Toyota has been synonymous with a number of models in the Philippine market: the old Tamaraw AUV (along with its descendants the FX, the Revo, and the current Innova), the best-selling Corolla Altis and Vios sedans, and the Hiace passenger van, among others.
But if one model epitomizes Pinoys’ long-standing love affair with the brand, it would probably be the Toyota Hilux. No surprises there, since the pickup posted sales of 20,846 units in 2019 - one of the highest among other Toyota models in the Philippines, narrowly defeating the Innova and placing second only to the Vios.
Filipinos continue to think very highly of the Hilux
Now, understand that the Philippines is either a sedan or an MPV market (again judging by Vios and Innova sales), so the inclusion of the Hilux among Toyota’s top-sellers is nothing short of remarkable.
But is it surprising? Let’s enumerate some of the reasons why a cab and cargo bed stamped with the Toyota logo is popular among Filipino consumers.
It can take on practically anything
Long-time Toyota fans boast about the robustness of the brand’s cars, which speaks volumes about its build quality. Nowhere else does this manifest more clearly than the Hilux.
In fact, the Toyota Hilux has been the vehicle of choice of militant forces in conflict areas for decades; its speed, maneuverability, and indestructible nature making it the perfect choice as an improvised mobile weapons platform.
Imagine this with an anti-aircraft gun placed on the cargo bed
In popular culture, an 18-year-old diesel Hilux that had 190,000 miles on the odometer was put through a torrent of abuse: crashed into a tree, submerged in seawater for five hours, dropped from a height of 10 feet, hit with a wrecking ball, set on fire, and finally buried in a controlled building demolition. Yet it still managed to run without needing spare parts.
Philippine driving conditions are not nearly as extreme, since the most we encounter are bumps and ruts on the road, along with the occasional flash flood (and reckless drivers). But knowing that a Hilux can potentially withstand a lot worse does inspire confidence.
It’s spacious and versatile
MPVs like the Innova and Avanza have largely assumed the role of the typical family vehicle that can be repurposed for business. But let’s face it: fitting a muddy motorcycle inside the cabin, even with the seats folded down, is a tall order.
No such problems with the Hilux, since an open cargo bed gives you the freedom to stack cargo, even if the stack exceeds the cab’s height.
The cabin has generous space for five occupants
Speaking of the cab, it still offers adequate room for up to five passengers (even in the absence of third-row seats). The rear suspension on a Hilux is specially tuned for heavy loads, which means that even when filled to capacity, the rig has less chances of bottoming out compared to a people carrier on hauling duties.
Although the trade-off is one of the stiffest rides in its segment, it’s a concession that many people willingly made as it was outweighed by the pickup’s virtues.
>>> Related: Toyota Hilux 2020 Philippines Review: Take a glimpse from Aus-spec version
It strikes a balance between power and efficiency
As a modern beast of burden, the Hilux needs grunt to fulfill its duties, and a diesel engine fits the bill nicely. The inherent pull of the oil burner enhanced by variable nozzle turbo technology increases performance while reducing lag, making the Hilux more responsive to driver input.
The sound of diesel is still the sound of power (and efficiency)
And since the Hilux runs on diesel, it doesn’t use up fuel easily even while idling in terrible city traffic, and is considerably more affordable to fill up at the pumps.
It’s a Toyota
Yes, we know it’s a clichéd and cookie-cutter answer, but the Hilux largely benefits from Toyota’s reputation as a carmaker: outstanding build quality, long-term reliability, and wide availability of parts (both OEM and aftermarket), which translates into ease of maintenance.
And for those who do decide to sell their units eventually, a Hilux, like most Toyotas, holds up pretty well in terms of top cars with high resale value.
Fingers crossed that the next Hilux in our market looks like this
The current-generation Hilux is already midway into its current life cycle, and there have been reports of a facelifted version which could be released for the 2021 model year.
The looks alone could be the next step in the truck’s evolution, and one improvement we’d like to see is the inclusion of the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver-assist features that enhance passenger protection.
This would be a marked transformation of the Philippine-spec Hilux from merely being a capable beast to a more intelligent class of machine.
“Hilux is synonymous with Toyota... The model has been in our lineup for more than five decades, and proves itself time and again to be the prime example of Toyota’s strength as a manufacturer.” says Elijah Marcial, Toyota Motor Philippines Vice President for Marketing.
