Toyota’s ‘indestructible’ Hilux has a new look and more hi-tech features for 2012. The legendary pick-up is no stranger to being ‘restyled’, having previously been converted into an all-conquering volcanic and Polar explorer and taken everything Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson could throw at it (click here for a reminder of those episodes!). Now the Hilux has a fresh face for 2012 and is cleaner than ever.
The 2.5-litre D-4D and 3.0 D-4D engines now comply with Euro 5 emissions standards and offer reduced CO2 output and increased fuel economy. In fact, the 2.5-litre Double Cab Hilux has the lowest CO2 emissions of any vehicle in its class.
Style-wise, the Hilux has a new bonnet, radiator grille, headlamps and bumper, plus new wheel designs, side bars and steps for the top-of-the-range Hilux Invincible. The interior has been given a new look, too, with new upper dashboard design and instrument cluster that emphasise the roominess of the cabin.
The revised lay-out incorporates the new Toyota Touch multimedia unit with a full colour 6.1-inch touchscreen (picture above). The Touch package, fitted as standard to the HL3 and Invincible models also includes Bluetooth and a USB port for connecting digital music players.
As a result of the adjustments to the engines, CO2 emissions for the 2.5 D-4D (Double Cab) have been cut to 194g/km, and combined fuel consumption has also improved to 38.7mpg for all bodystyles. The emissions figure for the 3.0 D-4D Double Cab automatic has fallen to 227g/km and the manual to 203g/km. Combined fuel consumption figures are improved from 31.7 to 32.8mpg and 34.0 to 36.7mpg respectively.
The standard five-speed manual transmission and the optional five-speed automatic for the 3.0 D-4D engine, exclusive to the Invincible, are also retained. Similarly, the grade line-up of HL2, HL3 and Invincible, and the choice of single, extra and double cab bodystyles will continue to be offered for the 2012 model year.
From launch, Hilux will be available with a comprehensive choice of accessory packs to tailor the vehicle to suit the needs of both business users and those owners who need to use Hilux for more everyday driving duties, or want to give their vehicle an extra dash of style. The 2012 Hilux goes on sale in the UK in October, priced from £16,090 CV on-the-road.
I have had my Hilux Invincible 3.0 d4d about 4 weeks now (2012 facelift model) covered approx 2k miles. Had a 2008 Ford Ranger Thunder before, which was 100% reliable.
The toyota is slower and a lot thirstier 25mpg against the 30+ mpg of the ranger driving under the same conditions (approx 30k/year, with 1/2 ton of kit loaded). The ranger has a much more willing / punchy engine and is a lot of fun to drive in comparison.
The toyota has an unwilling engine. seems hard to make progress in this, your always trying to push it on.. Looses speed as soon as you touch an incline on the motorway. Makes me think there’s something wrong with it.
Drives like a 2 stroke moped, you have to get the engine up near the redline to make it move 3200-3800rpm!
The ranger is much faster off the line (both trucks with my kit of approx 1/2 ton on the back) and holds its speed when it hits a gradient.
The ranger is also quiter as the revs build and surges along, the Toyota feels like your towing a trailer, not much movement but a big increase in engine rattle as the revs build.
I paid extra for the leather on the top of the range hilux, the seats are more supportive than the rangers. The ranger thunder was 2nd from top model and came with leather heated seats as standard, the toyotas seats are not heated.
The toyota comes with a computer that tells you your getting 3 mpg more than you actually are, if you brim to brim the fuel at fill ups and work out fuel usage against mileage.
The big plus over the ranger and the reason I bought it was the coil sprung front suspension thats a massive improvement over the pre 2012 rangers torsion bar setup.
The interior layout of the Toyota takes some getting used to. The toyota gearbox shifts better.
So Toyota some questions for you:
1) How on earth do you get 36.7mpg? (a long downhill with the gearstick pushed into neutral and the engine left on tickover!)
2) why does this 3.0 diesel feel soo underpowered and flat? (the truck almost stops at the sign of a hill!)
If this was a 1600 diesel I would understand the power problem but not the economy. if it was a 5.0 v10 diesel from the VW toureg I would understand the poor economy but not the performance. So why the 1950’s engine technology (from a driving point of view)?
Hi Tony,
We suggest you visit your local Toyota Centre for an inspection to ensure the vehicle is working correctly. They will also be able to advise you on the best driving style and techniques to achieve optimum performance. To find your local Centre click here.
im glad other people are experiencing the fuel issue and power of the hilux 3.0 diesel,i have a 2010 uk spec invincible 3.0 and the fuel economy is rubish i have only had 25.5 mpg since ive had her from new and lately its getting worse its down to between 24 to 23.5 and its got 18000 miles on the clock,i previously had a hilux hl3 3.0 before this one and gave me 30/32 mpg which i ran for 3years and didnt change at all and i also feel that it was more powerfull than the invincible ive got now,the only thing i was originaly putting it down to is that the hl3 was on 15 inch wheels and the invincible is on 17 inch and on general grabber a/t tyres there must be slightly more drag but i cant see that making that much diffrence in fuel and power though, i mentioned to my toyota dealer about the poor fuel econmy and they said its the tyres, not convinced!,i think that these engines the have now have been detuned or something to meet these crap emissons making them under powered and making the engine to work harder and then giving poor fuel economy,the fuel econmy i get from the invincible makes to diffrence anway its driven or towing or type of journey it does,i rate the truck highly but the fuel consumption is crap,im going for a 20,000 mile service soon and ill have it out with them if its not sorted ill change it or chip it or something,its got to be with the price of diesel these days !!
