Road Test

RRP: $ 59,990

Price as tested: $60,290 (metallic paint)

Crash rating: four stars (ANCAP rating for SR5)

Fuel: 95RON petrol

Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 12.9

CO2 emissions (g/km): TBA

Also consider: FPV F6X, HSV Avalanche XUV (if you can find one still), Hummer H3T Alpha (if it ever reaches us)

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0

Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.5/5.0

Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0

Safety: 1.5/5.0

Behind the wheel: 2.5/5.0

X-factor: 4.0/5.0

Adopt a standard double-cab Toyota hilux 4 x4 acute, Bang some snappy QQ food, elegant stripes, to add a new face and insist on a leather steering wheel and gear knob - What, do you understand? »



So, Toyota will have you believe that one of its high-performance Workhorse models. Toyota's assembly performance arm trd, a new hero - the answer seems to be an acute unasked question. Of course, no one, otherwise have been too troubled to create a muscle bound by double-cab 4 x4 acute.



Of course, there are more powerful utes - but they do not 4 x4s. Of course, there are greater, 4x4 double cab, but the fact is that there are no other manufacturers have seen the lift for high-performance, which in their working-class vehicles.



trd make up for the foreseeable shortage of performance of an Eaton supercharger twist on the Toyota 4.0-liter V6 Double-cam multi-valve donk. This lifts the power, almost one-third (from 176 to 225 kilowatts) and torque of 20 percent - from 3 76至4 53nm. Its address, and then with the suspension and brake bilstein greater impact and a CD-ROM.



The result is a very, very strong acute, unburdened with the details of the 21st century traction or stability control…… or any other electronic driver assistance - beyond anti-braking and adaptive five-speed automatic transmission.



Obviously the idea is that this is Toyota's answer to the herpes simplex virus / fpv products sports utes, but in a matter of fact, there are more differences than similarities - The Australian dollar construction of the sports u tes has two doors, Two seats, rear-wheel-drive V8 engine and incredible performance, grip, brakes and car, cleverly features and interior.



In contrast, the root cause of a more utilitarian Toyota: four, five-seat double-cab, or a choice of two four-wheel-drive low range and small-scale load bed - although more of them can handle More weight than the local construction Show - Colts.



About the only similarity is to provide the extra power - but at least, the Australian-built vehicles pay lip service to road safety. Toyota not, and the dangers on the border, in some cases as a result.



The lack of any form of traction control or electronic stability program for Toyota is a serious and irresponsible supervision, or cynical cost-cutting exercise, depending on your position.



In fact, Toyota Motor, is a long-term approach, from the herpes simplex virus maloo and fpv utes, to honour the beloved action-degree tradies. Unlike local hero - utes, the only leather, packaging trd hilux in the steering wheel and gear knob - in this respect the basic version, at least. Carpets, even as you pay extra.



All this outside, trd hilux is based on standard sr5 acute, and bolts on the conversion, including 17 × 7.5-inch alloy wheels wearing 265/65 Bridgestone boots, these bilstein shockers, the larger 338 x 28 Mm ventilated brake rotors and the four former Pistons callipers, as well as all important sign - to let your neighbors know that your king (if not mountains, at least……) Block.



For the visually impaired, to varying degrees supercharger whine or squealing tires will announce your impending arrival.



Fascinating power, despite the plus and minus points, the entire vehicle. On the plus side, it's Toyota Motor, which means that usually unburstable quality of the construction, indifferent attitude of the reliability, solid design, intuitive ergonomics and solid resale value.



Interestingly, the factory claims, while fuel consumption for 4000 s naturally aspirated and supercharged petrol sr5. Of course, the 4000 free - revving of the engine strong and will see a more heavy fuel combustion in the real world.



Despite a great feeling, bright, the cabin ventilation, sr5 donors of vehicles and did not fully catch up with its rivals, but these details were handed over to the short-term exchanges trd version - Limited (trailing only) adjustments on the steering column, No sun filter on the screen, and does not cover or lights, in the vanity mirror, not grasping the rear handle, pretty basic (though comfortable) before bucket seats - and an equally - a comfortable rear seats and enough space 2. Three adults in the best of friends.



The door pockets, can hold beverage bottles - not a standard directory of Australia Street. But it's something a little more, 4000 s. For example, the side effects of these steps might look macho and may have saved the Sills, rock hopping, in the Flinders, but the day-to-day, the principle function seems to be gathering dust and then be transferred to Your trousers.



Similarly, the test-tube macho "roll call" little bar, but praises the spot light in the rack. Flimsy metal plates to attach it to the wall to install the load bed and 8 torx screws and seems, if there are any more weight than a couple of aerial ladders in there will be buckling.



In two grades, 4000s and 4000 sl, difference is that, carpets, leather, furniture and beautiful steering wheel and instruments in more expensive cars, this is no external load bed hook for the tonneau cover, but does tie in with hook-within.



Cheap versions of (this one: cloth chairs, vinyl flooring) to maintain external tonneau hook, but there are no internal cargo handling to ensure that point.



The way, practicality, like all hilix crewcabs a single angle may be suitable for dirtbike load bed, but in two or three will be asked to tail the door is left over from - and thus r enedering useless eye-level brake lights built it.



Despite the smallish load bed, carrying capacity is nearly a ton, towing capacity, still 750 kg and 2,250 kg unbraked braking. The S version is getting power windows, dual front air bags, cruise control and air conditioning - and d atadot security.



Nearly 60 U.S. dollars a magnificent - 9,500 U.S. dollars together on the scope of the former flattened s r5-have for on-board computer, no steering wheel audio controls, not a mirror of self-tilt, no side effects, or curtain air bags - no electronic driver AIDS.



carsales network has heard that at least one young retailers who will pay his Toyota, and soon after, he forgot what color is - pick-up in a few days, his new 60,000 U.S. dollars cars, wetlands capture his swing And he s pearing into the landscape - until a phone call instructed the arrest of his progress, any further use of vehicles.



Our experience is that the two drivers, all is acute, but undriveable the winding-up wet asphalt, and even modest acceleration on dry roads can see that the vehicle rotating side. Experienced drivers may scoff at the trd to the opposite lock slides for fun, but a moment of attention, obstacles or sudden changes on the surface represents a greater opportunity, the road is a well-off than they should.



It did not help, the steering does not give a lot of feedback, and that more than 4 x4 Street for the adjustment.



However, in four-wheel-drive, trd acute is a comprehensive, but - an irresistible force - even in the wet clay and greasy dirt emerged table - Road, pointing it at a floor of the two slopes and the throttle w hining, wheelspinning, Earth to the demons of that, rampages to the top in record time - and a record pace.



It's a good well-off the road. Very good,…… so it should - this is a Toyota.