TOUGH AND TRENDIER (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_toyotahilux_2021

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 62

For over half a century, Toyota's Hilux pick-up has powered people to this planet's most remote locations, tackling every type of terrain and overcoming almost every kind of obstacle. This much improved take on the eighth generation version has been significantly updated with a classier cabin and the option of a gutsier 2.8-litre engine. But don't worry: it's as tough as ever.

Modelsword count: 11

4dr Pick-up (2.4D, 2.8D) [Active, Icon, Invincible, Invincible X, GR Sport]

Historyword count: 206

Think of a pick-up and it's quite likely that you'll be picturing a Toyota Hilux. This model has, after all, been a dominant presence in the global pick-up market for around half a century. This eighth generation version was launched in 2015, but five years on got a hugely significant upgrade to create the vehicle we're going to look at here. Job one for the second facelift applied to this 'AN123/130'-series design was to offer a more powerful engine option; without introducing efficiency downsides that'd make the sale of such a variant unviable. The four cylinder 2.8-litre engine that here became optional for Hilux customers claimed to be able to deliver on this brief. Driving dynamics were improved too. And changes were also made to make the Hilux even more unstoppable off road. And it can still in this form take a tonne of payload and tow up to 3.5-tonnes. This was, in other words, even more of a proper Hilux than ever. A top GR Sport version arrived in 2024. And the same year Toyota introduced a 48V mild hybrid version of the 2.8 diesel engine, which by now had been standardised. This improved MK8 Hilux sold until the new MK9 version arrived in late-2025.

What You Getword count: 495

The Hilux looks quite a bit more aggressive in this updated MK8 form. Some pick-ups look a little silly when they're all fashioned up, but we think that this one assumes just the right balance of style and solidity, especially in Double Cab guise, a body style that of course far out-sold the alternative 'Single Cab' and 'Extra Cab' variants. At a glance, you know this pick-up's going to be tough and capable, but at the same time, you wouldn't hesitate to park it among the Crossovers outside the gym. Inside, as with all the toughest pick-ups, you perch up high, bearing down on ordinary road users with authority. Nothing really changed about the fundamental design of this cabin, but the Japanese brand took the opportunity to upgrade the 'Toyota Touch 2' central infotainment screen, which became eight rather than seven inches in size and came as standard providing above entry-level trim. This display also got faster software and screen response and at last incorporated 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. Otherwise, things were much as before. There's dual-tone leather upholstery on the top-spec model, but even there, hard-wearing plastics on the dashboard and the door cards remind you that this is very much a working vehicle, though Toyota tried to lift things with silvered touches and piano black plastic. The rear seat retained its useful 60:40-split tip-up function so that valuable things like tools can be kept away from prying eyes. Annoyingly though, base-spec' Active' models do without this feature. As for actually sitting in the back, well no Double Cab pick-up offers rear-seated passengers a really luxurious travelling experience, but this one meets the admittedly mediocre class standard in this regard. The cargo bay remained one of the wider ones in the segment, with maximum deck width measuring 1,645mm. That's significantly more width than you'd get in, say, a Nissan Navara or a Mitsubishi L200 from this period, so it'll be easily enough for even the widest Euro pallets. This Hilux also provides 480mm of loading deck height and 1,525mm of loading deck length, a figure that rises to 1,810mm if you go for the 'Extra Cab' - or as much as 2,315mm if you go for the 'Single Cab' body style. As for the weight you can carry, well in 'Active' guise, the Double Cab can take a payload of up to 1,030kgs. Ok, so that's around 125kgs less than you'd get in that Nissan Navara but it'll still be ample for most owners. The 'Extra Cab' payload is 1,000kg while for the 'Single Cab', it's 1,030kg. While we're talking about pick-up load beds, how many times have you seen them disfigured by dents and dinks? Here, to try and minimise that, at the original launch of this MK8 model, the deck was strengthened to reduce deformation, the floor ribs were re-designed and sill cross-members were added to the floor panel. Four tie-down points are provided, two on each of the sidewalls.

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