Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD review: sometimes you just need a damn good ute

The Toyota Hilux has been part of New Zealand life for so long that it’s practically part of the national landscape. But the ute market has changed.

The Ford Ranger raised the bar for ride and refinement, while increasingly capable Chinese rivals have put pressure on the Japanese brands’ pricing and electrification credentials. Toyota has responded with its own hybrid Hilux models, along with the aggressively revised latest-gen model that also includes a fully electric version.

That makes this relatively straightforward Hilux SR 2WD an interesting proposition, as being both the cheapest Hilux you can buy AND the only 2WD model available, it skips four-wheel-drive hardware, hybrid assistance and some of the more lavish equipment, concentrating instead on the essentials: a conventional diesel engine, automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive.

I mean, after all, sometimes you just have a good, honest, capable ute that does exactly what a ute is supposed to do, you know - carry stuff, without having to plug it in, connect it to the wifi or have a negotiation with it every time you start it up. And after spending time with it, I’m convinced the simpler Hilux deserves significantly more consideration than its entry-level position might suggest.

On the outside: what are the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD's main design features?

Toyota has modernised the Hilux without losing its familiar toughness. The squarer, more assertive front end gives it a substantial presence, while the overall design looks contemporary without trying too hard to appear aggressive. It is an acquired taste though.

I have to admit I have warmed to the styling after initially being horrified by it, and the proportions work well, and the black steel wheels suit the SR’s working-ute character better than a set of flashy alloys might. They’re honest, practical and look awesome, too.

Our test vehicle was heavily accessorised, with monsoon visors, a bonnet protector and a colour-coded canopy that blended neatly into the metallic grey bodywork, and looks well integrated rather than like an afterthought. The gloss-black door handles were less convincing; they’re a little too shiny for an otherwise purposeful design.

Overall, the SR looks the part: modern enough to avoid feeling dated, but still recognisably a Hilux. 

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD's cabin like?

The SR’s cabin is basic, but not cheap-feeling. There are plenty of hard plastics, as you’d expect, though they’re appropriate for a vehicle likely to encounter dusty boots, muddy work clothes and the occasional dropped tool.

There’s little in the way of cabin theatre here, but the controls are where you’d expect them and the materials suit the job.

Crucially, they also feel tough - able to cope with a few knocks and perfectly happy to be caked in dirt and dust. Don’t ask how it gets inside - it’s a work ute, it just happens.

The layout is straightforward, with analogue dials, single-zone air conditioning and buttons for Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes. There’s no four-wheel-drive selector, obviously, but the inclusion of a locking rear differential is useful when the surface gets loose or muddy. It won’t replace four-wheel drive, but it gives the rear-drive SR a little extra flexibility.

The touchscreen is modest beside the enormous displays appearing in some Chinese utes, but it’s responsive and easy to navigate, while storage is well considered, with multiple cupholders, useful cubbies and bins, two gloveboxes and a centre-console power outlet.

There’s little in the way of cabin theatre here, but the controls are where you’d expect them and the materials suit the job.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD like to drive?

Better than you might expect from a basic, non-hybrid Hilux.

Toyota’s steady improvements to the drivetrain and chassis have added up, and the diesel delivers useful low- and mid-range torque, while feeling quieter and smoother than older versions.

It isn’t as responsive as the hybrid Hilux, but it feels well suited to everyday driving, and the automatic transmission is particularly well judged, shifting smoothly without constantly hunting between ratios.

The hybrid Hilux may have the edge for smoothness and response at lower speeds, thanks to its electric assistance, but the conventional powertrain has improved enough that the SR no longer feels like a compromise bought solely to save money.

The Hilux rides and handles like a ute, but an extremely competent, composed and very well set up ute.

The ladder-frame chassis and leaf-sprung rear suspension still impose the usual ute limitations but, while the Ford Ranger remains the benchmark for ride and handling, particularly in the way it balances comfort with body control, the Hilux is closer than you might think.

The Hilux rides and handles like a ute, but an extremely competent, composed and very well set up ute, and the lack of hefty 4X4 hardware pays dividends here as well. Its driver-assistance systems are generally unobtrusive, and technology doesn’t constantly intrude on the driving experience.

Those driver assist and safety systems are where Toyota certainly hasn't skimped on the base spec, with the SR getting the same comprehensive ADAS suite as every other Hilux.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD's warranty and servicing situation?

The Hilux is covered for 3 years/100,000km, but this can be 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 PreRunner 2WD?

The Hilux SR 2WD shows that you don’t need the most expensive version of a ute to get a good one. It looks purposeful, has a practical cabin and pairs a well-developed diesel engine with a smooth automatic transmission, while its ride and handling are impressive for a traditional ladder-frame ute.

The SR also gives up less than you might expect, and while iIt isn’t the flashiest ute on the market, it makes a persuasive case for spending money on the essentials rather than equipment you may never use.

After all, sometimes, all you really need is a good ute. And this is a very, very good one.

Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD FAQs

What kind of car is the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD?

A 2WD double cab ute.

Does the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD have hybrid or EV technology?

No, unlike the 4WD models, the 2WD SR doesn't get Toyota's 48-volt hybrid assists system.

What’s the fuel economy of the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD?

Toyota claims a combined average consumption of 8.5L/100km for the Hilux SR, which is pretty acheivable in real word driving.

Is the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD safe?

Like the rest of the Hilux range, the SR PreRunner has a full 5 Star safety rating from ANCAP and has a total of 8 airbags, including dual front, side and curtain airbags, as well as a front centre airbag and a driver's knee airbag.

What safety and assistance features does the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD have?

What are the Toyota Hilux SR PreRunner 2WD's main rivals?

• Ford Ranger XLT ($55,990): Closest Ranger competitor is $5k dearer, and also less powerful.
• Mitsubishi Triton GLXR ($48,490): 2WD Tritons start even cheaper, but GLXR gets alloys and more kit.
• Nissan Navara SL ($48,990): Navara tops its Triton twin and Hilux by offering 4WD for the same money.
• GWM Cannon Ultra ($43,990): Solid, well built Chinese rival offers strong value for money and 4WD.
• JAC T9 Black Out Edition ($49,990): Fully kitted-out top-spec 4WD for the same money, doesn't have that badge though...