Toyota Hilux launched in India

The Toyota Hilux pickup truck is now in India, with prices starting at ₹ 33.99 lakh for the Standard MT trim and going up to ₹ 36.80 lakh for the fully kitted High trim (ex-showroom, India). Bookings for the pickup truck have been open since January, with the booking amount set at ₹1 lakh. The Hilux is being assembled in India with CKD kits at Toyota’s plant in Karnataka.

The Toyota Hilux for the Indian market is the double-cab body style and it looks distinct and purposeful. It also has some resemblance to the Fortuner in its basic profile, but gets a completely unique face with a larger hexagonal chrome grille and swept-back LED headlamps. The front bumper is sharply styled, with black contrasting insets for the fog lamps; it also gets a rugged looking skid plate.

When viewed in profile, the length of the Hilux becomes most apparent. It also gets beefy, black plastic cladding over the wheel arches, adding to the rugged appeal. At the rear, the Hilux looks like most conventional pickup trucks, although it gets a heavy dose of chrome to suit local tastes, and rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, similar to the Fortuner in India.

The Hilux is available in five single-tone paint shades in India — Emotional Red, Gray Metallic, White Pearl CS, Silver Metallic and Super White.

Measuring 5,325mm in length, 1,855mm in width, 1,815mm in height and with a wheelbase of 3,085mm, the Hilux is a barge of a vehicle. It is also a tad longer than its only rival in India — the Isuzu D-max V-Cross.

The Hilux shares quite a few aspects of interior trim and switchgear with the Fortuner. While the dashboard layout is slightly different, the touchscreen, climate controls panel, instrument cluster, steering wheel and even the front seats are all shared. The all-black dashboard is well contrasted with some brushed silver and gloss black trims.

In terms of equipment, the top-spec Hilux comes loaded with features such as all-LED headlamps, daytime running lamps and turn indicators, 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, electrochromic inside rear-view mirror, tyre angle monitor, active traction control and automated limited slip differential. The cabin also scores well in terms of practicality with large cup holders and smart storage spaces all around.

Under the hood, the Hilux carries over the 204hp, 430Nm (500Nm in case of the automatic), 2.8-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from the Fortuner. Just like the Fortuner, transmission options on the Hilux include a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.

However, unlike the Fortuner, the Hilux is available only in a 4×4 configuration. For improved off-road ability, the Hilux also gets a low-range gearbox, and front and rear electronic differential locks. It has an approach angle of 29 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees. Additionally, the Hilux has a water wading capacity of 700mm.

The Hilux is underpinned by the same, tough IMV ladder-frame chassis that is also employed by the Innova Crysta and the Fortuner.

The new Toyota Hilux is positioned in the niche lifestyle pickup trucks segment where its only rival is the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross that is priced between ₹ 22.07 lakh-25.60 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Toyota is offering a standard warranty of three years or 1 lakh km on the Hilux, similar to almost every other Toyota on sale in India. Buyers can also opt for the extended warranty scheme that goes up to five years / 2.2 lakh km.