With the Hilux building a well-deserved following among Filipinos, it’s quite reasonable to expect that this will be so for the foreseeable future.
Here Philkotse has a wide selection of Toyota Hilux 2012 and other model years for sale at a very competitive price.
See more cars that get your motor running at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Toyota Hilux 2024
The Toyota Hilux 2024 is a midsize pickup offered in the local market as both fleet and regular units. Toyota Hilux Prices Philippines range from PHP 885,000 to PHP 2,192,000 with 13 variants, spanning from the basic cab & chassis 4x2 model to the range-topping GR Sport 4x4. It is also available in two turbodiesel engine options and four gearbox choices, accompanied by eight exterior colors. Dimensions start at 5,285mm in height, 1,800mm in width, and 1,700mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,085mm. Among the rivals to the Toyota Hilux in the market are the Mitsubishi Strada, Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, and the Isuzu D-Max.
This popular pickup continues to evolve and slowly move upmarket after gaining luxuries. The most significant revolutionary jump of the Hilux happened in 2004 when the seventh generation of the model was introduced. It was the first 21st-century iteration of Toyota's pickup. It is also the first generation to ride on Toyota’s new Innovative Multi-purpose Vehicle architecture. It provided improved safety, better ride comfort, modern D-4D diesel engines, more interior space, and a more modern aerodynamic body.
The current 8th generation offers a more refined and stylish design than its predecessor, but the tradition of being a tough pickup continues. It received a much-awaited refresh in 2020.
Toyota Hilux Launch
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) debuted the refreshed Toyota Hilux in 2020, featuring a meaner and more aggressive pickup truck design from the front to the back. The biggest update the Japanese carmaker added in the most latest model of the pickup truck is the minor power bump for the 2.8-liter engine option, which now makes it one of the most powerful in terms of performance numbers.
To cater to different car consumers who are in the automotive market for a reliable workhorse, TMP is offering its pickup truck with a wide array of variants, namely the Cab & Chassis, Cargo, J, FX, E, J, G, and the top-of-the-line Conquest. Only the top-ranging variant gets to benefit from the updated engine that now joins the superb 500 Club alongside the Ford Ranger
For 2024, the GR Sport received a massive update and it is now more powerful and more off-road capable than its predecessor. The brand also added a new E AT trim to its variant lineup.
Toyota Hilux Exterior
The current generation Toyota Hilux features a bolder and more rugged exterior styling. When Toyota's business unit in the Philippines introduced the Conquest variant of the Hilux, it received some much-needed flare. The top variants can turn heads because of their several external enhancements. The Conquest variant of the Hilux features a more aggressive exterior design while the standard variant leans on the safer side.
Upfront, it can come with either a set of projector or reflector halogen headlights, depending on the chosen variant. The higher trim levels feature an LED lighting set, as well as benefit from an array of DRLs. The E and G variants ride on 17-inch wheels, while the Conquest uses 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels. The new GR Sport meanwhile, also uses a 17-inch though these are off-road ready, Dakar-inspired wheels.
The current generation Toyota Hilux features a bolder exterior
Other exclusive features made available on the Toyota Hilux Conquest variants only include a tailgate assist, a bedliner, a sports bar, a roof ornament, and side decals to provide a sturdier road presence on the go.
The GR Sport meanwhile, gets a wider track width, a set of beefier fender flares, an aero sports bar, under chassis protection, etc.
Toyota Hilux Interior
The Toyota Hilux currently on sale mostly carries over the interior from the 2020 update. Inside the pickup, there is the right amount of dimensionality that is also found in other Toyota vehicles offered in the Philippines that sit on the same platform. However, there are subtler styling elements that distinctly mark it as Hilux.
Higher trim levels feature seats with leather wrappings while lower trims have fabric seat coverings. Top variants are also equipped with automatic climate control and steering wheel audio control that depends on the head unit. The twin-dial setup gauge cluster comes with a multi-function display in the middle.
Technology & Safety Features
For on-board entertainment, Toyota gave the G a new eight-inch touchscreen. The Conquest likewise uses an eight-inch display, while the updated GR-S comes with a nine-inch headunit. The E meanwhile, retains its 6.75-inch display. Standard on the Conquest and GR-Sport is wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. The displays on the G though, get the wired version of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The top-range variants come with a push-start system and keyless entry. Hill-start assist is also available in this pickup. It adds to the livability and drivability of the Toyota Hilux. Depending on the trim, the Hilux also gets radar cruise control.
