Toyota Hilux TRD 2017 ute review
Toyota New Zealand is releasing 300 special edition Hilux TRD double cab picks onto the market.
Toyota New Zealand is releasing 300 special edition Hilux TRD double cab picks onto the market. Trade Me Motors got to play with it before other motoring media over the Christmas break.
The ute market went ballistic in 2016, and Toyota is no doubt hoping that the trend will repeat. It is starting the year with another limited edition of it's popular Hilux.
The 2017 Toyota Hilux TRD double cab is available in seven colours and customers will have the option of two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive with a manual or automatic transmission.
TRD — which stands for Toyota Racing Development — is the Japanese manufacturer's in-house performance and accessory brand offering everything from fitted floor mats to bolt-on accessories, suspension upgrades, and engine tuning.
Black Pack
For the 2017 TRD ute, Toyota New Zealand has taken a stock standard Hilux SR5 double cab and added the TRD 18-inch black alloy wheels and Maxxis all-terrain tyres, the black plastic TRD fender flares, the TRD honeycomb front grille, and the alloy front nudge bar and bonnet garnish in matte black.
On the tray, there is a motorised hardcover with LED interior light and anti-jam technology, with an anti-slip liner covering the deck area.
Toyota New Zealand reckons the motorised hardcover is a market first and it's exclusive to the Hilux TRD. It is protected by a matte black sports bar and is capable of carrying up to 50kg, so will cope with a couple of road or mountain bikes — it even has integrated rails to facilitate this.
Completing the tough truck look are TRD badges fitted to the tailgate, with matching decals on the rear of the tray and embroidered floor mats in the cabin.
The Glacier White paint on our review vehicle not only accentuates its black accessories, it takes on an entirely different personality; it looks purposeful and individual but without looking aggressive or overdone.
Cabin comforts
Inside the Hilux TRD retains the same cabin upholstery and appointments of the SR5 grade model from which it's derived. While the Hilux dashboard looks extremely busy at first glance, most of the controls are easily and intuitively used, but the quality of the plastics in places can be a little variable in look and feel.
The large central touch screen that drives the infotainment system still seems like a bit of an afterthought wedged into the middle of the dashboard, but it works extremely well.
Toyota's navigation system is one of the best regarding clarity and street names, while the resolution from the reversing camera is clear. We were especially grateful for this feature when trying to back a small 8x4-foot trailer up a driveway.
Hooking up a Bluetooth cell phone takes seconds, the reception quality is excellent, and there is also voice activation which is a boon when on the move.
In 2015 the new generation Hilux scored five stars in the ANCAP test, helped by features including stability control, hill descent control, trailer sway control plus LED daytime running lights and seven airbags.
Daily driver
Our Hilux TRD was specified with the six-speed i-MT manual mated to the Euro V rated 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel, producing 130kW @3400rpm and 420 Newton metres of torque available from 1400-2600rpm.
Less powerful than some competitors, the new Hilux 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine is much quieter and more refined than the previous 3-litre unit. Toyota provides both an economy mode and a power mode for the engine.
Toyota's i-MT manual transmission is smart with its ability to raise engine speed to smooth shifts but feels too highly geared. In the 50-55kmh range, we were constantly changing between 3rd and 4th gear, with 3rd too high for our liking, and 4th lugging away as if it was going to stall at any second.
For city slickers, the six-speed automatic might be the better option with the manual box best used for open road and off road applications.
Work and play
As more and more private buyers are turning to utes such as the Hilux TRD for both work and play, Toyota has retained the intrinsic qualities of its workhorse. They include the braked towing capacity of 3500kg, the low range four-wheel drive system with diff lock, and the rugged chassis that will withstand years of hard yakka.
The ride quality, when not laden, isn't bad, but in typical leaf-sprung ute fashion, it always improves with a load on the back or a heavy trailer on the tow ball.
In dressing up the TRD with that sexy looking motorised hardcover for a more urbane audience, Toyota knobbled one of its greatest Hilux qualities, the ability to carry almost anything on the tray. While the hardcover does provide waterproof and burglar proof security, it does restrict the capacity and dimensions of the desired load to within the interior height of the tray body.
For some folks, this won't be an issue they will simply do as I did and hook up a trailer for carrying furniture and taller items. I did manage to fit a men's mountain bike within the well side body and close the lid without an issue.
Overall
The TRD won't be every tradie's cup of tea, but it's an attractive looking vehicle with many useful features and will appeal to buyers looking for a workhorse with some edge.
Pricing
- TRD 4x2 manual $53,990
- TRD 4x2 auto $56,490
- TRD 4x4 manual $63,990
- TRD 4x4 auto $66,490
Note: This was reviewed as a new vehicle.
Image gallery
Also consider
Kyle Cassidy 
Peter Louisson 