Fleet News Group was one of the first media outlets invited to drive the all-new Toyota HiLux at an exclusive preview event held at a private testing centre — and even with limited time behind the wheel, one thing was immediately clear: this is a better HiLux to drive every day.
Toyota hasn’t reinvented its best-seller, but it has refined it. The changes — particularly the new electric power steering and the comfort-tuned suspension — completely transform the experience from the driver’s seat. It feels calmer, more precise, and far less “agricultural” than the old model. This is still a tough ute, but one that’s far easier to live with.
Refinement You Can Feel From the First Turn
The first few corners tell you everything. The heavy, truck-like steering of the old HiLux is gone, replaced by an electric system that feels light, smooth, and intuitive. You can guide it with your fingertips in traffic or on gravel without fighting the wheel, yet it remains stable and reassuring on faster country roads.
That single change modernises the HiLux more than anything else. It’s the difference between driving a rugged workhorse and a genuinely polished dual-purpose vehicle. Toyota’s engineers have struck a balance between comfort and control that makes even the WorkMate feel easier to handle around town.
The suspension, too, has been given a serious rethink. There are now two tunes — a heavy-duty setup for fleet and load-carrying work, and a comfort-biased tune for everyday drivers. Both are big improvements, but the comfort tune in the SR5 we tested was a standout. It smoothed out corrugations and coarse roads with a composure that would have been unthinkable in previous generations.
The new HiLux feels settled, confident, and composed — even when unladen. It rides better, corners flatter, and no longer bucks or fidgets over uneven tarmac. Simply put, it’s the kind of ute you could happily drive every day without feeling like you’re compromising on comfort.
A Cabin That Finally Feels Unified
The difference isn’t just mechanical. Inside, the HiLux now feels cohesive — designed from the ground up rather than pieced together over time. The dash layout is clean, the new 12.3-inch touchscreen sits naturally within the console, and the driving position feels more SUV-like.
Everything about the interior suggests Toyota started with a blank sheet of paper. The materials are more premium, the controls are intuitive, and the whole space feels better built. It’s still practical and hard-wearing — but it’s now also genuinely pleasant to spend hours in.
Fleet drivers and tradies alike will appreciate the better ergonomics, improved visibility, and extra refinement. For a vehicle that spends much of its life as a workplace, it finally feels like a comfortable one.
Off-Road: Calm, Confident, and Unbothered by the Elements
The real test came when the weather turned. Our off-road loop at Toyota’s private proving ground quickly became a mud bath — the kind of conditions that separate marketing talk from mechanical truth.
And yet, the new HiLux didn’t put a wheel wrong. Even wearing standard OE tyres, it maintained steady traction and control through slick, rutted sections and steep climbs. The hill descent control handled a 35% gradient with quiet precision, allowing the ute to ease itself down without drama.
What stood out wasn’t brute power, but refinement. The new steering kept the wheel steady over bumps and ruts, while the comfort suspension soaked up the worst of the terrain. There was no harsh kickback, no violent jolts — just calm, controlled progress through deep mud and standing water.
In the pouring rain, the HiLux didn’t just hold its own — it felt confident, even composed. You can sense that the vehicle’s DNA has evolved; it’s no longer trying to prove its toughness. It just gets on with the job, quietly and efficiently.
Short Drive, Big Impression
Our time behind the wheel was limited, but the impression was lasting. The new HiLux is everything you expect from Toyota — durable, dependable, and capable — but it finally feels more sophisticated. The new steering and suspension setup give it the manners of a modern SUV while retaining the muscle of a genuine work ute.
Whether you’re navigating city streets, country highways, or muddy backroads, it’s more comfortable, easier to drive, and better equipped for the way Australians actually use their vehicles today.
Toyota didn’t need to make the HiLux tougher — it already was. What it needed was finesse. And with this new model, they’ve delivered it.
The result? A HiLux that’s still ready for work, but now feels right at home doing everything else too.
