Toyota’s Hilux Invincible X gets a new look, as befits its range-topping status, says Dan Gilkes.
Toyota’s Hilux pickup needs little introduction. A mainstay of construction fleets, a trusty friend on the farm and a capable load hauler, Hilux remains one of the toughest trucks around. The market moves on however. While there will always be a need for a hard-working pickup, the vehicle’s dual use credentials are often of equal importance.
It’s not surprising to hear that higher trim levels and more powerful engines are what customers want. The ability to rapidly write-down the investment, reclaim VAT and reduce Benefit in Kind tax make pickups equally popular as everyday transport.
Every manufacturer has been boosting the specification and appearance of its top pickups and Toyota is no different. Yes, you can have a bare bones Active model, or a well-equipped Icon. But most of the money heads up to Invincible level, or to the top of the range, where we find this Invincible X.
Unlike some competitors who increase engine size or output as the trim level rises, Toyota equips all Hilux models with the same four-cylinder
D-4D diesel engine. This 2.4-litre global diesel engine puts out a solid 148bhp, backed up by 400Nm of torque, available from just 1,600rpm.
With lower trim models you can opt for a six-speed manual gearbox, but once you get to Invincible level it’s auto only. The six-speed transmission is smooth-shifting, if a little keen to drop down a gear at motorway speeds when you need to accelerate.
A rotary switch engages four-wheel drive and controls the high and low range options, while all Hilux models also come with a locking rear differential for maximum off-road traction. Unsurprisingly there is also plenty of safety kit on board, including Toyota Safety Sense, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert and road sign assist.
The Invincible X is mainly a cosmetic update of the already well-equipped Invincible model. However, it does get a new front end, being the only model with the chrome grille surround, different front lights and revised front bumper.
At almost £3,500 more than the Invincible, the X also comes with chrome side bars and scuff plates, rear parking sensors, black leather seats, with heating for the driver and front passenger and electric adjustment for the driver. You also get Toyota’s Touch 2 with Go navigation and enhanced multi-media functionality, including voice control and 3D maps.
As a range-topper, the Invincible X is around 100bhp and two cylinders down on some of its more recent competitors. Yet it can hold its own in an increasingly popular market.
More importantly, if you do want to work the truck hard, it retains a decent payload and can now pull a full 3.5-tonne trailer. For many, that combination will be enough to tick the Toyota box.
The Verdict
While no different under the bonnet, the revised look puts some clear air between the Invincible X and the rest of the Hilux range.
