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The most popular ute in Australia has failed a European evaluation of its ability to handle emergencies.
Teknikens Värld, a Swedish motoring magazine, put the latest Toyota HiLux through its emergency "moose test" and found the vehicle has the potential to tip over in extreme circumstances.
Test driver Oskar Kruger accelerated to 60km/h before swerving into the left-hand lane, then back into his original lane. The ute leapt up onto two wheels and looked as though it may tip over before Kruger regained control.
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A report published by Teknikens Värld said other models such as the Volkswagen Amarok, Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara coped with the same test without issue. It suggests that "something is seriously wrong with Toyota's dynamic safety system", and that its tyres may offer too much grip. The previous-shape HiLux failed the same test when equipped with optional 265mm-wide rubber, prompting Toyota's European arm to only offer the car with narrower tyres more likely to slide than tip onto two wheels.
Toyota Sweden says it is "surprised by the test result", and that it will take a closer look at the test.
Drive put the HiLux, as well as key rivals such as the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50 and Mitsubishi Triton, through its paces during Car of the Year testing in 2016. The tests included an emergency swerve and brake at 80km/h, as well as an 80km/h slalom run that did not reveal significant flaws in any of the vehicles.
See footage of the Toyota's moose test below:
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10 Comments
Well, it's always been known as a Rollux hasn't it?
Did it roll over? nope
Has always been known as a Rollux...sadly found out the hard way when I was paralysed from the chest down after being a front seat passenger in a Toyota Hilux....
You said sadly found out the hard way when I was paralysed from the chest down after being a front seat passenger in a Toyota Hilux.... how does your comment relate to a vehicle that did not roll over?
You're being deliberately obtuse KAM. The video clearly states that had they gone as fast as the other cars, it would have rolled over. You can't blame a test driver for not wanting to role any car, let alone one they'd been lent. If you want to be a Toyota fanboi, then so be it, but don't try to convince someone that has first, hand, tragic, experience, about it.
This is the same vehicle that reviewers raved about and noted it was the first 4wd ute that actually drove like a car rather than a truck. And here we see it being embarrassed by an Izuzu and a Dodge RAM. Says as much about the reviewers as it does the truck.
Oh what a feeling Toyota has joined the Benz club when the original A class also failed the Moose test.
Even though not obvious just by looking at it, it would seem that the centre of mass is too high for the tyre static friction coefficient/normal force. I'm sure Toyota are well aware. The solutions: Lower friction tyres - cheap and nasty. Lower the C.o.M - effective, but expensive. Allow Chrysler dealerships to import factory Ram trucks, including the lighter 1500 models, at similar prices to the US/Canadian motorists - my personal preferred option.
Jap junk
This article completely fails to mention that the hilux failed the same test in 2007 (9 years ago) and that Toyota have done absolutely nothing to improve a serious and dangerous flaw. They have had a decade to fix this issue and done nothing. It's not good enough. This is the article from 2007, http://teknikensvarld.se/toyota-hilux-ar-livsfarlig-120510/