I am with you on this one Tony i have got the new hilux Invincible 3.0 d4d 2012 facelift model and I do motorway driving every day and I can only just get 29 mpg when I am doing 55-60mph. all the cars I have ever had in the past I have got more than what the manufacturers quote as the combined mpg intil now. I would love to know how toyota came up with the conclusion that it would get 36.7mpg. I think they must have done the test going down hill with a strong wind coming from behind.
+1 all the way! My 7yr old 100,000 mile Navara returned 30.2 mpg, my new Hilux (with same size wheels 17″, on the same roads at the same speeds) can’t even reach 29mpg, go figure! Perhaps the “other variables” taken into consideration that Oliver mentioned where things like; they had no rear seats or load bed fitted, but hey that’s the party line. Who knows, but maybe they will be caught out like Kia & Hyundai in the US who stated false fuel figures to gain favour & sales?? amongst the frugel?
Hi Jack,
Thanks for your comments. The average fuel consumption according to the EU standard is combined from ‘urban’ and ‘extra-urban’ driving conditions and will show an average between these two. Assuming your Hilux is driving as normal, other variables to take into consideration include load, driving style, road conditions and outside and engine temperatures. As with all automotive manufacturers, we are unable to state any fuel economy figures other than those provided by through official European tests. We do appreciate your comment and hope this explains the standardised figure.
When are you going to put the thing for sale in America. I had a 93 with over 208,000 and took a nap and toatled it. I have not had a pick up since so if you start trading in America again I might have another pickup before I croke.
Agree totally with what has been posted on here. I bought a 3.0 D4D manual on the basis that I would be getting somwhere in the mid 30s for fuels consumption as I mainly drive motoways(40k per annum) I struggle to get 30mpg and that is only if I stick to 65mph or less.
drive it hard and I am getting 25mpg which is ridiculously out from the official figures.
I also am dissapointed that a 3 litre engine lacks power, previous to this I drove a Nissan Pathfinder which had a 2.5 engine and was much punchier and did a similair mpg on an auto gearbox.
The official figures are very misleading.
I wish I had come across this blog before getting my new 3.0 Invincible auto. Done 1000 miles in it and I am not impressed with the performance or fuel consumption. The computer says I’m averaging 24.3 mpg which is worse than my two previous Navara’s. I think it is time Toyota fessed up and had a recall, the engine needs a retune to get better fuel consumption and performance.
Hi Shaun,
Sorry you’re experiencing this with your Hilux.
Many factors determine what MPG figures are achievable including load, driving style and temperature to name a few. If you’d like some advice or tips or for someone to address any issues you have with this we recommend you visiting your Dealer. They’ll be best placed to help you. Please find their contact details here: http://ow.ly/hoLMP.
Many thanks.
I am disapionted to read so many other people experiencing the poor fuel economy of the invincible 3.0ltr and a lack of power . I had a 09 HL3 which did 35mpg combined, now i am only manage 24 to 26 mpg this is equal to a 25% decrease in economy or £50.00 a week.I would of expected at least equal or better with a newer vehicle.Also even more disapointing is the fact that no one from toyota seems to give toss. I have had toyota for over twenty years but i think I have just bought my last one .
Hi Mark,
We’re sorry that you’re not getting the MPG you’d like from your Hilux. We’d like to follow up with you and ask that you contact our Customer Relations team who’ll happily help. Please find their contact details here: http://ow.ly/hxi3B.
We’d like to thank you for your loyalty to Toyota over the last 20 years and hope, very much, that we can help you and you stay with us.
With best wishes.
I am just about to place an order for a new pick up on contract hire, do I now steer clear of the Hi lux 2013 invincible auto and go for Amorak or Navara Platinum???? Mpg and performance is key to my decision!! what do you guys think?
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your interest in the Hilux.
To help with your decision, the Hilux Invincible 3.0 achieves 36.7mpg, the 2.5 Navara Platinum 33.2mpg and Amarok Selectable Highline is 35.3mpg.
Your local Dealer will be able to help take you through further details on the Hilux and the grade that will be most suited to your needs. You can find their contact details here: http://ow.ly/hDvHu. In the meantime, more information can be found here, including the model brochure: toyota.co.uk/hilux.
We hope this helps and if you need anything further, please do let us know.
