2018 Toyota HiLux Double Cab 2.7L 6AT RWD (166 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Toyota tried to keep the sales figures up for the eighth generation of the HiLux and to achieve that, it introduced a refreshed version of the well-known pickup at the 2017 Thailand International Motor Expo.

The Japanese automaker was preparing a 2018 model year to celebrate the HiLux’s 50th Anniversary, and customers loved the enhancements made by the car manufacturer to the 2018 Toyota Hilux Double Cab. Over the years, the well-known pickup went through significant transformations, morphing from a sport truck to a work truck without losing any of its off-road and loading capabilities. In addition, even though it was more comfortable and had similar amenities as an SUV, it was still perfectly capable of carrying heavy loads on top of a mountain, defying the laws of gravity, and conquering rough terrains with ease. However, there were still some areas that Toyota thought might be improved, starting with the exterior and continuing with the interior and the drivetrain.

At the front, the 2018 Toyota HiLux Double Cab retained its commanding look with wide and wedged-shaped headlights. Unlike the non-facelifted version, it featured chromed inserts, new Xenon bulbs, and L-shaped daytime running lights. The main grille between them was reshaped and had a shiny black finish, but the brand’s chromed badge kept its shape and position. Another significant change was for the bumper, which featured a reversed trapezoidal-shaped air intake sporting a honeycomb pattern. In addition, it included standard fog lamps integrated into the side scoops that mimicked the shape of the headlamps.

From its profile, there were no significant changes. It had the same shape and proportions that made the eighth generation of the Toyota HiLux Double Cab a sales champion in its segment. However, customers could get the vehicle with shiny black door mirror caps and handles plus a dark set of side sills. At the back, the main differences were noticed on the bumper and on the tailgate’s handle. The former had more dark areas, while the latter was completely black. But still, the triangular taillights remained the same.

Inside, the dashboard remained virtually the same as on its non-facelifted version, albeit with some minor upgrades. The instrument panel had new dials with white trim and orange needles instead of blue and gray ones as on its predecessor. However, the 4.6-inch color TFT display between the tachometer and speedometer was unchanged. The infotainment system on the 2018 Toyota HiLux Double Cab was also kept from its predecessor.

Under its skin, the 2018 Toyota HiLux Double Cab featured the same 2.4 or 2.8-liter turbodiesel engines paired with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. For selected markets, Toyota offered the pickup with a rear-wheel drive system only, but it used the same off-road-oriented chassis and suspension as the 4×4 versions. An unusual feature of the vehicle was the DPF switch. This could be used by drivers to manually initiate a cleansing burn of the soot captured by the filter after low-speed driving.