Automakers usually put their best foot forward when launching a new model by showcasing higher-end trim levels. However, every now and then, some also reveal the base version, giving potential buyers a chance to see the less expensive configuration. Toyota knows there’s still a market for a no-nonsense truck, which is why it’s offering the new Hilux in its simplest form.
The ninth-generation model does things the old-fashioned way with halogen headlights and steel wheels. To reduce costs, some parts of the body remain unpainted, including the door handles and side mirror caps. There’s something refreshing about seeing a no-frills pickup with minimal specifications, and the back-to-basics approach is even more evident inside.
Gone are the leather seats of higher models, replaced with cloth upholstery more suited to a work truck. Hard plastic dominates the cabin, while blank buttons remind owners of the optional features you’re skipping. This base Thai Hilux keeps things simple with manual air conditioning and a mechanical handbrake.
And yes, Toyota has kept the six-speed manual gearbox alive in the car New Hilux. That shouldn’t be surprising, considering the pickup hasn’t switched to a new platform and largely carries over the bones of its decade-old predecessor. The least expensive version still comes with rear-wheel drive, while engine options continue to include the reliable four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. The internal combustion options are now being joined by a battery-electric version, with a hydrogen fuel cell alternative due in 2028.
Photo by: Toyota
While the European Hilux is now sold exclusively as a Double Cab, other markets get additional body styles. This Single Cab is one of them, along with the Access Cab with shorter, rear-hinged rear doors. Toyota only offers the ladder-frame truck at the moment, but we’re not ruling out others FortunerIt is basically an SUV based on the Hilux.
Whether for developing countries or Western markets, Toyota The Hilux configuration seems to suit almost every need. It is expected to maintain its “indestructible” reputation thanks to its proven foundations. However, the design is taking a new direction, and higher versions offer more modern interiors than before.
Toyota has sold more than 21 million Hilux units since the original debuted in 1968, and the new model appears to be building on that winning formula with an evolutionary approach rather than trying to reinvent it.
