Last Updated: 08/02/2010
LONG TERM ROAD TEST: TOYOTA HILUX An automatic choice
Sometimes it’s a question of careful timing, other times its just luck. But having a four wheel drive truck on the drive for three months, during the worst winter in many years, falls squarely into the total fluke category. The fact that the truck was the latest Toyota Hilux Invincible, complete with 3.0 litre engine and automatic transmission, just made the good fortune even sweeter.We finally got our hands on the 3.0 litre auto Invincible some months later than expected for a long term test, but there have been no complaints since its arrival. With prolonged bouts of deep snow and freezing ice, the Hilux has been an invaluable companion, ensuring that I get to events around the country, my son gets to school and several elderly people on the street get to the supermarket.
Even before the arctic weather arrived the big Toyota was already proving popular transport. Its combination of comfortable ride, relaxed but impressive performance and exceptional fuel consumption had put the Invincible right up there among our favourite truck models.
When the snow came I had yet to take the Hilux very far off-road, so had to have a quick look through the manual for the correct transfer box procedure. Thanks to Toyota’s Automatic Disconnecting Differential you can change between two and four wheel drive in the higher ratios at speeds up to 50mph.
There is no need to shift the automatic transmission to neutral, simply lift off the throttle and ease the transfer lever back for four wheel drive or forwards to revert to rear drive.
A light on the dash signals that four wheel drive is engaged and away you go. Of course you would need to slow down to drop into four low, but you can still be moving at up to 5mph, so you don’t have to wait until you are stuck before opting for ultimate traction.
This ability to change was particularly useful as our local council only managed to clear main roads. This meant that two wheel drive was plenty on the larger routes, but as soon as you turned off the main road you could simply slip into four wheel drive for that extra bit of traction.
Talking of which the 3.0 litre models get a limited slip rear differential as standard and Vehicle Stability Control comes on all Invincible models. This means that even in two wheel drive there is rarely any slip at the back end of the Hilux, even when provoked on a snowy corner.
The rear wheels can be made to break loose, but the systems rapidly gather everything up, cut the torque and straighten the vehicle, accompanied by much beeping and flashing of warning lights on the dash. You can turn VSC off, should you need to on the rough where there are times when a slight slip of the wheels is necessary to get the vehicle moving, but on the road it is a very impressive system and best left well alone.
Some might question whether an automatic transmission is the best solution on snow though, or indeed in muddy off-road conditions. However driving the Hilux in bad weather really couldn’t be easier.
It changes up through the gears so smoothly that maintaining traction is just not a problem. And when it comes to slowing the vehicle for a roundabout, the ability to change down through every one of the gears manually, providing massive engine braking without locking the rear wheels as can happen in a manual on snow, means that there was never the fear of overshooting a junction.
Of course no-one is going to buy a pick-up on the off chance that it might snow come winter, the vehicle has to make a living all year round. Here too though the Hilux impresses, with as mentioned its uncanny ability to return around 30mpg no matter what you do, one of its big selling features.
To be fair, prolonged high speed use will see that figure drop slightly, as will crawling about in urban traffic in the snow in four wheel drive, but still not by as much as expected. We didn’t get a chance to tow with the Hilux, but no doubt that would have had more of an effect too.
It is just such a relaxing truck to drive though, with the smooth delivery of the strong torquey engine and that five-speed auto box combining to shorten any trip. The commanding view of the road and the feeling of total security no matter what the weather also helps to reduce driving fatigue.
There were a few negatives during our time with the Toyota. As mentioned in the previous report, leather seats without heating in the winter are not very welcoming in the colder months. That said the leather is now optional on the Invincible, so you can make your own mind up whether you really need it.
The second grumble is the lack of heated wing mirrors, despite electric adjustment. Having to scrape the mirrors each morning, and then having them mist up by the end of the road, really wasn’t what I would call top of the range motoring. In wet spray heated mirrors are also an essential to ensure that you know what is going on all around you.
These are relatively small complaints though, and the Toyota has proven incredibly popular transport for all who have tried it. Is it now our favourite pick-up? If you want a truck with a manual gearbox we would still be torn between the Toyota and Nissan’s Navara Aventura, particularly given its high standard specification. But if you must have an automatic transmission, the Hilux is in a class of its own.
