Toyota Hilux 4Wd Double Gab Sr5 Cruiser UTE

• Published date: 14 February 2024
• Publication title: West Coast Farming Times, The

With an all-new replacement still 18 months away, this version is feeling the sales heat from a bevy of newer rivals. However, Toyota has some worthwhile changes to its flagship Hilux 4WD SR5 Cruiser

The major talking point among ute aficionados is the upgraded suspension and wider track, with increases of around 140mm front and rear. One thing you notice immediately is the substantial 20mm increase in rise height to around 250mm. That's plenty for more adventurous owners to comfortably navigate even the trickiest cross-country terrain.

To accommodate the track increase, Toyota engineers overhauled the Hilux suspension by extending the front suspension arm and stabiliser bar length and adjusting the shock absorber angle for greater efficiency. For the first time, and in the quest for improved cornering stability and ride comfort, we have a Hilux sporting a rear stabiliser bar. How radical is that! To accommodate the increased track width, wider over fenders and mud flaps are fitted, while the front body extension is widened to integrate with the front bumper and fog lights.

Those seeking a more upmarket ute will find it in the premium $63, 390 SR5 Cruiser six-speed automatic being reviewed here and comes with a decidedly average three year or 100, 000km warranty. This can be nudged out to five years or 150, 000km, provided the scheduled servicing is carried out at a Toyota dealership. In reality all this does is simply bring the Hilux warranty into line with most its competitors.

Ample power is provided by Toyota's super dependable 150kw 2.8-litre turbo-diesel. There's an abundance of low speed pulling power with 500nm more torque than the motor it replaced three years ago. This additional grunt is the result of modifications to the cylinder block, pistons, turbo design and revision to the cooling system.

The good news doesn't end there with the extra torque ready to roll its sleeves up and get down to some serious work sooner, with 80% of the motor's substantial bank of torque available to draw on from just 1200rpm. On the open road, the engine is strong and effortless in everything it does.

In low...