Toyota Hilux.

Hilux Crew Cab

Toyota had the brilliant idea of fitting four wheel drive to a two wheel drive ute - the Hilux. The result looked tall and spindly but it was comfortable, good value for money and quite capable in the bush. Other Japanese manufacturers followed suit and the results were economical alternatives to the "heavy-weight" Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol and Land Rover.

The Hilux got a major update in 1997 for the 1998 model year - new chassis with improved crash protection, new bodywork, 2.7L petrol engine from the Toyota Prado or 3.0L diesel engine.

The Hilux family also included the Toyota 4Runner which featured a live rear axle with coil-springs and independent front suspension by double wishbones and torsion bars. It has been superseded by the LandCruiser 90 Prado (1996).

Toyota Hilux 1996 / 1997

Toyota Hilux comes as cab-chassis (alloy tray), ute (pickup), and dual cab. The Hilux has a live (beam) front axle with leaf springs, in contrast to the independent front suspension by double wishbone and torsion bar of the closely related 4Runner / SR5. The advantages of a live axle are simplicity, ruggedness and unchanged ground clearance under braking, but on-road handling is not as good.

Toyota V6 4Runner, RV6 and SR5 limited, 1996 / 1997

The Toyota 4Runner and SR5 are closely related to the Toyota Hilux (above), the major mechanical differences being the independent front suspension and the option of a 3L V6 petrol engine.

URL: /4WD.html

• station wagon, 5 seats, 4 doors
• loa: 4490mm, width: 1690mm, height: 1755mm
• wheelbase: 2625mm, track: 1430mm/1425mm, grnd clearance: 220mm
• weight: 1755kg (unladen), GVM: 2520kg, towing: 600kg (unbraked)
• 3VZ-E, 2959cc, petrol, V6, efi, 2-valves/cyl, ohc
• bore: 87.5, stroke: 82, c.r.: 9.0:1
• power: 105kW at 4600rpm (DIN), torque: 240Nm at 3400rpm
• transmission: 5m/4a, part-time 4WD, SR5 limited has auto 2WD/4WD selection
• suspension: indep'-torsion-bar/live-coil, brakes: disc/drum
• tyres: 205R16 (265/75R15 SR5 limited), fuel-tank: 65L (71L SR5 limited)
• Note: SR5 available as Xtra cab and double cab (crew cab)
• Note: Deluxe (ie base model!):
  • 3L, 4-cyl, 2779cc diesel, 96mmx96mm, 60kW at 4000rpm, 183Nm at 2400rpm, or
  • 22R, 4-cyl, 2367cc petrol, 92mmx89mm, 75kW at 4800rpm, 185Nm at 2800rpm
  • grnd clearance: 210mm, transmission: 5m
• Rivals: Mazda's utes, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara

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