Toyota Hilux (76-05) - Review

With a gross vehicle weight of around 2.5 tonnes, payload in old models was 955kg. It wasn’t until benefit-in-kind tax rules changed to exclude trucks with under one-tonne payload from being officially labelled as commercial vehicles that Toyota upped the payload to 1,055kg to take advantage of the new system. Truckman tops are available at a price to cover the load areas and many secondhand Hiluxes have them. They protect any cargo but of course limit the available load height.

Trucks of this era didn't feature such delights as ABS brakes – drivers had to rely on the old cadence braking method instead. But airbags came as a standard fitting if things went badly wrong, along with central locking and an engine immobiliser to keep the thieves at bay. A good tally for a commercial vehicle of this age.

Trucks like the Hilux tend to command top prices secondhand, but it’s well to investigate exactly what the vehicle has been used for if looking to buy. Some tow boats and drivers often back them straight into salt water, which can have an alarming effect on the rear end as time goes by. Older models needed servicing every 6,000 miles while the common rail engines only need a full service at 20,000 miles.

There are still Toyota Hiluxes on the road dating back to the year dot – they never seem to die. But longevity really does depend on what usage and abusage has take place during the vehicle's life. Secondhand examples are likely to either be in pristine condition or look as though a herd of cows has been in residence for some years. These examples should be avoided at all costs.