Toyota Hilux launched in India

The Toyota Hilux pickup truck is now available in India. It sits on the same rugged IMV ladder-frame chassis that also underpins the Innova Crysta and Fortuner.

The double-cab Toyota Hilux is the model that’s launched in our market. It has a basic design that is similar to the Fortuner, but it has a completely different face with a bigger hexagonal chrome grille and swept-back LED headlights.

The front bumper has a rough appearance, with black contrasting inserts for the fog lights and a robust appearing skid plate.

The length of this truck is most noticeable when viewed from the side. It also gets a thick layer of black plastic cladding over the wheel arches, which adds to the tough look.

Hilux appears like most ordinary pickup trucks from the back, albeit it has a lot of chrome to appeal to local preferences. It has 18-inch alloy wheels, which are similar to those found on the Fortuner in India.

Emotional Red, Gray Metallic, White Pearl CS, Silver Metallic, and Super White are the five single-tone paint colours offered in India for the 2022 Hilux.

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It measures 5,325mm in length, 1,855mm in width, 1,815mm in height, and 3,085mm in wheelbase. It’s also somewhat longer than the Isuzu D-max V-Cross.

In India, the Hilux and the Fortuner share a lot of interior decor and switchgear. While the Fortuner’s dashboard arrangement differs significantly, the touchscreen, temperature controls panel, instrument cluster, steering wheel, and even the front seats are all similar.

The all-black dashboard is well offset by brushed silver and gloss black accents. With spacious cup holders and clever storage places all around, the interior also scores highly in terms of usability.

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 are among the standard features on the top-spec Hilux.

The 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine from the Fortuner is carried over to the Toyota Hilux in the same standard of tune. That implies the engine generates 204 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque (500Nm in case of the automatic).

This lifestyle truck comes with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission, just like the Fortuner.

However, the Toyota Hilux is only available as a 4×4. It also receives a low-range transmission and front and rear electronic differential locking for better off-road capability.

It features a 29-degree approach angle and a 26-degree departure angle. In addition, the truck has a 700mm water wading capacity.

Toyota Hilux price in India

It costs Rs 33.99 lakh for the Standard MT trim and rises to Rs 36.80 lakh for the fully equipped High trim (ex-showroom, India).

If you ask us, it surely is overpriced, just like its SUV sibling. However, the brand value and reliability associated with Toyota’s ladder-frame vehicles may work in Hilux’s favour.

The pickup truck is built in India using CKD kits at Toyota’s Karnataka facility.