HellO,
Just to be clear the other manufacturers that you are quoting actually do what they claim, Toyota are way out on there MPG claim. Also my local Toyota dealer has admitted that other vehicles (3.0Ltr Invincibles) are having the poor economy as well as myself. I am so disapointed that Toyota do not seem to think there is a problem. I manufacture new machinery and i am sure if it didn’t perform as i claim i would have to put right at my expence. I just just wish I could get rid of it with out losing so much depreciation.
Hi Mark,
We’re sorry to read that you’re not getting the MPG you expect. It’s true that the MPG figures quoted are standardised by a Government led initiative to ensure there is a level playing field across manufacturers. I’m sure you’re aware of some tips that may help to increase the MPG you currently get. If you’re in any doubt that there is a problem we suggest contacting either your Local Dealer or our Customer Relations team here: http://ow.ly/hEirV.
Many thanks and kind regards.
Hi,
My name is Berten, from Belgium. I bought a brand new 2012 Hilux 3.0 Atacama in december 2012. I also still have a 2007 Hilux 3.0. I must say that I am very disappointed with the mpg of the new Hilux. My 2007 Hilux uses 10.0 l/100km, the 2013 hilux brochure claims that the fuel consumption is +/- 1 liter less than the previous model. Now I can confirm to you that that is a straight LIE. My new Hilux uses 12.2 l/100km (23.1 mpg)! Same driver (me), same trajectories, same tires…
Besides that I am hearing a unhealthy sounding noise in the engine (when driving +/-50km/hr at 1500-1800rpm). Brought it in to 3 different dealerships and all 3 have a different explanation but none want to fix it because Toyota Belgium says it’s “normal”. I am very disappointed with Toyota right now and thinking of hiring a lawyer to have them fix my truck…
I am glad that I haven’t sold my 2007 hilux yet. I may get rid of the 2012 model quick and continue driving my 2007 :-s
The Hilux achieves 36.7 said who? I can’t get mine over 22 so get real and stop telling lies to customers! Your worse than Land Rover!
you will be disapointed with the hilux i am afraid
Hilux invincible at 70mph is 26MPG I average combined 28mpg, if i drive really really carefully I might achieve combined 30mpg, ignore what the mouthpeices from Toyota say, they don’t drive one.
I too have the same problems with mine this is the fourth 3.0 hilux i have had and the previous three have been good, however the euro5 is appaling on fuel and has no power at all. i also have a 2007 hl2 hilux with the 120bhp engine, i cannot keep up with that with my 3.0, the old 120 leaves it for dead. mine has been back in three times to our dealer who cannot find anything wrong with it. It is a real shame toyota have ruined what was a real good truck. they need to recall these and remap them they are useless as they are.
well my experience with my new hilux gets worse, despite it having no power and using more fuel than any other pickup i have owned , it has been broken down now for two weeks and we are still waiting for parts. This vehicle was bought for business use that constantly requires an off road vehicle, our local toyota dealer says toyotas policy is not a like for like replacement vehicle, so they wanted to give me a yaris. how do they expect me to carry 500kgs of tools over fields in a yaris, our dealers response was to shrug his shoulders. The vehicle never achieves any where near its supposed fuel figure and is extremely underpowered. why have they ruined what was the best pickup on the market and when it goes wrong will not support it. For any perspective buyers of the new hilux 3.0 dont do it you will be making a mistake. If they treated you in a more professional manner when things do go wrong or even admit that these vehicles have a problem then you could understand but up to yet its the worst i have ever experienced. I run a fleet of 30+ vehicles of different manufacturers and have never come across such a shower.
I have a 2007 3.0 invincible, which i get a resectable 32mpg it is a work horse for me and it served me well until it hit 140,000 miles, when i got the “death rattle from the engine, Toyota forgot to tell me that my model,they fitted inferior injector seals.That cost me £8,000 pounds for a engine rebuild and hire costs and down time. Engine fixed and 10,000 miles later the front diff decides to give way.Front diff rebuilt, now the rear axel makes more noise than a screaming baby! The truck has now done 172,000 miles (which is not that far for a modern toyota. I have driven toyota hilux’s for over 20 years with no real mechanical disasters other than clutches and wheel bearings so this is a real disappointment. I am now looking to replace this weary toyota which is no longer a viable vehicle to keep on the road. I am looking to replace it with the latest invincible but having read the performance and running costs i think i will be buying a Amarok. It has a better spec and running cost are lower. VW here i come. Toyota take notice, you cannot depend on past performance and TOP GEAR to keep the public buying your trucks. If you proclaim your trucks do so many miles to the gallon, then thats what they should do, no more, no less. The world has changed in the last few years, running costs are now a real issue.
Hi George,
Thank you for raising this with us.
We are very sorry to hear of your experiences with your Hilux after such loyalty with Toyota.
Our Customer Relations team will be able to take the time to look into this case and offer any advice/help where they can. You can find their details here: http://ow.ly/jnOEs.
We hope this will help.