Updated Toyota HiLux revealed

Australia’s favourite has been atop the sales charts for the best part of the past decade and an improved equipment list only makes it better.

Australia’s most popular new car is getting a range of new features.

Toyota has announced the Toyota HiLux and the Fortuner, its SUV sibling, are getting new safety and comfort features.

Top of the list is the addition of Toyota Connected Services, which provide protection from theft and aid drivers who have been in an accident.

The HiLux gets some new hi-tech safety equipment.

This technology will automatically call a 24-hour emergency call centre and relay the vehicle’s location if a collision has been detected by the deployment of airbags.

Owners can also manually trigger this SOS call, which allows the call centre to notify emergency services.

This tech also allows authorities to help track the vehicle if stolen.

The HiLux based Fortuner four-wheel drive also gets a number of upgrades.

The high-spec HiLux Rogue and Fortuner Crusade now come with a bird’s-eye view camera to make navigating tight spaces easier. The Crusader also gets dual-zone airconditioning.

Crusade versions also gain upgraded safety with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The latter will sound an alarm if a car is approaching as you reverse out of your driveway or a tight parking spot.

A new smaller antenna on the HiLux is less likely to be damaged in carparks and garages.

Prices for the HiLux start at $24,335 (plus on-road costs) for the base two-wheel drive single cab-chassis Workmate version with a petrol engine and rise to $70,750 for the off-road focused Rugged X four-wheel drive variant.

The Fortuner gets several driver aids included as standard.

The Fortuner range starts at $49,715 for the base GX grade and rises to $62,945 for the Crusade version.

Four-wheel drive HiLuxes and Fortuners are powered by the same 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine making 150kW/500Nm, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The HiLux trumps the Fortuner on the towing front with a max braked towing capacity of 3500kg compared to the Fortuner’s 3100kg.

Both are covered by a five-year/unlimited km warranty and cheap capped priced servicing.

The Toyota HiLux is the best selling vehicle in the country, having sold more than 32,000 examples through the first seven months of this year. The majority of these sales are the more expensive four-wheel drive versions.

The Fortuner, which has the same underpinnings as the HiLux, but has an SUV body, is a much slower seller having moved a little more than 2200 units in the same time.

Originally published as Updated Toyota HiLux revealed