High-stepping HiLux has sting

The wallabies head for the slopes, bell birds are ringing and the rattled gum leaves fall back to the road.

There is nothing slack about this new Toyota. Apart, maybe, from that unloaded back end dancing through the rippled corner.

But with 175kW, slick five-speed automatic and independent front end it is all smoothness and quickness at the front end of the HiLux.

Those tyres may look a tad underdone for off-road work but here on this back road bitumen, the Toyota's front Bridgestones are working well, offering plenty of grip and helping that rack and pinion steering find the direct and correct spots.

Knock the stick and pull to the right, out of fifth for fourth. From here it's back to third, maybe a touch of brake, turn and then slip back to second for punching out of the tighter corners.

If this new breed of HiLux is nothing else, it is a tonne of fun for hustling up a mountain road. It will not match a Holden SS Ute or Ford XR6 for grip and handling and ride but this high-stepping HiLux has some sting and a tonne of willingness.

This can cause some opposite lock dramas on wet bitumen or loose dirt. Without any load in that tray (and it's a decent-sized tray, 165mm longer than the previous HiLux, for a dual cab) the HiLux's rear needs due care and attention plus gentle throttle prodding to keep things in a straight line. Or not.

So there is a deal of point-to-point speed in this seventh-generation HiLux and a decent amount of front-end grip and balance.

Less appreciated is the propensity of the rear end (here without a major load) to hop and skip over those middle-size bumps. Fine on the bigger swoops and rises, the suspension can be that bit jittery on the smaller stuff; here it is not as well behaved as some of the opposition.

And too much fun can lead to fuel consumption heading past 14 litres per 100km.

Down a long road a more supportive driver's seat would be appreciated, the cushion is a little flat and narrow.

There is little else to quibble about in this all-new and very flash cabin. It is quiet, well-organised and well-finished. There's more room in this Double Cab than before with back seat passengers scoring better head and knee room than previous models plus storage space under the rear seats.

Instruments are clear and legible, the dashboard all very logical and there's a decent CD/radio stereo. The shifter for two-wheel drive to four-high to four-low is out front of the automatic transmission lever.

This is one of the best parts, this active and adaptive five-speed gearbox, just as handy for slipping back through the gears when out in the rough as around the town.

Low-low is well-geared for a petrol V6, there is a decent amount of engine braking for steep downhill runs and enough steady torque for clambering through the real rough stuff.

Care is needed here for the HiLux's new-found independent front end leaves a couple of wishbone arms dangling lower than before. The book claims 210mm of ground clearance.

And those 16-inch tyres standard on the Double Cab SR can have trouble finding grip; this rubber is more biased toward ride and handling on good surfaces than offering grip on rough stuff. As a practical and comfortable four-wheel drive, dual cab ute the HiLux Double Cab SR for getting around the country continues to offer a good mix. It is a more comfortable family machine than before, an easier ute to drive.

Still unsure about the new style, that pretty nose and slab sides make the HiLux look under-tyred, but guess everyone will get used to it. Toyota reckon they can shift 12,000 extra this year, taking the year's tally to a record 40,000. It's been an "avalon" time since Toyota Australia missed a forecast.