Safety is not an issue for the Toyota Hilux
This popular pickup from Toyota is a safe vehicle. The basic variant features passenger’s and driver’s airbags as standard. Higher variants have two front, side, and curtain airbags. Other safety features include ABS with EBD, brake assist, stability control, and speed-sensing door locks.
The GR-S and the Conquest get the Toyota Safety Sense driver-assistive kit which includes a pre-collision system, lane departure alert, etc. Also present for the higher-spec trims are blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross-traffic alert, and a panoramic view parking camera.
Platform & Chassis
The Toyota Hilux is a midsize four-door pickup truck. It shares the same Toyota IMV platform with the Innova and Fortuner. This pickup truck features a double-wishbone front suspension, and the rear setup is a rigid axle with leaf springs to further bolster its reputation as a reliable workhorse in the Philippines.
Toyota's pickup truck has a commanding presence on the road
On the top-spec GR Sport, the Hilux's suspension system is updated with monotube shock absorbers. It is also the only trim that gets disc brakes for all four wheels.
Engine & Drivetrain
Under the hood, TMP offers two engine options for its entry to the Philippine pickup truck segment. The first engine option is a 2.4-liter 2GD-FTV diesel engine which is used on the E, G, and Conquest 4x2 variants. It can generate 148 hp at 3,400 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 1,600 to 2,000 rpm.
The second engine option for the model is a larger 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV turbo-diesel engine which is capable of generating 201 hp at 3,400 rpm and 420 Nm of torque at 1,400 to 3,400 rpm (500 Nm of torque for the top-of-the-line Conquest 4X4 A/T variant). Both the said engines can be paired to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, depending on the chosen variant.
The updated 2024 GR-Sport meanwhile, is propelled by a 2.8-liter turbodiesel that can generate up to 220 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque. Like the other automatic versions, it also uses a six-speed gearbox, but this has been tuned for better performance.
>>> Related posts:
- 2020 Ford Ranger vs Toyota Hilux Comparison: Spec Sheet Battle
- What comes with the Toyota Hilux 2020 Philippines? Take a glimpse at the updated Aus-spec version
Available colors for the Toyota Hilux Philippines are Super White, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Crimson Spark Red Metallic, Nebula Blue Metallic, Orange Metallic, and Emotional Red.
Much like most of its rivals, the Toyota Hilux 2024 comes with a rear-locking differential for added traction and control in slippery driving conditions, especially when off-road. It also retains its 1,115-kilogram payload capacity, one of the highest in its segment, for superb carrying capability. Toyota has equipped the Hilux with a variable-flow control power steering pump to relieve driver stress during strenuous drives.
Toyota Hilux Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Toyota Hilux Q&A
1. How much is the Toyota Hilux 2024 Philippines?
Toyota Hilux 2024 price Philippines ranges from 885,000 PHP for the entry-level 2.4 Cab & Chassis 4x2 MT to 2,192,000 PHP for the top-of-the-line Toyota Hilux GR Sport 2.8 4x4 AT (Emotional Red color).
2. What are the Dimensions of Hilux 2024?
Dimensions for the Toyota Hilux 2024 include 5,285mm in length, 1,800mm in width, and 1,700mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,085mm.
3. What are the colors available in Hilux Philippines?
Toyota Hilux 2024 colors are available in 5 colors in the following shades: White, Super White, Sliver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Crimson Red, Attitude Black Mica, Nebula Blue Metallic, Orange Metallic, and Emotional Red.
4. What is the Engine Capacity of Hilux Conquest 2.4 4x2 MT?
Toyota Hilux Conquest 2.4 4x2 MT is offered with a 2.4-liter 2GD-FTV diesel engine which can generate 148 hp at 3,400 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 1,600 to 2,000 rpm.
5. Is Toyota Hilux available in Automatic Transmission?
Yes, it is. All Hilux trims available in the Philippines are automatic transmission.
₱ 879,000 - ₱ 2,166,000
Explore
Recent posts
- 2021 Toyota Hilux facelift rendering shows better view of new face Apr 13, 2021
- Refreshed Toyota Fortuner, Hilux production gets delayed: Report Mar 22, 2021
- Rejoice! Toyota might be developing a GR Hilux in the near future Mar 23, 2021
- Toyota Hilux 2020: Pickup contender for Car of the Year Mar 09, 2022
- Latest Toyota Hilux Price Philippines 2024 Jan 08, 2020
