I drove a Toyota HiLux for the first time and I have thoughts... (2023)

I’ve driven plenty of cars in my career, but somehow I’ve avoided spending any substantial amount of time in one of Australia’s best-selling models: the Toyota HiLux.

While I’ve enjoyed brief stints behind the wheel of the HiLux, I’ve never been able to take it home with me and really test it against the rigours of my daily family life in the inner city.

So, when given the opportunity to spend a weekend with the 2023 Toyota HiLux SR5, I decided to embrace my inner tradie and test the limits of the ute body style within the confines of my tiny, congested suburb – alongside the five other residents of my narrow street who also live the ute lifestyle.

I had several epiphanies during my weekend with Australia’s beloved HiLux, and here they are – in order of occurrence.

See Also

2020 Toyota Hilux Workmate review: 4x2 petrol auto | carconnect2020 Toyota HiLux review: Workmate 4x2 petrol manualToyota Hilux Workmate 2020 - Pricing & Specifications

Don't laugh.

This might sound obvious to some, but it really only occurred to me on a particularly rainy day, when I had to store my son’s pram, some groceries and some hand-me-down clothes for a friend.

Given my test car wasn’t fitted with a tray lid, it looked likely my random assortment of belongings would quickly become sodden.

In lieu of a tarpaulin, I had to squeeze all my stuff into the back seat which, as it turns out, very quickly feels cramped with a child seat, pram and assorted baggage.

Meanwhile, the tray sat empty – taunting me.

Given I move my son’s car seat on a weekly basis, I thought I was a pro at installing ISOFIX-compatible child seats.However, putting a child seat into the HiLux was a bit of a learning curve.

Due to the aforementioned lack of boot, the top-tether point is a single hook at the top in the centre of the back-rest.

You have to feed the top-tether attachment strap through a loop at the top of the seat, then attach it to the centre tether point.

With the child seat installed, the HiLux doesn’t have a particularly large back seat – it’s probably most comparable to the back seat in a medium SUV.

There’s not a huge amount of leg or head room for such a large car, but there’s ample storage courtesy of big bottle holders in the doors, map pockets on the backs of the seats, and a big armrest with cupholders.

My personal car is fitted with optional carpeted floor mats that slide around, get caught under the pedals, and absorb every single piece of dirt.

The rubber "all-weather floor mats" offered as standard in the HiLux SR5 are vastly superior – particularly in Melbourne’s perennially wet weather.

For once, I wasn’t worried about my son’s mud-caked gumboots ruining a perfectly clean interior. Perhaps its time to invest in a set of rubber mats for my own car?

Talking about the ‘ride’ in a ute is a tricky thing.

The delay between the front wheels and rear wheels hitting the speed bump is so long, it essentially feels as though you’re experiencing every speed bump twice.

I also found the HiLux was a bit fidgety over uneven road surfaces and clunky over larger irregularities.

Before taking the HiLux home, I sent a message blast to my family and friends: “FYI, I’ve got a ute this weekend”.

Regrets, I had a few. Turns out everyone needs a mate with a ute, and deciding who to prioritise was next to impossible.

My in-laws had outdoor furniture to move, my parents had a painting to transport, my husband all of a sudden discovered 85 household maintenance tasks that needed to be done immediately, and my neighbours considered taking the opportunity to finally get rid of the trees in their front yard.

I didn’t assist with any of it. I was too overwhelmed. Instead, I went to IKEA and bought a door mat that I proudly placed in the tray and put my phone on mute.

More like ‘LoLux’, am I right? Toyota claims the HiLux name is a portmanteau of "high" and "luxury" but it feels like that's an aspirational goal for a vehicle better known as the workhorse of fleets everywhere.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, by the way. I love the utilitarianism of the HiLux SR5. It's just not particularly cutting-edge, and function is definitely prioritised over form.

Still, while the luxury factor might be lacking, I couldn’t fault the ergonomics.

Seriously, why did we ever bother re-inventing the handbrake and gear stick? I loved the comparatively ‘old-school’ set-up in the HiLux’s front seat, with a proper physical handbrake and gear stick.

It does boast a sprinkle of modern conveniences, like wired Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, and a small driver display with a digital speedometer.

Additionally, the $2500 'Premium Interior' package adds leather seats and trim, heated front seats and power adjustment for the front driver's seat – all of which go some way to elevating the overall feel of the cabin.

