TOYOTA HILUX SR

MORE LUX FOR HILUX

- TIM ROBSON

THE TOYOTA Hilux has always bumped around in an odd netherworld between bushy suburbia and the blue-collar universe. Starting life as a simple, rugged tool for the hard-hat and Akubra brigades, along the way it’s morphed into one of the most popular passenger vehicles in Australia. That dual identity brings with it a series of compromises that the Hilux’s original designers never really planned for.

This 2020 refresh of the eighth-generation Hilux, which first launched in 2015, inches the needle over towards a passengers-first sentiment, presenting a more civil side without impacting its abilities on the construction site or back paddock.

Niceties like a digital speedometer and Apple CarPlay, and necessities like AEB and adaptive cruise control, are all part of the mix of this upgraded Hilux, along with powertrain tweaks and a light cosmetic makeover.

Make no mistake, though – the interior of the Hilux is still as tradie as it comes. Okay, those hard plastics and durable surfaces are softened by stylised curves and radiused edges, while a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring and app access make it more commuter-friendly. Dual-cab 4x4 prices start at $50,010 for the SR manual, while the SR5+ auto retails at $60,420.