5 Things We Love About The New Toyota Hilux

Here's the thing about the Hilux: nobody bought one because it looked good or felt plush inside. People bought it because it started every morning, handled whatever road (or non-road) you threw at it, and just kept going. That reputation took years to build, one reliable trip at a time. So when Toyota decided to update it, the smart move wasn't to reinvent anything. It was to keep that stubborn dependability intact while finally giving buyers a reason to want it for reasons beyond "it won't break down." More design flair, a proper modern interior, tech that doesn't feel bolted on. Basically, room for the guy who just likes trucks alongside the guy who needs one for work.

Bold New Styling That Finally Matches Its Tough Character

First thing you'll clock is the front end, and it's a big jump. The outgoing Hilux was never ugly, just forgettable, while this one isn't. The fascia carries a chunky honeycomb grille now, "TOYOTA" lettering running across it in block letters, and LED projector headlights with daytime running lights tucked in on both sides that give the whole face a sharper, more current look.

Down below, the bumper's been redone completely, with a satin-silver skid plate and thick black body cladding adding to the presence. Side-on, it's still recognisably a double-cab pickup that hasn't changed, but it sits tighter and reads more like an SUV now, thanks to new black alloys, side steps with actual grip texture, and wheel arches that have been squared off for a bolder stance. Head around back and you get stacked LED tail lights, a debossed Toyota badge on the tailgate, and a small step moulded into the bumper. Add it all up and this just looks like a pricier truck than it is.

Ride Comfort Has Improved, Even Though It's Still A Pickup

On-road manners were clearly a priority this time round. Nothing's going to make a ladder-frame chassis ride like a crossover. That's just how these things are built, but Toyota has gone after the specific pain points. More mounting points mean a stiffer body overall, which in turn gives the suspension a more solid base to actually do its job.

Cabin vibration gets addressed too, through new hydraulic engine mounts and shear-type body mounts that do a better job keeping engine and chassis harshness away from the occupants. Pair that with a suspension tune aimed specifically at comfort, and Toyota's claiming better grip and a calmer ride across rough and smooth surfaces alike. However, sharp potholes will still register, and there is no getting around that with this kind of platform. But day to day, on the highway or in city traffic, it should feel noticeably more composed than the old one.

The Dashboard Is Now Much More User-Friendly

The cabin's where you really feel how far this update goes. It's a ground-up redesign, and it shows; everything about it feels current. A 12.3-inch touchscreen sits front and centre, running wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, and it's joined by a 7-inch digital cluster that replaces the old analogue needles with something you can actually configure.

There's metallic trim and soft-touch material scattered across the surfaces you actually touch, which lifts the whole feel of the place. But here's what's smart: Toyota hasn't gone and buried every single function inside that touchscreen. The AC controls are still physical dials and proper buttons you can find without looking, which matters a lot more than it sounds when you're off-road, wearing gloves, or just don't want to poke through three touchscreen menus to turn the fan down. Beyond that, you get an 8-speaker system, wireless charging, steering wheel controls, and a centre console with enough storage cubbies to actually be useful.

Front Seats That Should Be More Comfortable For Taller Drivers

Anyone who's spent real time behind the wheel of a pickup knows seat comfort matters more than people give it credit for, and Toyota's redone the front seats with that in mind: better padding, better side support for the long stretches. The classic Hilux driving position is still there though: upright, commanding view of the road ahead, nothing's changed on that front.

Taller drivers should feel the biggest difference. Toyota's widened the cabin and reworked the seats together, which makes it noticeably easier to land on a comfortable position regardless of your build. It won't out-plush a proper luxury SUV, but getting the basics right like thigh support, space, and seating position makes this a cabin you can actually live in, whether that's a job site commute or a long weekend drive.

The Large Cargo Bed Makes It Equally Good For Work And Play

Everything else aside, a pickup is judged by its bed, and the Hilux still nails this part. Big enough to haul tools and site equipment on a Tuesday, then swap over to camping gear, bikes, or the family's holiday luggage by Saturday, that back-and-forth usefulness is really the whole reason this truck exists in the shape it does.

A couple of thoughtful additions here too. There's now a tailgate assist system, so what used to be a two-handed wrestling match with a heavy tailgate is now a one-hand job. And that step built into the rear bumper gives you somewhere solid to plant a foot when you need to climb up and sort out whatever's in the bed. Neither is a headline feature, but both make the truck genuinely easier to live with day to day.

ZigSays…

This isn't Toyota tearing up the Hilux and starting over; it's Toyota fixing an ageing-looking pickup to make it look and feel modern. The updated cabin, the bigger screen, nicer materials, and, moreover, buttons that still work like buttons is a properly nicer place to sit for however long your drive takes.

The ride improvements matter too, even with a ladder-frame chassis setting the ceiling on how car-like it can ever really feel; this is still a truck you could drive every day without dreading it. And because Toyota hasn't touched the durability and capability that built the Hilux name in the first place, what you end up with is a more complete package rather than a compromised one. If you want one vehicle that can be a work truck Monday to Friday and an adventure rig on the weekend, this generation makes that argument better than any before it.