2023 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
TOYOTA HILUX Reigning champion following last year’s major revisions • New GR Sport model • Hefty
T
he Hilux got its big midlife update two years ago, literally a week too late to be included in the judging for these awards. In the twelve months that followed, the range gained an AT35 model built by Arctic Trucks, taking full advantage of the 2.8-litre engine that had previously been introduced to give Toyota’s other lifestyle models the performance they needed to compete with the best – and it was all enough to make this the winner of the overall title in 2022. The following 12 months have been quiet by comparison. Hiluxes came first and third in the 2022 Dakar Rally, then straight afterwards
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a new GR Sport range-topper was announced, but this has taken a long time to come through as something you can actually buy, with the first UK examples reaching their owners quite recently. The other big news during the last year has been less welcome. Prices have risen across the board, but in the pick-up market Toyota’s climbed the highest – an average of just over 12%, with the high-spec Invincible X climbing by a pinch less than £5000. That’s the bucket of cold water. But don’t forget the excellent residuals that come with being a truck whose reputation for longevity precedes it. More than that, there’s a
reason why this is the reigning title holder. It’s an excellent truck deep down and a convincing lifestyle motor towards the top of the range.
RANGE
A 2.4-litre, 150bhp diesel engine is the only option on work-spec Active and mid-range Icon models. It can’t help but feel like the poor relation next to the 201bhp 2.8, but it does its job well – though we’ve found that when mated to an auto gearbox it struggles to pull at higher speeds. The only model on which you can choose either engine is the Invincible. Astonishingly, the difference in price is just £350 after VAT, so you’d need a very specific reason not to
get the 2.8. You can get it in manual form on the Invincible and Invincible X, which is nice, though it’s far better suited to an auto than the 2.4. At the work-spec end of the range, the Active model is available in single, crew and double-cab format. There’s no auto option here, but with it being 2.4-only we wouldn’t want it. What you do get is cruise, air-con, Bluetooth and a locking rear diff, and that’s a pretty solid spec for a do-it-all pick-up. It certainly doesn’t feel sparse – though for a couple of grand or so more, the Icon adds 17” alloys, upgraded seat fabric and a touch-screen media system with DAB and smartphone pairing, which you may see as a good investment.
4x4 22/11/2022 15:24
