Toyota HiLux News

Kia Australia has some big expectations for its incoming Tasman ute. Most notable is the brand's aim of off-loading 20,000 units in its first full year, the equivalent to one quarter of the Tasman’s projected global sales.To do so in a shrinking ute market, it will need to lure Australian buyers away from traditional staples in Ford, Toyota and Isuzu while fighting off an increasing cohort of budget Chinese rivals, such as BYD, GWM and JAC.Achieving that will be no easy feat and require the Tasman to be competitive on the basics: grunt, payload, towing, tech, and arguably most important of all, price.So, does it? We’ve put the Tasman's top-grade head-to-head against some of Australia’s most popular ute models in an on-paper comparison designed to give you the best run-down on the all-new model before we've even taken it for a test drive.Starting with ground clearance, at 252mm, the Tasman exceeds its rivals by a minimum of 12mm. You could argue it's a relatively paltry difference, but 4WD enthusiasts would argue every millimetre counts when you're traversing rough terrain.Approach and departure angles is another area where the Tasman shines. At 32.2-degree approach and 26.2-degree departure, the Tasman shapes up as a symphony of well thought out proportions, something that will, once again, make it appealing to the four-wheel driving class.As an additional note, Kia claims to have "best-in-class" tub volume at 1173 litres, which sounds unusual given it doesn't have the largest tub dimensions in this class. Rather, its tub width and length are smaller than the Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Toyota HiLux Rogue. Further enquiries with Kia found that its best-in-class claim is according to VDA specifications, a commonly used European cargo space measuring guide. Ford, meanwhile, claims a tub volume of 1233-litres on the Wildtrak (a whole 60 litres more), though it's unclear what measurement guide the figure is based on.If its raw torque and power you're after, prospective buyers may be a little disappointed with the Tasman's outputs – at least on paper.But don't let the figures trick you into thinking its not a capable ute. In fact, it leads all of its rivals on payload, while delivering benchmark 3500kg towing; something the new plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 (321kW/650Nm) couldn't conquer.Kia said the decision to offer a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, which falls 30kW/59Nm short of its most powerful rival (the V6 Ford Ranger Wildtrak), was based on the brand's decision to comply with Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES). The scheme penalises carmakers who exceed government-mandated carbon emissions limits.While Kia is yet to officially release homologated emissions data on the Tasman, its relatively strong fuel consumption of 7.6 litres/100km suggests it will duck under the targets many of its rivals will fall victim to.This is one area where the Tasman decisively leads the segment, particularly in terms of tech and comfort. It carries twin 12.3-inch screens for multimedia and the digital driver's display, with a 5.0-inch touch monitor for climate controls wedged in-between.There's wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, digital radio, wireless charging, quilted leather upholstery and intuitive features like a large folding-table mounted to the centre console.Kia claims the Tasman has "class-leading" headroom, shoulder room and second row legroom, which makes sense given it is the longest vehicle in its class. The Tasman also comes with an additional 33 litres of under seat storage.The Ranger Wildtrak's interior set-up comes the closest, with a 10.1-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen and an 8.0-inch digital driver's display. It carries wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, too, as well as wireless charging and digital radio. Under seat storage is offered on the Wildtrak, however, Ford chooses not to quote a litre figure.The D-Max X-Terrain carries a smaller 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with an 8.0-inch digital driver's display. It misses out on wireless charging, though.The HiLux Rogue is well off the pace, providing only an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, no wireless charging pad and fewer clever storage spaces. Toyota is, however, set to upgrade this configuration next year when the new HiLux arrives.* All prices calculated before on-road costsPricing was one area where the Tasman was expected to spank the established competition, though its entry price of $42,990 before on-roads for the two-wheel drive S grade exceeds all its rivals by at least $6110.That likely comes down to higher production costs (the Tasman is built in South Korea, while its rivals are built in Thailand) and a more generous offering of standard features.By no means, however, is the Tasman exuberantly expensive, as evidenced by the X-Pro's mere $150 premium over the Wildtrak – a popular variant of Australia's most popular ute. But the success of budget Chinese brands, such as BYD, Chery, GWM and MG, in Australia has shown buyers are increasingly willing to prioritise value above all else, which could hurt the Tasman's sales prospects.Despite the conjecture online about the Kia Tasman's design, which does take a little getting used to, the Tasman is, by all means, a compelling package.It delivers and, in fact, exceeds the competition on several fundamentals, from ground clearance and approach/departure angles to payload, fuel efficiency, interior comfort and tech.That said, two key factors may not necessarily work in its favour - design and price. In a world where buyers are becoming increasingly cost-conscious, there may be a tendency to opt for more conventionally-styled budget rivals.As always, though, only time will tell whether the Tasman can live up to its maker's expectations.

Can you have too much of a good thing? Australians love utes and in recent years we’ve seen more and more brands look to capitalise on that, but it may not be a case of the more the merrier.

Is Toyota preparing two completely different utes to replace the ageing current HiLux in Australia from next year? The first is the widely-speculated but as-yet publicly unconfirmed facelift of today’s eight-generation HiLux, while the second is new-from-the-ground up production version of the EPU (Electric Pick-Up) dual-cab concept that debuted at the 2023 Tokyo motor show.

