After nearly a decade on top of the Australian sales charts, the HiLux faces its biggest challenge yet — staying number one in a market where buyers want refinement as much as ruggedness. Toyota’s answer? The new-generation HiLux, a ute that feels familiar in purpose but noticeably more polished in execution.
Fleet News Group joined Toyota for an exclusive first drive of pre-production models, sampling the new HiLux across sealed and unsealed roads — and even a sloppy off-road course in the rain. The drive was short and structured, but enough to confirm one thing: this is a better HiLux to drive every day.
Sharper, Smoother, and More Civilised
The first thing that stands out is how much more composed the new HiLux feels on the road. The switch to electric power steering (EPS) has transformed the steering feel — gone is the heavy, agricultural weight that defined previous HiLux generations.
At parking speeds, the wheel feels lighter and easier to turn, making tight manoeuvres around depots or carparks effortless. Out on the open road, there’s still reassuring weight and feedback, giving confidence when towing or cornering with a load. Toyota says EPS also helps reduce vibration and kickback on rough terrain, and in practice, that claim holds up — the wheel stayed calm even over sharp corrugations and puddle-filled potholes.
The comfort-tuned suspension is another major step forward. Toyota’s engineers have worked hard to balance ride quality and load capacity, and the results show. The unladen ride — traditionally the HiLux’s weakest trait — feels noticeably more settled. The rear end no longer hops and jitters over bumps, and there’s a sense of cohesion between the chassis and cabin that wasn’t there before.
In simple terms: it drives more like an SUV than a workhorse.
Two Tunes, One Goal
Toyota has developed two distinct suspension tunes for the new HiLux:
- A heavy-duty setup for WorkMate and SR grades aimed at fleet, trade and towing users.
- A comfort-biased tune for SR5, Rogue and Rugged X variants, tuned for everyday driving and mixed use.
Both retain the HiLux’s trademark toughness and payload capability, but the comfort tune is the one most drivers will appreciate day to day. On country B-roads and uneven tarmac, the new HiLux feels composed and predictable, soaking up imperfections without feeling floaty or soft.
It’s the kind of refinement that makes a long day behind the wheel far less tiring — and it shows how far utes have come as all-purpose vehicles.
Off the Bitumen: Still a Hilux at Heart
The proving ground’s off-road course gave the new HiLux a chance to prove that its civility hasn’t dulled its edge. The conditions were brutal — heavy rain, slick clay surfaces, and deep ruts that would humble most SUVs.
Despite wearing OE highway tyres, the HiLux handled it all with confidence. The low-speed traction and throttle control felt precise, and the Multi-Terrain Select system worked seamlessly to manage wheel slip without the need for excessive throttle inputs.
Toyota’s off-road calibration team clearly used Australia’s worst conditions as a testing ground. Even in two-wheel drive mode, the ute felt sure-footed, and switching to 4H or 4L added the kind of traction that inspires confidence — not drama.
For fleets operating in rural or mining environments, that’s exactly the kind of predictability they rely on.
Refined but Still Real
From behind the wheel, the cabin redesign complements the improved dynamics perfectly. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen, digital cluster, and more ergonomic layout make it feel more modern, yet still robust. Everything feels purposeful — large buttons, clear displays, and solid switchgear that can be used with gloves on.
Noise levels are down too. Toyota’s engineers added new liquid-filled engine mounts, extra spot welds, and improved body insulation, and it shows. On coarse country bitumen, the cabin stayed noticeably quieter than before.
It’s still unmistakably a HiLux — you feel that solid, mechanical character — but it’s more composed, refined, and comfortable.
The Verdict: Better Where It Matters
The new HiLux isn’t revolutionary, but it doesn’t need to be. What it does brilliantly is evolve the formula that’s made it Australia’s best-selling vehicle: capability, dependability, and now, genuine comfort.
For fleet buyers, the upgrades to steering, suspension, and in-cabin technology translate directly into safer, less fatiguing days for drivers. For private buyers, it means a HiLux that feels just as at home on a long commute as it does hauling gear up a fire trail.
Even in a short, rain-soaked first drive, it was clear that Toyota has listened to its customers — and delivered a ute that’s not just tougher, but smarter and easier to live with.
In other words, the HiLux finally drives as well as its reputation. And that’s saying something.
