Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis review: tres excellent work truck

Utes get ever more fancy as new models roll out and the 9th-generation Toyota Hilux is no exception; "Cyber Sumo" styling and all that. But grass-roots (quite literally in some respects) truck-work is also key to the model's whole reason for being, which is why it's still offered in a comprehensive array of cab-chassis models.

You have a Hilux naked in single, Extra or double-cab variations, and if you're going for the latter you have have a choice of SR or SR5 specification. Diesel 4WD is the core of course, but you can also have the new Hilux BEV as an SR cab-chassis. Told you it was comprehensive.

Our test vehicle is the SR diesel 4WD. It starts at $54,990, but when we're talking cab-chassis utes the retail price really is just a starting point.

On the outside: what are the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis' main design features?

The cab-chassis is unique from a Hilux pricing point of view because it's not really... finished; nobody can use it in its showroom-state. You have to buy a tray, the idea being you can build it up any way you want, including customised platforms or service bodies.

It's all a bit "fashion farm"... even the colour. It looks like basic black, but it's actually called Eclipse and has blue metallic sparkles that come out in the sunlight. The cows were quite taken with it.

Toyota NZ can sell you a ready made tray of course (of course!). Our SR is fitted with the standard heavy duty unit: $5132-$5932 depending on whether you want alloy or steel. It can be colour-coded (as here) "at extra cost".

The tray looks a little odd sitting high, but you can further accessorise with stuff mounted underneath: tool boxes (straight or tapered), water tanks, even a slide-out drawer at the rear... if you can spare another $4k.

Our test vehicle's accessories are all functional, but somebody's specified it with quite a bit of flair. The SR rides on 17-inch steel wheels as standard, but ours has 18-inch matte-black alloys ($2505) with A/T tyres. The Commercial Steel Bull Bar ($4570) is quite a bit of kit and creates something of a battering-ram threat with Steel Side Rails and Steel Side Steps (both POA, depending on the vehicle). Or maybe they're just livestock repellents.

It's all a bit "fashion farm"... even the colour. It looks like basic black, but this shade is actually called Eclipse and has blue metallic sparkles that come out in the sunlight. The cows were quite taken with it.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis cabin like?

The more Hiluxes we drive, the more confused we become about standard specification. We stepped into this SR cab-chassis our of the SR BEV. The electric model has a few extra features like dual-zone climate air conditioning, which makes sense because it's an expensive vehicle.

You have to twirl your own air-con controls and adjust the seats manually, but we're good with that. It's a truck that suits manual labour.

But the cabin architecture of the SR BEV was  a bit downmarket compared to our SR cab-chassis: plain plastic steering wheel as opposed to the leather-trimmed tiller of our vehicle, no covers on the glovebox or cupholders (our Hilux here has both, including a softer faux-leather texture on the former). Curious.

Anyway, the SR cab-chassis is pretty posh for a work truck, with the full 12.3-inch infotainment screen including wireless phone projection, wireless phone charger and a general sense of Land Cruiser-esque chunky styling.

You get a surround camera for off-roading as well with a variety of available perspectives, although the shortcut button to change the view is tucked away out of sight on the bottom-right of the dashboard, near the driver's knee.

Overall, the SR cabin is a surprisingly nice place to be. You have to twirl your own air-con controls and adjust the seats manually, but we're good with that. It's a truck that suits manual labour.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis like to drive?

Pretty lumpy on those A/T tyres, to be honest. More so than the SR5 and Adventure Hilux wellsides we've driven (they were on off-roady rubber too), because the SR has the tougher state of rear suspension tune. The higher-end versions are a bit softer at the back for improved on-road ride comfort.

It's all gone a bit techy in the centre-console panel, with controls and switches for the locking rear differential, hill descent, 4WD and high/low ratio (a switch, not a lever).

Still, this is not a cruiser, right? Being automatic (you can't buy a manual cab-chassis, in fact) and 4WD, this model gets Toyota's 2.8-litre diesel with 48-volt mild hybrid system.

It's pretty much a carryover from the previous model but still pretty good. You don't get massive gains in fuel economy, but do get noticeable improved driveability. The hybrid system fills in the gaps low down in the rev range and keeps the 6-speed automatic in tune with the torque.

It's all gone a bit techy in the centre-console panel, with controls and switches for the locking rear differential, hill descent, 4WD and high/low ratio (a switch, not a lever). A large rotary dial takes care of drive models and a dual-mode job: press a button on the left and it does the Multi Terrain Select (Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud and Deep Snow), press the one on the right and you cycle through road settings (Eco, Normal, Sport).

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis warranty and servicing situation?

The vehicle is covered for 3 years/100,000km, but extended to 5 years/150,000 ("Platinum Warranty") if servicing is carried out at an authorised outlet.

Servicing is required every 12 months/15,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis?

This is right in Toyota's wheelhouse: a double-cab Hilux available in a wide range of configurations with a staggeringly large catalogue of official accessories. The most functional stuff also looks pretty cool, which is just as well because some of it is pretty expensive.

Then again, the Hilux is very much a value propositon in the ute market, so you could argue you have a bit extra to play with. We certainly like the Battletruck vibes of our test vehicle. Battletruck: look it up, kids.

Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis FAQs

What kind of car is the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis?

A double-cab chassis ute.

Does the Toyota Hilux Hilux SR5 manual have hybrid or EV technology?

It has a 48-volt mild hybrid system.

What’s the fuel economy of the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis?

It's rated at 8.5l/100km (3P-WLTP).

Is the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis safe?

Hilux has a 5-star ANCAP rating (valid until December 2031).

What safety and assistance features does the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis have?

What are the Toyota Hilux SR hybrid 4WD cab chassis' main rivals?

• Ford Ranger XL double cab chassis ($57,990): This money only buys you the basic (very basic) XL specification.
• Mitsubishi Triton GLXR double cab chassis ($52,990): Or you can even go to the luxury VRX version for $58k.
• Isuzu D-Max LX Space Cab chassis ($55,990): You can't go the full double-cab chassis with D-Max, but you can have one-and-a-bit.
• Jac T9 double cab chassis ($44,990): Jac calls this a "no nonsense 4WD auto workhorse".
• BYD Shark 6 double cab chassis ($70,990): Super hybrid technology on board, but you pay for the privilege.