The Toyota Hilux 4X4 Review

Toyota launches a Hilux once in a decade. Waiting 10 years for one of the favourite cars in the market is a long one but it also adds to the buzz around it. The Toyota Hilux 4x4 2016 Dual Cab is expected to be an upgrade at many levels because of the advancements made in the technology over the past decade.

It is one of the best buys simply because of Toyota's name being associated with it. Many new features have been added to the model, including chassis rails, suspension and a pair of new diesel engines. The 2.4-litre engine is more powerful, while the 2.0-litre engine is available only for rear drives. The petrol version comes with 2.0-litre and 2.7-litre engine options.

Safety is another important feature and this vehicle's entry in the market will keep the competitors on their toes.

Here is our full review of the Toyota Hilux 4x4 dual cab.

Style

The first box that Hilux ticks is that of looks. In a time where dual cabs no more look like the traditional trucks, Hilux has managed to stand out. The Hilux has been given a sleek contemporary look that can be a trendsetter for the future.

It sharp lines, striking finish and elegant design make it one good-looking truck, both on and off the road. You can drive through the busy street roads and can also hit the country back roads with equal ease.

Interior

The good work done on the outside continues inside the automobile as well, with a design that looks up to trend and apt for the real world. The cabin is much taller and wider and is easy on the eyes. There is a multi-function screen on the dash board, which is easy to use and can be used to view maps or the reversing camera.

Since it is a larger car, there is enough space both to relax and to load luggage. The style also leaves its mark on the buttons and door knobs. Attention has been given to make sure that they are within your reach. Not to forget, the seats are comfortable too.

On paper, it is estimated to produce about 130kW of power along with 450Nm of torque. Both these values are better than the previous models.

Overall, it is more stylish, powerful, smoother and more refined than the previous versions as well as its competitors in the same price range. It should be your dream ride of the year 2016. 

Sequoia: Toyota's Larger Than Life SUV

When it comes to large body utility vehicles, Toyota rules the roost. The Sequoia is currently the largest SUV being manufactured by Toyota. First launched in 2000, this vehicle is based on the earlier Tundra and shared much of the Tundra's parts bin, such as engine, body panels, chassis and interiors. When it was first introduced, it was actually longer than the best-selling Land Cruiser and was fitted with an ultra-low emission V8 engine, providing more than adequate grunt.

Revamped in 2008, the Sequoia was upgraded by Toyota with independent rear suspension with double wishbone suspension, unlike the vehicles developed under the IMV platform, which use semi-independent rear suspension. The difference, owing more to the sporty nature of the vehicle, allows it to traverse rough terrain with ease. The current electronically modulated air suspension in the Platinum model allows the driver to adjust the ride height to optimize vehicular control.

The trusty V8 engine offers loads of grunt with over 300 horsepower to deal with mountainous roads and the combination of a six-speed gearbox ensures that it can easily maintain a quiet power delivery that is ideal for long hauls on the highway. 

Always Room for More

Inside, the truck-sized interior can easily accommodate eight passengers in comfort and the second row of seats can slide and recline. There is even a version where the second row seats are captain’s chairs, which offer more comfort but reduce the overall number of passengers to seven. The boot offers 18.9 cubic feet of storage and with the third row of seats folded, this increases to 66.6 cubic feet. If you fold the second row of seats as well, cargo space jumps to the best-in-class 120.1 cubic feet.

Standard interior equipment on the latest versions includes Bluetooth, USB port, eight-speaker stereo sound that can be upgraded to a 14 speaker JBL system, a six-inch touch screen for infotainment and a Blu-Ray rear seat entertainment console. Driving comfort is taken care of by precise steering, front and rear parking sensors and blind spot monitoring. Passengers are treated to a number of storage spaces for small items and the front glove compartment is a dual-level space while the second row has a center console featuring extra storage space, cup holders and heated seat controls.

If you are still not satisfied, there is a handy roof rack with cross bars. Feel like towing a trailer? Well, the Sequoia from Toyota is rated for a 7,500 lb towing capacity with a nifty feature that controls trailer sway by applying braking pressure on individual wheels to maintain control over the trailer in gusty winds.

Clearly, this is a vehicle that can handle everything that is thrown at it as well as anything that you might want to throw in it. The caravan like interior offers enough comfort and room to make it the king of road as far as SUVs are concerned.

Toyota Innova: Why is it the Perfect Family Vehicle

One of the rules of mass communication is to give the people what they want and the Toyota Innova does exactly that. Officially positioned as a Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV), the MPV category began as a rather confused slot north of a three-box car and south of a snarling off-road capable truck, larger than a jeep but smaller than a bus.

Impeccable Pedigree and Credentials

While the MPV category might be a confusing one, there was no cause for confusion in the Innova's pedigree. Coming from the same Toyota IMV platform (IMV stands for Innovative International Multi-purpose vehicle) that rolled out the bestselling Hilux truck and equally popular Fortuner SUV. Incidentally, Toyota's IMV vehicles are rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles with double independent wishbone front suspension and half-dependent rear suspension and longitudinally mounted engines.

With enough space inside the two-box configuration to seat seven people, in their review of the vehicle the BBC's automobile show Top Gear warns that an MPV not only attracts the opposite sex but adds that if you are already driving one, you probably don't need to. The primary purpose of this MPV is to be a people carrier and it is this function that this automobile gives the people exactly what they want.

People Comfort Before People Transport

Most MPVs suffer from compromise in some form or the other. Usually, the last row of seats is nothing more than glorified jump seats that offer negligible leg room. The Innova does nothing of that sort and nothing detracts from the comfort of the passengers within the cabin. Comfort is the main draw of this vehicle and if you look at the ample features provided, such as automatic climate control, power windows, power steering, hydraulic clutch linkage, steering mounted controls and the latest inclusion of a touchscreen infotainment system in the newest generation, you will have to agree that very little has been left undone in this regard.

Intelligent Controls for Intuitive Driving

Driving comfort has not been neglected. Features such as Anti-locking Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD), which is coupled to the ABS and varies the braking force to each wheel, depending on road quality, speed and load. For example, if the vehicle is lightly loaded and most of the weight is located over the front axle, the EBD will reduce the braking force on the rear wheels so that they do not break away and skid during hard application of the brakes. Although this is an MPV and rarely likely to be cornered as hard as a sedan car would, it is reassuring to know that such safety features exist along with standard equipment, such as airbags and rear parking sensors.

The latest generation vehicles are based on the Toyota Global Architecture Platform, which makes them lighter than previous versions. Another useful feature is the hill-start assist control (HAC). This feature comes alive automatically if the vehicle is on a road with a gradient of more than 3% and works much like the 'hand-brake start' that experienced drivers use on a slope to stop the vehicle from rolling backwards when the clutch is engaged. HAC holds the vehicle stationary for the few seconds after the brake is released and before the throttle is applied.

In conclusion, the Innova is the perfect family vehicle makes long highway journeys a breeze and is equally at home on shorter inner-city commutes.