Toyota HiLux safety upgraded

Toyota Australia has announced that its full range of Toyota HiLux utes will soon receive the company's Safety Sense package as standard, as part of an update that also ushers in new HiLux WorkMate variants – and a range-wide price increase.

Toyota's Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features is already available on several Toyota passenger-car models such as the latest Corolla hatch, Camry sedan and RAV4 medium SUV, and was recently introduced to Toyota's LCV range with the new sixth-generation Toyota HiAce van.

Now the Safety Sense package will feature across the full HiLux range – a move that aligns with 2019 ANCAP testing parameters that require a vehicle to have autonomous emergency braking (AEB) to achieve a full five-star safety rating.

Echoing its closest rival in the Ford Ranger, the Toyota Safety Sense package will see the following features included as standard across the Toyota HiLux range:

The adaptive (radar) cruise control system operates at speeds over 40km/h; dropping below that speed deactivates the system. The steering assist component of the lane departure warning feature adjusts the vehicle's direction via autonomous braking input should it stray from its lane, while the road sign assist feature can recognise speed zone signs, displaying the current speed zone on the HiLux's instrumentation.

The update will be available on HiLux 4x2 and 4x4 single-cab and double-cab models from July 8, 2019, with HiLux Rugged, Rugged X and Rogue variants following from August 1 and HiLux extra-cab variants from August 26.

As part of the update, Toyota HiLux WorkMate variants gain a new 4.2-inch Multi Information Display (MID), making the feature standard across the range, while standard 4x2 single-cab cab/chassis and double-cab WorkMate variants – with 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine – have each been replaced with Hi-Rider versions that see ride height raised to that of HiLux 4x4 models.

The change also sees these two variants receive a six-speed manual transmission, replacing the older five-speed manual unit.

The Toyota HiLux upgrade is accompanied by price increases of between $800 and $875 depending on the variant, with the new range priced from $21,865 (2.7-litre petrol 4x2 WorkMate manual single cab chassis) plus on-roads to $64,490 (2.8-litre turbo-diesel 4x4 Rugged X automatic) plus on-roads. That's an $800 rise for Toyota's flagship HiLux model.

According Toyota Australia vice-president of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, the looming changes simply reflect Toyota's wider view on automotive safety.

"With the addition of these advanced safety technologies, customers can be assured they are behind the wheel of a vehicle that delivers the latest driver assistance features, whether that's a light commercial vehicle like HiLux or HiAce, or a passenger car such as Corolla or Camry," he said.

"We intend making these types of technologies available on every variant in each model range."

The Toyota HiLux is not only Australia’s top-selling ute, but new vehicle bar none. It found 51,705 customers in 2018 (both 4x2 and 4x4), putting it clear of Ford’s Ranger by 9561 units.