2012 Toyota Hilux review

Id be in line right behind you !!

that D4D makes me...

 

TRD of road package premium...which comes with tow package, all weather flooring, Entune display JBL navi, etc is a $5600 premium. I negotiated my truck down $2500, i did ok. still, $2k just for leather is where i stop checking boxes at the dealer..specially when the leather was included already on my old GMC $1300 upgrade from SL to SLT, which goes from cloth bench sating to sport seats w/ heaters, center console, navi, tow package, premium Bose etc.

for $35k msrp, the no-leather option from Toyota is huge bullshit, thats all. Outside of the Corolla and yaris i don't know of any other car in their line up that doesn't offer leather.....actually, most just included once you upgrade a couple of package levels.

i got my $450 Clazzios on with heaters so problem solved, but even my girlfriend who has no idea what 4x4 even is was confused why i had to order these aftermarket

 

Definitely.

 

I don't think the 2012 Hilux looks all that bad. It kind of looks like a mini Tundra. The only thing I don't like is the profile of the rear window--it looks like it abruptly cuts off above the bed.

I don't think Toyota will put ever put a disel in a Taco. They announced a few years ago that they were going to do this with the Tundra and then backed out.

As far as dealers and manufactuers not wanting to put out a diesel in the US because they want engines with limited lifetimes that need more repairs--if this were true, they would also be doing this in Europe and would offer gas-only. The issue is much more complex than that. Part of Toyota's reputation hinges on longevity and durability. They want to put out engines and vehicles that last because that's why most people buy them. Without this, Toyota just becomes a Kia or Huyandai in the public's mind.

Most people in the US aren't familiar enough with diesel engines to see it as anthing but something exotic. When they see the price of diesel, this also will scare many away. Yes, education will change this somewhat and we see this with VW. But the rule here is-- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Tacoma still sells like hotcakes in the US and until that stops happening, there is no financial incentive for Toyota to spend the money on revamping a Hilux diesel for the US market and fighting with the EPA and regulators. It is too much money and effort wasted. It's not like people are saying they won't buy a Tacoma because it doesn't have a diesel engine. They are still flying off the showroom floors as fast as Toyota can make them. Why would they bother spending all that money and time to fix something that isn't broke and continues to bring in the cash? In short, Toyota doesn't need to bring the Hilux to the US market.

 

Diesel would be great in certain conditions, I spend 10 hours a day offroad in my Tacoma with much of the time outside my truck while the truck is idling. Overheating becomes a pain the ass which is not something you fight as bad with a diesel motor. A contractor friend of mine from Jamaica says its common to put 300-400K on the diesel Hylux trucks in the islands and wishes he could import one here. We have 40 diesel powerunits and tractors on the job site and they are much easier to work on and last for years.

As far as the leather it would be nice if it was just another option to chose from instead of going through the dealership contractors. But as mentioned above it can be done at most dealerships. Hell I pick up my new Pyrite DC 4x4 in two weeks and had the dealership put in leather, 3" lift, method racing wheels with duractracs, tint and HID lighting because they partner up with a 4x4 customizing shop down the road.

 

Sounds nice.

I have had a love-hate relationship with leather interiors. When I finally got it, I had mixed feelings. I liked the look and feel but grew to hate the thermal properties--cold as ice in the winter and hot as a frying pan in the summer. I also sometimes abuse my interiors enough that I end up ruining the expensive trim with mud, snow, etc.

 

I hear you and that's always a possibility. I have done better with the leather than cloth because it seems to clean up well and working in the humid soup of the Florida climate cold is not an issue but high humidity where you sweat like a pig and the leather is cooler than the cloth in my experience. It also seems to hold up better and that's a big thing because I get in and out of my truck 50-60 times per day and always wear out the seats.

 

The reason is likely due to cost vs desireability.

Corolla and Yaris are economy vehicles where the main selling point is the price. Most people who buy them are looking for inexpensive(i.e. cheap) but dependable transportation. Adding leather just tacks on $1K-$2K to the price of the vehicle. Automotive Leather is very expensive. Someone who was looking for upgraded interiors and trim and had the money to spend would probably not be going for a Corolla or Yaris to begin with. Leather inside a Yaris might get you one or two sales but most others would baulk. The sales isn't worth it for Toyota to go that route on such an economy vehicle.

As far as leather not being an option on the Tacoma, if Toyota thought it was worth the additional trim upgrade and would sell, they would be offering it as an option. Most people who buy trucks are not thinking of fine leather interiors. They are after function, durability, useability, off-roading, etc. They would rather pay for more of this kind of feature than $1- $2K on leather.

Ford and Toyota both offer leather interiors on some 'special edition' models like the harley F-150 and Tundra Limited. But upscale interior trims on pickup trucks are usually not a big selling point for the typical truck buyer.

 

Base diesel goes 0-62 in 14.1 seconds. Jesus, I could run faster.

 

and every prius would eat you for lunch..

 

So it comes with a rear bumper and ...another rear bumper.



Once again the auto is faster than the stick... and the fuel gauge reading 1/1, 1/2, and R is kinda weird.

