leave a luxury car behind. The rich leather seat upholstery and aperture, give a plush feel to the cabin space and also add comfort to the occupants. The all-black color contouring on the dashboard looks very premium and adds to the style quotient of the interior. Selected variants of the Toyota Hilux also have an Optitron Instrument Cluster with a digital climate control system. The center instrument cluster has a 4.2-inch Thin-Film-Transistor (TFT) screen with two dials on either side. 

The Toyota Hilux also gets a chilled upper glove box so that you can enjoy cold drinks while driving. The cabin of the 2018 Toyota Hilux is designed very practically and gets various utility features like cubby holes to store various small items. If more storage space is needed, the rear seats can be lifted up to store items underneath. The analogue clocks on the center console have a shade of white and black to make it look sportier. The pickup has a Smart Entry & Start System which enables the driver to enter the car smartly and turn on the ignition without touching the key. 

The dashboard is articulated keeping in mind the driver’s comfort. There are a lot of switch gears, planted just under the display screen. The cabin is very well insulated on the inside and on the hood making it noise-proof.

As much we liked writing about its interior, the exterior styling hues are equally attractive and desirable. Every corner of the exterior aesthetics oozes out style and deluxe quotient. The body also looks robust and powerful from the outside. Talking about the front fascia first, it proudly houses a sharp chrome embellished grille which is extended on the LED projector headlamps. The front bumper is hexagonal in shape which gives an elevated look to the lower bumper, upgrading the styling game altogether from the front. Other items covered in shiny black armour are the side mirror covers and door handles, and the replacement of chrome surfaces continue with the front bumper and also with the front grille. The huge and bulky Toyota Hilux rides on 18-inch wheels, which are intricately articulated to take the pickup on all kinds of terrains, be it a smooth city ride or rough terrains. Even the alloy wheels are a prominent feature of attraction, with its dual-tone garnishing and machine-finished cutting. 

The rear fascia of the car is also equally stylish as the front fascia. The cargo space is pretty long making the vehicle look lengthier. The taillights are very neatly placed at the rear and also compliments the robust profile of the vehicle. Fog lamps are also in place to save you from foggy and dusky nights. The wing mirrors are electronically adjustable and retractable along with smart ergonomic design. Also, the rear step is an intelligent inclusion, making the mounting and unmounting easier.

The Toyota Hilux has a powerful machine at its heart which is responsible for its rugged performance. The engine is a High-Pressure Common Rail technology which improves the power and also the fuel efficiency significantly. It is a 2.4-liter engine that can spark maximum power of 150 PS at 3,400 rpm and a peak torque of 400 Nm which comes between 1,600 and 2,000 rpm. The other variant with a bigger 2.8-litre engine is extremely powerful, making a huge 177 PS power, sparking at the same 3,400 rpm, and a peak torque of 450 Nm coming between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm. The wheels get all the power through a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. 

The pickup has three drive modes, the first one being the Eco Mode which optimises the AC cooling system and the throttle response to tackle the fuel efficiency. Moreover, the car comes in an AWD mechanism only. However, the drivers have the option of switching between 2WD and 4WD.

You need not worry whether the robust and powerful Toyota Hilux is safe to take on rough terrains. The Hilux was rated with 5-stars in the prestigious ASEAN NCAP crash test for AOP (Adult Occupants Protection).  

The cabin has seven safety airbags in the automatic transmission trims and the manual trims get three airbags. The Toyota pickup can be a hardcore offroader, hence, it has hill-start assist control making sure that it does not roll back when you are trying to initiate a hill ride. Plus, the addition of ABS, along with electronic brake-force distribution, are added safety features. The ESS (emergency stop signal), looks after the cars behind are signaled with a continuous flashing of light.

The Hilux is really massive in dimensions and is powerful and robust in terms of functional design and performance. It is also one of the best pickups for loading purposes and off-roading trips.  Even the cabin is so elegantly designed and is super comfortable for the driver. The best part is that you get all this luxury without compromising the power. The Hilux is truly a premium and powerful beast to add to your collection.