2016 Toyota HiLux Diesel Workmate review

What is it?

Toyota's entry-level single cab ute, which is built for one purpose; to be a robust, reliable workhorse.

How does it drive?

This is the 2.4-litre turbo diesel variant, which is not quite as refined as its petrol sibling but it's still a pleasant engine with plenty of grunt. This ute only had 30km on the clock when we picked it up so it was tight and the engine was quiet, and, if past experience is any gauge, it will most likely feel the same with 100,000km under its belt.

The five speed manual gearbox has a smooth positive shift and the clutch is light with good feel and there are no complaints with the steering for this type of vehicle. The rear suspension is fairly jittery when unladen but copes with loads extremely well.

The seats aren't anything special but are reasonably comfortable, although you sit fairly high in the cabin with no height adjustment on the seats. And a lack of reach adjustment on the steering wheel doesn't help either, making it difficult to find the perfect driving position for some.

What's the interior like?

The interior is on the no frills side of things but it still presents very well with hard wearing and good quality plastics, some of which even appear to look like soft touch materials.

There is storage in the door pockets with a drink bottle holder, the centre console is open with sections to put a wallet or phone and there's two cup holders at the rear. There are two glove boxes - a smaller one at the top of the dash and one in the regular position - which are both average size. There's no vanity mirrors but there is a sun glasses holder and two map lights along with a hand grip on each "A" pillar.

The instruments are fairly basic in the Workmate with a fuel gauge, engine temp, tachometer, speedo and a basic trip meter. However, there is a modern 6.1-inch touch screen audio display with USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity, while also offering a a more detailed trip meter that displays fuel consumption.

What's the payload and towing capacity?

The total payload for this vehicle is 1240kg. With the tray fitted to our test ute weighing 140kg, the remaining useable payload is 1100kg. It's towing capacity is 750kg unbraked and 2500kg braked.

What about load space dimensions and anchor points?

This will depend on what type of tray you have fitted, and whether it's a genuine Toyota unit or an aftermarket one.

The genuine Toyota alloy tray on our test car is the general purpose alloy tray that measures 1842mm by 2550mm. It has two small tie rails each side of the tray at each end but nothing in the middle over the wheel and nothing across the back, which is slightly inconvenient when needing to tie-down different loads. There is, however, a clever rail on the inside of the tray with multiple holes for an adjustable ladder rack,which can be used for tying down certain loads. 

Toyota offers four different genuine trays ranging from 2400mm x 1762mm to 2550mm x 1842mm starting at $1750 and topping out at $2340.

How does it perform under load?

The Hilux has no problem with what it's intended to do, as it handled our 1000kg of weight extremely well.

The engine is a strong all-round performer and does the job with ease, and it was only on steep hills that required giving it a bootful and a downshift or two.

The chassis also coped with the weight with very little fuss. At highway speeds the ute feels very stable with a positive steering feel and planted rear suspension, which gives you confidence with the full payload. Rough roads in suburbia are soaked up well and sharp ruts or bumps do not unsettle the laden HiLux too much.

With a smaller 130kg load on board, the Hilux's suspension is much friendlier in everyday situations and takes the initial sharpness out of the ride.

Any special features worth mentioning?

The 6.1-inch touch screen audio display with USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity is a big step forward at this level. And the HiLux's safety credentials are top notch too with seven airbags and stability control that is calibrated very well including trailer sway control. The headlights can also electrically be adjusted from the cabin when carrying loads at night.

Any criticisms?

There is no sugar coating the Hilux's unladen ride; it is pretty rudimentary and busy over bumps to the point where it's sometimes impossible to talk and it really can become a chore after a while. But the trade-off is that it can handle a pretty heavy load when needed. The lack of reach adjustment in the steering column is annoying, and there is no automatic option in this variant and the manual is only a five speed. It doesn't hurt the vehicle but it would be a more relaxed drive on the freeway if there was a sixth cog (At 110km/h the Hilux is revving at 2500rpm).

How does the warranty and servicing costs rate?

Warranty coverage is provided for three years or 100,000km and service intervals across the Hilux range are every six months or 10,000km (whichever occurs first). Under the Toyota Service Advantage scheme, the Hilux is entitled to up to six standard scheduled services at $180 each for the first three years or 60,000km (whichever occurs first).

What else should I consider?

There are plenty of competitors in the 4x2 diesel segment, such as the Ford Ranger, Holden Colorado, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50 and Mitsubishi Triton which are all good utes and worth looking into.

Verdict

The Hilux Workmate is an honest, reliable and trusty tool-of-trade that will most likely never let you down.

It has great safety credentials and the basic creature comforts you need all on a tough chassis that can handle its payload no hassle - even if it is a bit of a rough rider without anything in the back.

In the end, the Hilux will work hard, likely reward you with reliability and holds its value better than most when it comes to trade-up. It's a good work mate.

The Checklist

0-60km/h time: 5.5 seconds (unladen),  7.5 seconds (loaded)

0-80km/h time: 8.5seconds (unladen), 11.3 seconds (loaded)

0-100km/h time: 13 seconds (unladen), 17.2 seconds (loaded)

Load testing weight: 1000kg

Safety rating: 5 star ANCAP

2016 Toyota HiLux Workmate Specifications

Price: $24,990 plus on roads

On sale: Now

Engine: 2.4-litre 4cyl turbo diesel

Power: 110kW at 3400rpm

Torque: 343Nm at 1400rpm

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Fuel usage: 7.7L/100km (we averaged 8.1L/100km unladen and 9.5L/100km with weight on board)