From a purely anecdotal perspective, I’ve noticed that ute drivers tend to drive the same in wet weather as they do on dry roads, with the sun shining. That’s a personal opinion – not a fact.

After spending a particularly wet weekend in the HiLux, I finally understand this tendency towards confidence in all conditions.

While the HiLux feels a little sluggish from a standstill, and the diesel engine has all the refinement of Eliza Doolittle pre-My Fair Lady makeover, it’s remarkably capable and surefooted.

Traction issues were nonexistent, and certain things that would usually result in some wheel-spinning were no problem for the big Toyota: U-turns on muddy road shoulders, taking off from a standstill on slick tram tracks, and driving at speed in the pouring rain were all a breeze.

Sadly, the trade-off for the surefootedness and cargo space of the HiLux is that it’s huge and particularly daunting to park.

The unspoken burden of owning a large car is that people expect you to be able to handle it – and have a very short fuse if you exhibit anything less than complete confidence.

The steering in the HiLux feels heavy, and I really struggled to gauge the input required to tackle tight corners and reverse parks in narrow streets.

If I’m being honest, there were moments when I chose to drive around the block rather than attempting a parallel park. Plus, the grainy, low-res reverse camera may as well not be there.

Living in the inner-city and having to face peak-hour traffic, limited off-street parking and tiny one-way streets, the HiLux wasn’t exactly the most convenient companion.

Toyota typically has impressively low ownership costs, and service visits for the Toyota HiLux are capped at $290 a visit for the first three years.

The only problem is that service intervals are set every six months or 10,000km – which adds up to a whole lot of time at the service centre.

It also adds up to a fair bit of money spent on maintenance – totalling $3765.75 over five years.

Comparatively, the Ford Ranger requires servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, and Ford guarantees that new Ranger buyers will never pay more than $329 per service for the first four general services up to four years or 60,000km, whichever occurs first.

Additionally, Ford offers pre-paid servicing for the Ranger priced at $1200 for four years or 60,000km of coverage – less than half the cost of servicing the HiLux for five years.

Overall, the HiLux is decent – but not incredible – value when compared to rivals. It seems the going rate for a mid-spec 4x4 dual-cab ute these days is roughly $65,000 before on-road costs, which lines up nicely with the HiLux's pricing structure.

I don't love that you have to pay $2500 extra just to enjoy heated seats, and I'll admit spending almost $70,000 on the road and not getting things like a wireless phone charger or a 360-degree camera is a bitter pill to swallow.

Insuring the HiLux SR5 will cost roughly $1947 annually based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW.Insuranceestimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Fuel Consumption - brought to you by bp

Fuel Useage	Fuel Stats
Fuel cons. (claimed)	8.1L/100km
Fuel cons. (on test)	8.3L/100km
Fuel type	Diesel
Fuel tank size	80L

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Spoiler alert: no, it won't.

Thankfully, Toyota's engineers thought ahead and added vents for the water to drain through on a wet day.

Shame, because a portable kiddy pool would really come in handy in summer.

I finally understand why ute owners seem to have an endless appetite for modification!

Hot take: in order to counteract the inherent challenges of a ute, you essentially have to turn it into a van.

I found myself researching the cost of a tray lid, a canopy, some extra ratchet straps, even a snorkel for added off-road flair. I craved more covered storage options and more ways to secure what little load I had. No wonder ute accessories are so popular.

I appreciate that dual-cab utes have to be able to effectively slot into urban living, because plenty of ute owners work in the city or surrounds.

However, I found the highlights of the HiLux SR5 were all features that are better suited to long-haul driving outside of the city’s confines.

For example, the diesel powertrain was far more economical for freeway driving than it was around town.

For purely urban commuting, I saw fuel economy readings as high as 14.8L/100km, but this eventually dropped to 8.3L/100km with freeway driving in the mix.

The tray is useful for transporting large loads, but not particularly handy for storing a pram on a rainy day.

The steering feel and ride comfort are also not well suited to small streets and speed bumps.

Finally, the features I usually prize in a new car – wireless connectivity, advanced safety and infotainment, driver feel and a flexible, elegant interior – were missing or lacking in their execution.

In all, I can see how this is an enduring hero for worksites, long-haul drives and off-roading, but it couldn't quite convert this staunch city girl.

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I drove a Toyota HiLux for the first time and I have thoughts…

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