Toyota HiLux goes Rogue and gets Rugged X

ONLY a month or so after launching the majority of its facelifted and upgraded HiLux range, Toyota Australia has detailed its range-topping Rogue and Rugged X variants, both of which score the same mechanical upgrades as the rest of the line-up along with a considerable price increase.

Now priced from $68,990 plus on-road costs, the new lifestyle-oriented Rogue has risen $6500 while the heavy-duty Rugged X has risen $7530 to $69,990, comfortably making them the most expensive variants by a margin of more than $6000.

Due to arrive in showrooms in mid-to-late November, the top-tier duo has been given a 20kW/50Nm power bump as the rest of the range courtesy of a new water-cooled, heavy-duty ball-bearing turbocharger with a newly developed variable nozzle vane mechanism and a range of cooling, rigidity and efficiency improvements.

The upgrades bring peak power and torque up to the same 150kW/500Nm as the other 4x4 variants while fuel economy is rated at 8.4 litres per 100km.

The same resulting 3500kg towing capacity is also shared between the two, as is the recalibrated six-speed automatic transmission, retuned suspension, updated power-steering pump and revised chassis mounts.

In a quest to better distinguish the Rogue and Rugged X from their mainstream stablemates, designers have upped the styling ante with the former scoring a new blackened front end and matching black body cladding as well as darkened LED headlight internals and unique 18-inch wheels.

The Rogue can also be spotted by its flush-sitting resin sports bar, newly developed power roller cover and bold Rogue tub decals.

In terms of standard equipment, both the Rogue and Rugged X draw on the SR5 as their donor vehicle and as such share much of the same standard spec, including an 8.0-inch infotainment display with physical controls, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, voice recognition, nine-speaker JBL sound system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, sat-nav, DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth, leather upholstery and heated front seats with eight-way power-adjustment for the driver.

One feature exclusive to the Rogue however is the ‘marine-grade’ carpet tub liner.

The Rugged X meanwhile lives up to its name and brandishes a far more extreme appearance headlined by its black steel bumper and reversible snorkel.

Designed to be the pinnacle of HiLux off-road capabilities – and no doubt take the fight to the Ford Ranger Raptor and soon to be released FX4 Max – the Rugged X is fitted with a spate of unique off-road specific accessories, not least the integrated front LED light bar.

Under the skin, the Rugged X rides on heavy-duty front springs with the tyres wrapped around a set of unique 17-inch alloy wheels.

Other off-road specific features include red recovery points front and rear, heavy-duty rock rails, sports bar with recreational attachment points, moulded tub tray with tailgate protection, and a heavy-duty rear bumper with integrated step.

As with the rest of the Hilux 4x4 range, the Rogue and Rugged X come as standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite containing a pre-collision system with autonomous emergency braking as well as pedestrians (all hours) and cyclist (daylight) detection.

Other features include active cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, anti-skid brakes, stability and traction control, brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, trailer sway control and downhill assist control.

With many of the accessories, design elements and development stemming from Australia, Toyota Australia vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley said the HiLux Rogue and Rugged X were a symbol of the local teams’ passion and commitment.

“The expertise of our local teams has ensured these two fully fledged models offer more power and torque, more relaxed towing and overtaking in all conditions, sharper steering and handling, and suspension refinements that deliver excellent ride quality in all conditions,” he said.

“They also incorporate an in-demand array of locally designed, developed and tested components that enhance capability and style: premium features on the ‘work and play’ HiLux Rogue and serious off-road protection and recovery for Rugged X.”

So far this year ending August, Toyota has notched up 20,263 HiLux 4x4 sales, accounting for 21.1 per cent of the local off-road ute market.

2020 Toyota HiLux pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs