The What Van Road Test: Toyota Hilux Invincible X (2021)

Date: Monday, August 2, 2021

Engine

Powertrain

The four-cylinder in-line 16-valve 2.8-litre diesel achieves maximum power output at from 3,000rpm to 3,400rpm. Top torque of 420Nm bites across a wide 1,400rpm–3,400rpm plateau.

AdBlue is required to ensure the engine complies with Euro 6 exhaust emission restrictions and a diesel particulate filter is fitted.

Driving

Invincible X comes with a keyless starting system. You push a button to fire up the engine but you need to have the key fob with you. If you have it handy then you can unlock either the driver or passenger front door by pressing a button on the door handle.

We’d suggest you keep the fob in a Faraday pouch on security grounds when you are not using it – advice that applies to all keyless starting arrangements, regardless of the manufacturer.

If the weather is bitterly cold and you’ve got an early morning start, then press the power heater switch. It heats the engine coolant to ensure the cab interior warms up quickly.

Once you are on the highway you will quickly appreciate that today’s pick-ups handle far better than their long-gone ancestors did. The latter tended to lurch around corners in an awkward and ungainly fashion, looking and feeling as though they were about to tumble into the nearest ditch.

By contrast the latest Hilux goes round bends smoothly and without fuss. The changes to the steering have clearly helped, and you are unlikely to come unstuck unless you do something silly.

For a bulky 4x4 the Hilux rides better than you might expect, and copes surprisingly effectively with the UK’s patched and pot-holed roads. The truck’s suspension has been retuned, and the changes made seem to have paid off.

The Hilux comes with a drive mode switch which lets the driver select Eco or Power settings.

With the Eco setting engaged to limit acceleration and fuel usage, there is no noticeable lack of on-highway performance, unless you are heavily laden. Switch to Power mode for faster throttle response and you immediately feel the extra boost straight between the shoulder blades; treat it with respect.

On the downside, engine noise can be excessive – with too much vibration at idle in our case – and the manual gear change could stand to be a lot smoother. Having sampled the manual box we’d probably opt for the automatic instead.

Any negatives are soon forgiven however when the Hilux ventures off-road – its capabilities are phenomenal. It takes steep inclines and sharp descents in its stride, tackles heavily rutted terrain without drawing breath, happily fords deep, muddy streams and wriggles its way over transverse ridges without being brought to a halt.

What’s more, its solid construction leaves you with the impression that it is unbreakable. The beefy-looking ladder-frame chassis tells you as much, not to mention the sheer weight of the bonnet and the hefty tailgate

Engaging four-wheel drive couldn’t be easier. You turn a knob on the dashboard to the H4 setting, then to L4 if the going gets tough and you need to engage the low-ratio set of gears.

Ground clearance is 310mm, while the wading depth is 700mm and a new automatic limited-slip differential has been installed. A locking rear diff is installed as well.

Grab handles are mounted on the A and B pillars so that at least some of the occupants of the cab have something to hang onto if things get choppy.

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