 

i guess my gripe is that Toyota is the ONLY manufacturer that doesnt offer leather in the upper package trucks...of any size.

Ford
GM
Dodge
Nissan
even my buddies crappiest-of-all mitsubishi Raider!

have leather


hey i fixed my problem with $450 bucks, no big deal, but still, c'mon.

 

Your torque numbers would be fantastic though, and that's what it's all about for the off-roading crew. I guess that's another part of the issue. Most of the gang are using their Tacoma to commute to their computer job (like I do). Not pulling stumps all day.

I do a lot of offroading and would trade the speed I get now for torque anyday, especially since turbo diesels are quite common and ridiculously easy to work on if you know what you're doing. It would outperform my old Toyota 20r engine, which I had zero problem with. It got me from point A to point B and did it with good gas mileage and power enough to get there. It is just that we're spoiled with vehicles in the 200+ horsepower range now and 0-60 in 9-ish second times. Frankly I don't ever need that speed, but I like it. I'd gladly take a 3.0 liter diesel turbo over my 4.0 liter gas powered V6 though in a heartbeat.

 

I personally like the Hilux. Toyota should only use the Hilux body design and use a gas engine. I really like that design. So I take it is not up to American Safety standards is the reason we cannot import one as individuals.?

 

I love the way they look. I'll gladly take a 75 series Land Cruiser over one any day though. Yes safety standards has something to do with us not getting all those awesome cars other counties get.

 

I doubt the diesel would sell as well as you all think. I'd like one but the masses likely wouldn't.

Did y'all know there is a turbo diesel jeep liberty? That's a bad ass little machine. Close to 35mpg on the highway and not bad putzing around town either. Would make a bad ass trail warrior too if you build it up. Seemed like a great idea right?

.....but they didn't sell well. Explain that?

 

Quite honestly? They did initially, and then the first round of reviews came in, and those who excitedly pre-ordered them warned everybody else off because the engine turned out to be a raging piece of shit that was made in Italy. I'm trying to remember who made it... it was probably Fiat as I believe there is/was a connection between Chrysler and Fiat. After I post I'll go look it up and see if I can offer more clarification.

I know this, because I was ready to order one, and instead held off and got an FJ Cruiser with a gasoline engine. I knew somebody who had gotten the diesel liberty, lemoned it out within a few weeks, and got a gas version (which she loved incidentally and hasn't had a problem with it many years later... her son now drives it and it has probably 220,000 miles on it, but that diesel engine was a sick joke). It almost seemed like Jeep had so many options, but went with the worst possible option so that people wouldn't be asking them for a diesel again for a while, because of how bad they screwed it all up. This same thing happened in the early 80's with the GM triplets (or quadruplets?) in the Olds Cutlass, Buick Regal, and Chevy (Celebrity maybe?). There might have been a low end Caddy in there as well.

Read about the lawsuits and such that resulted from those vehicles. My grandpa owned one and was actually involved in a class action and GM bought his Regal back and lost a lifelong customer for life. He immediately bought a Ford and never bought anything else as long as he lived. Before that he would buy nothing but a GM. That engine was a hunk of crap. They just took a standard V8 GM engine and "converted it" at the factory to run diesel kind of randomly and started selling them. Worst decision ever.

In both cases... Chevy and Jeep, they had no idea what they were doing by retrofitting a diesel engine or jamming a diesel engine from a different vehicle into a bigger and heavier SUV (in the Jeep's case). They were just bad planning from companies that have historically made weird decisions like this to try to hop on something without adequate experimenting and testing. Both times I've referenced were done during a huge gas crisis and diesel looked awful good to a lot of people, and they did it for all the wrong reasons.

Volkswagen (for all they've done wrong in the QC dept.) have at least built a really good diesel engine and worked with it consistently for years to come up with something that works well, and I'm the pickiest guy ever, but I'd have zero worries about driving a VW TDI, because I believe it is a proven performer and meets the standard I'd expect from a vehicle. However, if you went and stuck that engine in a Tacoma i'd think they were clowns. It wasn't made for such a vehicle.

I've seen a few Landcruiser conversions to diesel engines and they are great vehicles... why? Because the engine was designed to go into a Landcruiser, just not made available here, but I know guys that have had 300,000+ miles on them and have no worries about anything. One friend drove his old FJ (can't remember if it was a 60 or 80) with a retrofitted diesel in it to Chile to visit his relatives from here in Utah, and didn't have an issue. Now THAT'S a drive... and I've spoken way too much. The Jeep and the GM's were both awful ideas. Notice GM and Ford and Dodge have EXCELLENT diesel engines they've put in their full size trucks though that have great records? Interesting.... I guess it is because that was a ground up project, rather than what we see with the Liberty.

 

That thing is hideous...

 

I miss my Hilux

In certain parts of the world the Hilux has the same v6 4.0 as the Tacoma. The TRD Hilux in Austrailia is the 4.0 gas from the Tacoma with the Supercharger installed.

With the diesel engine I didn't have to worry about trips the gas station every week (or worry about water crossings)... Not quite like this guy though... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ6Z29wHGLw

 

I'd buy one instantly! Diesel all the way baby!