New Toyota Hilux Gets Updated Cabin and Enhanced Safety Systems

Toyota has introduced the ninth generation of its Hilux pickup truck, focusing on improved comfort, features, and safety while maintaining its work and off-road capabilities. The updated model features a redesigned interior, a refined steering system, and reduced noise and vibrations. The familiar 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine, producing 204 horsepower and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, remains, along with the previous generation's chassis structure. A new 48-volt mild-hybrid system assists the engine in certain driving conditions but does not enable electric-only propulsion.

The interior has been re-imagined with a layout reminiscent of the Land Cruiser, incorporating physical buttons for climate control and driving systems alongside screens. Reviewers appreciated the clear arrangement, which simplifies operation. The cabin includes dual glove compartments, cup holders near the air vents, and grab handles for easier entry. Material quality has been upgraded, though the interior is still designed for utility. The steering system now has electric assistance, offering improved on-road precision and reduced feedback from rough terrain, also enabling the lane-keeping assist system to function via steering input.

Available in Israel in four-door, five-seat configurations with an open rear bed, the Hilux starts at approximately NIS 310,000 for the Active Pro trim. The Adventure trim costs around NIS 330,000, and the top-tier Sahara model is priced at approximately NIS 360,000. All trims share the same engine and transmission. The Active Pro comes with LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, a rearview camera, and front and rear parking sensors. The Adventure adds heated front seats, wireless phone charging, an electric parking brake, and dual-zone climate control. The Sahara further includes leather upholstery, power-adjustable driver's seat, heated rear seats, surround-view cameras, and a nine-speaker JBL audio system.

Safety features across the range include seven airbags, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. New additions include blind-spot monitoring and a system to warn of danger when opening doors. On Israeli roads, testers noted improved comfort, particularly on rough tracks, with less jarring when the rear bed is empty. Wind and road noise have been reduced, as have diesel engine noise and vibrations during relaxed driving, though the engine remains audible under hard acceleration.

Criticism focused on performance under load, with the truck feeling slow when towing a 1.8-ton trailer on mountainous roads, requiring significant braking on descents. Fuel economy during this test was 7.6 km/liter, similar to the previous model. Interior drawbacks include limited steering wheel adjustment, no rear air vents, and less rear-seat space compared to some competitors. Adjusting some warning system settings through menus was found to be cumbersome. While off-road capability received praise, the price of the top-tier version and the limited equipment in the base model were points of contention, suggesting the value proposition may not scale linearly with price.