Toyota will announce the price of the already sold-out Hilux by the end of this month
The price announcement of the Toyota Hilux is just around the corner. For all the Toyota loyalists, the Hilux holds great significance, as it is the next big original Toyota product launching in India and not a rebadged Suzuki vehicle. The Toyota Hilux has a commendable reputation on the global platform as an ‘indestructible’ vehicle, which has made it a popular lifestyle pickup in all these years.
Wonder how the Toyota Hilux will look and feel to drive in its India-spec right-hand-drive version? Gagan Chaudhary describes the Toyota Hilux’s design and driving experience in one of his latest videos.
What does Toyota Hilux look like from the outside?
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Toyota Hilux Drive Impressions | Rs 31-34 lakh | Gagan Choudhary by Gagan Choudhary
The version of the Toyota Hilux shown in the video is the Thai-spec right-hand-drive model, and the Indian version of the pickup will look exactly the same. The Toyota Hilux looks quite intimidating with a massive-looking grille with chrome finish on all of its four sides, something which the Indian version of the vehicle is already confirmed to get. The massive grille gets large sweptback headlamp housings on its sides, which come in-built with LED projector bulbs and daytime running LEDs. The L-shaped fog lamp housings on the corners of the front bumper get tiny projector fog lamps at the bottom.
The Toyota Hilux shown here comes with 265/60 R18 tyres over 18-inch machined alloy wheels, a combination that will be there in the India-spec version, in all likelihood. Other details, which will be there in the Indian version of the Hilux, are chrome-finished door handles, rearview mirrors, window waistline, deck-lid handle and rear bumper corner protectors. It will also get trapezoidal tail lamps with dual C-shaped LED inserts and side footsteps.
What Toyota Hilux looks from inside?
And it gets a multi function steering wheel as well
Like the vehicles sold in India, the Thai version of the Toyota Hilux shown in the video also has a right-hand-drive layout. The pickup gets an all-black theme for the cabin, which is well-contrasted with silver-coloured bits around the AC vents, inner door pads and across the dashboard.
The three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel with audio, Bluetooth, voice commands and cruise control buttons is the same unit present in the Toyota Fortuner and has both tilt and telescopic adjustability. The instrument console behind the steering wheel seeks inspiration from the Fortuner, which has a coloured MID in between the chrome-finished analogue dials.
The centre console of the Toyota Hilux looks wide, with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system taking the centre stage here. Below this infotainment screen, there is a panel for automatic climate control and two 12V sockets below it.
It looks heavily inspired by the Fortuner
The version shown here is a rear-wheel-drive version, but the four-wheel-drive version is coming to India. It will come with a manually-operated knob for the four-wheel-drive mode below the climate control panel.
The upper layer of the dashboard features a small digital clock with sleek-looking AC vents on either side. The co-passenger side of the dashboard has dual gloveboxes, while there are cup holders and a centre armrest with a storage compartment beneath it, between the front seats. The rear cabin of the Toyota Hilux has a flat bench capable of accommodating three people. The rear has three headrests, a rear centre armrest and rear AC vents.
Toyota Hilux 2.8-litre drive
Want to know how it drives? Make sure that you SWIPE UP and watch the video
Gagan Chaudhary then steps into the cabin of a 2.8-litre four-wheel-drive automatic version of the Toyota Hilux for a close-circuit drive. This version of the Toyota Hilux will serve as the range-topping variant of the lifestyle pickup in the Indian market.
The presenter then says that the overall outer visibility is almost the same as that available in the Fortuner. Even the power delivery and availability from the 2.8-litre diesel engine is similar to those in the Fortuner. The engine of the Hilux produces 204 PS of power and 500 Nm of torque. And like in the Fortuner, the engine here in the Hilux is coupled to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, which is smooth and easy to operate.
The lower kerb weight of the Toyota Hilux in comparison makes it slightly more agile than the Fortuner. While the ergonomics of the Hilux are well-sorted, the high ground clearance and ladder-on-frame chassis under the skin mean that body roll is evident at times. Also, the aggressive power delivery in the Power mode makes the engine sound a bit louder than usual, which is a trait of the Fortuner.
What all things are you expecting from the India-spec Toyota Hilux? Let us know in the comments below.
Keyword: A Closer Look At The Toyota Hilux In A Walk-Around Video