The Ford Ranger is undergoing an evolution that will see Australia’s best-selling vehicle grow in size as well as scope, as it fends off the coming Toyota HiLux facelift and all-new rivals like the Kia Tasman, MG U9 and next-gen Nissan Navara. These are new niche programs and models that should shore up the current T6.2 architecture’s viability into the next decade for Australia.

Toyota has whipped the covers off an updated HiLux GR Sport in Europe, with the model scoring increased ground clearance, wider front and rear tracks and revised suspension and damping to deliver what the brand calls “the best driving HiLux yet".But before were get too excited, Toyota in Australia tells us it isn’t aware of any plan to update our HiLux GR Sport, instead suggesting that the new model “introduces many of the features already available in Australia”.Billed as the Toyota HiLux GR Sport II, the European model does feature a lot of the upgrades already present on our hardcore HiLux, but the biggest discernible difference is the ground clearance.While Australia’s GR Sport is listed at 265mm, the V2 model increases that numbers to 323mm. It shares the same wider front and rear tracks, by 135 mm and 155 mm respectively, and the new information out of the Europe promises revised suspension and damping.“The suspension system has been revised with a 70 mm increase in the width of the front arms, the adoption of a lighter, tubular anti-roll bar and repositioning of the spring and damper assemblies further outboard. At the rear the axle has a new square cross-section and the dampers have been repositioned, to the outside of the vehicle’s frame,” Toyota Europe says.“Measures to gain a smoother and more stable ride over any terrain include new monotube dampers with large-diameter (46 mm) pistons in place of the previous twin-tube units. These provide better performance and faster response in tough conditions.”The Toyota HiLux GR Sport in Australia isn’t going anywhere — though a new model is reportedly earmarked for 2026.“The HiLux GR Sport being released in selected European markets introduces many of the features already available in Australia, such as the wider tracks and the 48V technology, although there may be some market-specific differences in specification and trim,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide.Change is coming to the HiLux, though, with reports the 2026 update will include a GR Sport version that won't just feature key upgrades to improve its capability, comfort and cabin technology, but could also feature the thumping 2.4-litre i-Force Max hybrid powertrain from the Toyota Tacoma as an engine option.

Could the Australian car industry have been saved?

The Ford Ranger might have found itself back on top of Australia’s sales charts in March, but a dig into the numbers reveal cracks in the sales ambitions of the Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max.

The Ford Ranger, BYD Shark 6 and Toyota LandCruiser Prado were among the big movers of Australia's new-vehicle market in March, as the overall sales decline appeared to slow.

After more than a few months of dissent from industry voices regarding the new emissions laws brought about by the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), one senior executive from Australia’s most popular new car brand says it’s time to ‘get on with it’.Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley says the effects of the NVES, which increasingly penalises brands for selling more polluting cars year-on-year, says the effects of the rules won’t be seen in showrooms until the end of the decade.The initial stages of the NVES are already in effect, with brands incentivised via credits to sell cars that produce lower emissions, and given penalties for cars that produce more CO2.For Toyota, that means one of its most popular models, the HiLux ute, is in the firing line along with big off-road SUVs like the LandCruiser and smaller Prado.But Hanley says it’s not the end of the world. Just because cars like the HiLux are popular now, that doesn’t mean they’ll always be.“You'd be shocked, but not all customers who drive utes need utes, right?” Hanley told CarsGuide.“And they may say, ‘well, in actual fact, as a company, I probably don't need to be driving that Prado, I could probably do this in a RAV’, for example.“So, you've just got to narrow down in the future to customer requirements. What does the customer want? Because as you navigate new vehicle efficiency standards, decarbonization, regardless of what market you're in, you have to decarbonize. You just have to. That's not a debate.“That's why, when people ask about new vehicle efficiency standards, my standard answer is we support new vehicle efficiency standards. The targets are tough. They're real tough, but we support the notion, because you have to. It's not a choice.”Toyota’s hybrid SUV mentioned by Hanley, the RAV4, is also amongst the most popular cars sold in Australia, though even its current generation will need to lower its emissions over the years to meet NVES requirements.We asked Hanley when he thinks the impacts of the NVES will be generally seen in the Australian market - significant changes to model line-ups and pricing.“2029, ‘30,” Hanley says, “2029 is a long way away, right?”“So any commentary around NVES right now, it's just speculation, to be quite honest.“I mean, we accept the notion of an NVES, but we're not hiding from the fact that the targets are extremely challenging. They're hard, but in reality, you've got time.”By 2030, Hanley said he expects to see a much higher percentage of hybrid electric cars in the market, as well as plug-in hybrid making up a more significant share of new car sales, but importantly he says BEVs will more steadily approach the eventual market share they’ll rest at.“Despite popular opinion, Toyota is actually saying Toyota EVs will grow over the next four, five years.“Probably thinking around 30 per cent would be where I see it . But give or take, it could go to 40 right?“That would be the top end, but it certainly will be more than 10 per cent you've seen or the less than 10 per cent you see today.”In any case, Hanley expects global product offerings to change enough that the NVES limitations won’t negatively impact the Australian market as much as expected by the time they become much harsher.“Product portfolios will change dramatically between now and 2029 so anything that people are speaking about NVES really, it's just speculative stuff.“It's here. Get on with it. We've now got to work within the frameworks of what we know today and get on with it," he said.

Toyota has at last sped up its EV rollout, confirming this week that it will have six new electric vehicles on sale by next year, including a battery-powered ute.