Toyota Hilux 2019: Features, Variants, and Engine Options

The Toyota Hilux is a light-duty, mid-size pickup truck built on the Japanese carmaker’s new Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform. This platform is also utilized in other Toyota vehicles, including the Fortuner SUV and the Innova MPV. The Toyota Hilux has expanded over eight generations since its introduction in the late 1960s and is recognized as one of the world’s leading pickup truck nameplates, enjoying immense popularity.

Depending on the market and region, the Toyota Hilux offers a variety of configurations, including petrol or diesel powerplants, manual or automatic transmissions, two-wheel-drive (2WD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD), and Single Cab (SC) or Double Cab (DC) options.

The first-generation Toyota Hilux, introduced in 1968, weighed only between 1.0 to 1.1 tons. By the time it reached its fourth generation in the 1980s, its average minimum curb weight increased to approximately 1.3 tons, and the fifth generation pushed that to 1.5 tons. The sixth and seventh generations weighed around 1.6 to 1.8 tons, respectively. The outgoing eighth-generation Toyota Hilux (in the UAE) offers several variants and trim options, comprising up to 14 different options in total.

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Engine Options for the Toyota Hilux

To understand the variants of the Toyota Hilux, it's essential to look at the engines offered. There are three petrol engines and one diesel engine available:

• 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine: 134hp with 182Nm of torque.
• 2.7-liter four-cylinder petrol engine: 164hp and 245Nm of maximum torque.
• 4.0-liter V6 petrol engine: 235hp and 375Nm of torque.
• 2.4-liter 2GD-FTV four-cylinder diesel engine: 147hp and 342Nm of torque.

Variants and Pricing in the UAE

The entry-level variants of the Toyota Hilux in the UAE include all engine options, except for the petrol V6:

1. Single Cab (4x2) with the 2.7-liter petrol engine priced at AED 77,000.
2. Double Cab (4x2) with a 2.0-liter petrol engine priced at AED 79,800.
3. Double Cab (4x2) DLS with the 2.4-liter diesel engine priced at AED 91,350.

The mid-tier trims of the Hilux consist of two variants (both 4x2 options) with the 2.0-liter and 2.7-liter petrol engines, starting with:

• Double Cab GL for AED 85,050.
• Double Cab GLX for AED 96,600.

Additionally, there are three trims positioned between the regular mid-range variants and the top-tier options:

• Two-wheel-drive Single Cab Top Spec with the 2.0-liter engine priced at AED 97,125.
• Four-wheel-drive Single Cab GLX priced at AED 99,250.
• Two-wheel-drive Double Cab GLX priced at AED 99,750.

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Top-Tier Variants and Performance

The remaining six variants of the Toyota Hilux, priced between AED 101,750 to AED 147,000, belong to the top-tier category. Among them:

• Five are powered by the 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine.
• The fully-loaded TRD variant features the powerful six-cylinder engine.

In terms of curb weight, the lightest new Toyota Hilux weighs just over 1.7 tons, while the heaviest V6 variant weighs around 2.0 tons. Despite its significant bulk compared to the base Hilux, the larger powerplant enables it to accelerate to 100 km/h in just over 8 seconds.