Ninth-generation Toyota Hilux arrives in NZ

The first examples of Toyota’s new Hilux ute have touched down in New Zealand, as the marque looks to consolidate its position in the increasingly crowded double-cab pick-up market. 

Examples of the ninth-generation Hilux have started populating dealership sites around the country, with first deliveries kicking off this month. The model recorded notably low registration figures in January, and is expected to rebound in February and March. 

The updated Hilux might look all-new on first glance, but it shares the same platform and 2.8-litre turbodiesel powertrain as its predecessor. Toyota offers the 2.8-litre unit with either a manual transmission or an automatic — the former now something of a novelty in the pick-up segment. 

Apart from its very different looking front end, the Hilux’s other biggest change is its interior space. Here it borrows plenty of styling cues from its SUV cousin, the Land Cruiser Prado. It features a similarly formed dashboard layout, with increased digitisation and refinement. 

All grades are equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen packing wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, paired to either a 7.0-inch or 12.3-inch digital cluster. 

Being a Toyota, the new Hilux naturally still places plenty of emphasis on traditional switchgear. Whilst the focus on screens has grown, the Hilux still comes with physical switches and dials for climate control and off-road modes. 

The new Hilux arrives amid considerable upheaval in the double-cab ute segment. 

Its biggest rival, the Ford Ranger, is in the midst of comprehensive change. Having recently added a plug-in hybrid to its line-up, the Ranger’s 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo powertrain has been dropped. Its 3.0-litre V6 has expanded to more models, alongside Ford’s single-turbo 2.0-litre.

An all-new Nissan Navara is set to hit showrooms imminently. The heavy update sees the Navara adopt the same platform and powertrains as the already popular Mitsubishi Triton, with question marks on if customers are going to embrace the new shared-platform ute. 

LDV and MG have both launched all-new utes, both of which are based on the same platform. The LDV Terron 9 and MGU9 come with high-tech interiors, a very roomy back seat, and the most powerful 4-cylinder diesel engine in the ute segment barring the outgoing Toyota Hilux GR Sport.

Two other Chinese brands have also recently brought new utes to market. GWM has launched two; its standard Cannon ute and the Cannon Alpha. Both have impressed with their off-roading prowess, whilst the latter Alpha is available as a plug-in hybrid. It still lives in the shadow of the best-selling PHEV ute on the market, though; the BYD Shark 6.

Kia has also launched its own ute, the highly competent but controversial looking Tasman. It features one of the most well-appointed interiors in class and is strong off-road, but its styling has divided customers since it was first revealed last year.