In Pictures: The Upcoming Toyota Hilux Pickup

The adventure-lifestyle enthusiasts in India will soon get the choice of Toyota’s iconic pick-up

The Toyota Hilux is an iconic pickup truck known for its durability and practicality. Over time, the Fortuner-based lifestyle vehicle has become a lot more comfortable too with modern-day features and premium design elements. In select markets, it is available in both single cab and double cab body styles, and the latter will now arrive in India by Diwali this year.

Let’s take a closer look at the family-friendly version of the Hilux that’s on sale in some countries.

Front

The Hilux is globally available with two different front fascias, depending on the variant. While one features generous use of chrome, the other has more blacked-out details (with a more rugged bumper design and additional body cladding). Some countries only have the sportier version of the Hilux, which could also be the one to be offered here. It has an excellent road presence, thanks to the tall bonnet and wide stance.

Headlamps

Toyota has equipped it with bi-LED headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights.

Rear

At the back, the Hilux has a chunky bumper with an integrated step for easy access to the deck. The three-dimensional design of the LED taillamps looks premium. There’s another brake light in the middle of the tailgate. The sportier-looking Hilux gets extra cladding (extending from the roof) along the sides of the deck and around the badging on the tailgate.

Deck

The deck of the Hilux is almost square -- 1,555mm long and 1,540mm wide. It’s 480mm deep, but some of the storage space at the bottom is taken up by the rear wheel wells.

Side

As a double cab pickup, the Toyota Hilux is a large vehicle measuring over 5.3 metres in length and 1.9 metres in width. Its minimum ground clearance is rated at 217mm. The 18-inch alloys are wrapped in 265/60 tyres.

Interior

The top-spec Hilux’s cabin packs all sorts of creature comforts. Thanks to the leatherette upholstery and black theme, the pickup truck looks a little sporty too. Features include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, auto AC with rear vents, cruise control, and smart key with push-button engine start/stop.

There is a free-floating 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the centre of the dashboard (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity) and a 6-speaker sound system. Button and dial controls flank the display, similar to the Toyota Innova Crysta.

The Hilux also gets a 4.2-inch TFT display (in the gauge cluster) between the illuminated dials for the tachometer and speedometer. While its layout may not be the most contemporary, it still looks good with the backlighting and conveys all relevant information with clarity.

Safety

Passenger safety is taken care of by up to seven airbags, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill start and hill descent assists, and a rear parking camera with sensors. In some countries, the pickup truck is also equipped with certain ADAS (Advanced Driver-assistance Systems) features such as lane departure alert, blind spot monitoring, and pre-collision assistance. However, these will not find their way to the India-spec Hilux.

Engine

In most markets, the Hilux has two diesel engine options: a 2.4-litre and a 2.8-litre unit. Both get optional 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions along with a choice between a two-wheel drive and a four-wheel drive. Both the engines and transmission options are offered in India on two different Toyota models -- the smaller engine in the Innova Crysta and the larger one in the Fortuner SUV.

When the pickup arrives in India, it will likely be provided with the 2.4-litre engine only with an expected performance rating of 150PS and 400Nm.

Expected pricing in India

The recently launched BS6-compliant Isuzu D-Max V-Cross has set the bar for the pricing of these double cab pickups. Its top-spec variant is priced at Rs 24.49 lakh (ex-showroom). The Toyota Hilux pickup is expected to be priced between Rs 18 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. It could ask for a marginal premium, considering it will likely offer a better cabin experience than the Isuzu.

Also read: Isuzu D-Max vs Mid-Size SUVs: What Do The Prices Say?