What's the difference?
The ninth-generation Toyota HiLux is not really a new HiLux in the true sense of the word, but there’s enough going on with it to have generated plenty of excitement in the ute-loving public.
This ‘new’ HiLux, in essence, is an update but it’s an update with substance: the HiLux now sports a new retro design, new interior layout, new suspension tune (softer rated springs and dampers for improved on-road comfort) – and it even has an electric park brake now.
So, with no major mechanical upgrades, is this HiLux enough of an improvement over past iterations to warrant your attention?
Following up the electric LDV eDeliver 7 comes the diesel-powered model which may look identical from the outside but is an altogether more traditional package.
Effectively replacing the G10 as LDV’s mid-size (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) van, the Deliver 7 competes against segment stalwarts like the Ford Transit Custom, Hyundai Staria Load, Renault Trafic Pro, Toyota HiAce and Volkswagen Transporter.
Unlike some of the others in that list, the Deliver 7 has its eyes firmly set on the fleet operator crowd with all the required safety equipment, plenty of payload capacity and – crucially – a cheap starting price.
The Toyota HiLux SR5 now feels nicer and more modern inside and out and it no longer lags behind some other utes – even some of the cheaper ones – in terms of comfort, refinement and all-round driveability.
Toyota has in the past been guilty of sometimes doing the bare minimum when it comes to producing a ‘new’ vehicle – especially LandCruisers or HiLuxes – but this time even though this HiLux is definitely not a new model, the exterior revamp and interior refresh have added more than enough to the HiLux package to keep fans and new buyers happy.
This is the best HiLux so far.
For a van that is going to be heavily loaded most of its life, the diesel Deliver 7 offers a strong value proposition with snazzy exterior design and passenger car-like interior tech.Â
As a fleet-oriented vehicle, that ANCAP sticker of approval, non-slip flooring and ergonomic seats will please the health and safety officers, too.
It's a shame, then, that LDV couldn't match the reasonable refinement and ride quality offered by the electric eDeliver 7. Where that van feels competitive with rivals, the diesel Deliver 7’s budget bones add up to a bouncy, unrefined and bonging safety aid-filled driving experience.
The diesel Deliver 7 is a decent enough workhorse but it’s hard to recommend saving the money over its more refined competitor set.Â