2023 Toyota HiLux

The Workmate comes standard with the following equipment:

• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Two-speaker sound system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic headlights
• Air-conditioning
• Power windows
• Cloth upholstery
• Vinyl floors
• Halogen headlights and daytime running lights
• Reversing camera (Double Cab ute only)
• 16-inch wheels (17-inch in Double Cab, 4×4 variants)

The SR adds:

• Four- or six-speaker sound system (Extra Cab and Double Cab, respectively)
• Side steps
• Front air-conditioned cooler box
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Body-coloured door handles

The SR5 adds:

• LED headlights, daytime running lights and front fog lights
• Satellite navigation
• DAB+ digital radio
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Surround-view camera
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Privacy glass
• Dual-zone climate control air-conditioning
• Rear air vents (Double Cab only)
• Keyless entry and start
• Premium shifter and steering wheel
• Carpeted floors
• Chrome door handles
• Puddle lights
• 18-inch alloy wheels

The SR5+ adds:

• Power driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• Leather-accented upholstery.

In addition to its mechanical and aesthetic tweaks, the Rogue adds:

• Nine-speaker sound system (can be swapped for six-speaker for a $750 credit)
• Motorised roller cover

The Toyota HiLux is covered by Toyota’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty which covers any Toyota-produced part, panel and accessory.

Engine and driveline warranty can be extended by another two years provided the vehicle is serviced according to schedule, along with seven years of emergency assistance.

Service pricing is capped between $220 and $250 per visit for the first four visits, covering two years or 40,000km.

Maintenance is still required every six months or 10,000km, which is notably shorter than the usual 12 month/15,000km intervals offered by most rivals.

The most powerful engine in the 2023 Toyota HiLux range is a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, which has 150kW of power (at 3400rpm) and 500Nm of torque (at 1600-2800rpm) when fitted with a six-speed automatic. Manual models develop 420Nm (at 1400-3400rpm).

Lower grades offer a 110kW/400Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, while the entry-level versions are fitted as standard with a 122kW/245Nm 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

The smaller diesel makes peak power and torque at 3400rpm and 1600-2000rpm respectively, while the petrol does the same at 5200rpm and 4000rpm respectively.

Both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations are available throughout the line-up (see price list above), with manual and automatic transmissions offered for all powertrains.

Petrol models are fitted as standard with a five-speed manual transmission as standard while the diesels are mated to a six-speeder. A six-speed automatic is optional or standard depending on variant.

The new 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine starts with the same distinctive clatter as before, and behaves very similarly to the pre-update engine most of the time. But there’s definitely more mid-range punch in the 2021 update, and highway overtakes are dispatched faster than in the pre-facelift car.

The old HiLux could feel a bit strained at times, the new model rarely does.

Toyota’s six-speed automatic transmission might have as many options as the 10-speeder in the Ford Ranger and its bi-turbo engine, but it makes up for it by being decisive and intelligent on the move.

It’s happy to hold a taller gear and lean on the muscled-up mid-range on lighter throttle inputs, and kicks down smartly when more performance is required. There’s also a sequential-style manual shift option for control freaks, but it’s best left to its own devices for the most part.

Along with the updated engine, the HiLux has been treated to a number of locally-developed updates to the suspension in search of a smoother around-town ride.

Changes include longer leaf springs spaced further apart, new spring, damper and bushing rates, and new cabin mounts.

Less noticeable are the changes made to the steering, which is still relatively heavy and slow at low speed. There’s a bit of arm twirling required when you’re parking, especially compared to the SUV-like setup in the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50.

The current eighth-generation Toyota HiLux has been on sale since 2015 and received a facelift in 2020.

This facelift brought redesigned front and rear fascias with reworked headlight and tail light running signatures.

It also boosted the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with the automatic transmission to offer 150kW and 500Nm - up 20kW and 50Nm on its forebears.

In order to achieve these higher power and torque outputs, Toyota included a new engine block, gaskets, exhaust manifold, a larger ball-bearing turbocharger and a higher-pressure common-rail injection system.

A 2022 update Toyota Connected Services across the HiLux range, which automatically calls emergency services after an accident, or allows owners to track their car if it's stolen.

Premium paint costs $600.

The SR+ option package ($2000) available only on the SR trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels and satellite navigation.

The SR5+ package ($2500) available only on the SR5 trim adds a power driver’s seat, heated front seats and leather-accented upholstery.

The Toyota HiLux is covered by Toyota’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty which covers any Toyota-produced part, panel and accessory.

Engine and driveline warranty can be extended by another two years provided the vehicle is serviced according to schedule, and the car is backed by seven years of emergency assistance.

Service pricing is capped between $220 and $260 per visit for the first six visits, covering three years or 60,000km.

Maintenance is still required every six months or 10,000km, which is notably shorter than the usual 12 month/15,000km intervals offered by most rivals.

Toyota is still facing extensive delays on its HiLux, among many of its other models, due to global demand exceeding supply.

The automaker is indicating that delivery will take longer than usual.

The HiLux is produced in Thailand and built alongside the related Fortuner at the company's Samrong plant.

The HiLux competes in Australia's bustling dual-cab ute segment, taking on the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton, and Mazda BT-50.

To the end of 2021, Toyota sold 13,214 4x2 models and 39,587 4x4 models.

4x2 HiLux models are well and truly on top of its segment, where it outsold 4x2 versions of the Isuzu D-Max (6478 sales), Ford Ranger (4293 sales), and Mazda BT-50 (2876 sales).

4x4 HiLux models on the other hand are outsold by 4x4 Ford Ranger models (45,986).

Combining the 4x2 and 4x4 sales together, the HiLux (52,801 sales) outsold the Ford Ranger (50,279 sales), Isuzu D-Max (25,117 sales), and Mazda BT-50 (15,662 sales).

Although it’s faced with tough competition from Ford, Isuzu, Mazda, and Mitsubishi, it’s easy to see why the HiLux is still a winner.

It feels quite old in some ways, but it's still solid to drive and has the backing of a massive dealer network. It also has a huge range of body styles on offer, allowing you to tailor your HiLux to the intended use easily.

The name HiLux came from a contraction of "High Luxury".