Driven. 2026 Toyota Hilux SR 48V Dual Cab Chassis
- Aug 6
- 5 min read
Mainstream motoring media mastheads often prefer reviews of top-spec variants of vehicles like Toyota’s venerable Hilux. It makes sense, because the figurehead of the range is always the sexiest and would usually cast the best impression for all involved.
But it’s not always the one that people want, or can afford. I recalled reviewing a Hilux Rogue a couple of years ago, I even did a video about the carpet in the tub. Yes, you read that right.
So, when the opportunity came up to review Toyota’s latest Hilux, I thought it would be a refreshing change to review a utility for its, well, utility.
Because the foreman drives the SR5, or the Rogue, as does the weekend offroad warrior. But when it comes to getting down and dirty, the bells and whistled don’t matter as much.
That's not to say the 2026 Toyota Hilux SR is short on mod cons, because it certainly is not.
It will fool you from the outside though, because whilst the Sunglow orange hue is vibrant and attractive, it’s all rather basic. It’s not the word I’d use to describe the front end of this “facelifted” model, because I’ve got far more colourful euphemisms for that, which I’ll keep to myself.
Nevertheless, various silver and black elements complete the frontal visual. Down the side, unpainted plastics feature in the form of wheelarch trims, and the whole thing is rounded out by black steel wheels.
They’re wrapped in mild all terrain rubber and give the SR an industrial aesthetic. The truth is, steel wheels are underrated – they may be heavier, but they bend, not break; a benefit if you have an issue remote.
The industrial look and feel is rounded out by the alloy tray over the rear axle. There’s not really a whole lot to say here, a tray is a tray, and it works well with 3 easy drop-down-sides that made light work of a load of firewood.
Weighing in at roughly half a tonne, it was never going to challenge a maximum payload of 1065 kilos in this spec. Ultimately, it’s the sort of weight I’d expect to add in an off-road canopy fit out, once all the bits are loaded.
As expected, the suspension did sag, to the tune of 8cm in total, and you could feel that whilst driving. It’s clear that the Hilux is made for this though, because it settled an otherwise skittish suspension setup when unladen.
The 2.8L 48V mild hybrid took it in its stride too. With 150Kw and 500Nm through a 6 speed auto, it’s got enough berries down low, but compared to others it just feels and sounds a tad agricultural.
It's positive and punchy though, and whilst the lack of gear count compared to others can seem unfavourable, the reality is the extra capacity means it will hold a gear longer without running out of puff.
It does come armed with all the pertinent off-road mechanicals too, with a centre diff and rear locker, along with a suite of off-road modes. Unfortunately, timing didn’t allow for off-road testing, but the credentials are all there and well known.
A week of urban driving returned a fuel economy of 10.2L/100km. It’s not world leading for a mild hybrid, and well off the claim figure of 7.4L/100km from the marque.
Interior accommodations are just as utilitarian as the exrerior. But there is merit in the simplicity of cloth seats. I just find them to be more comfortable than the type of leather that would usually present in vehicles like this.
Theres 6-ways of adjustability in the front pews, with an endearing set of knobs and levers to manipulate. Despite this, they are comfy to sit in and provide enough support for the type of driving it’s designed for.
The cabin is surrounded in dark grey, but all the materials are of a standard, with no hard plastics anywhere. Other than the floor of course, where the lack of carpet makes cleaning this vehicle after a dirty weekend a piece of cake.
On reflection, this point may have contributed to the increased drivetrain noise in the cabin.
Nevertheless, the driver holds onto a well-sized steering wheel with a range of sensible buttons. It’s supplamented by a range of manual controls on the console and centre stack.
Atop all that sits a 12.3-inch infotainment touch screen which offers wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto. Tunes are through a basic 8-speaker sound system.
The rear row gets the same basic but comfortable amenities, with a couple of charging ports for convenience, along with air-conditioning vents.
But the Hilux sticks to its roots when it’s doing its thing. It’s 100 per cent no fuss easy motoring, with light but accurate controls that offer good connection between the driver and the road.
This makes it easy to pilot regardless of the circumstances; be it school pickup, hauling timber, or an early morning departure to Sydney airport.
My only real complaint was the lack of parking sensors. With a tray mounted the Hilux is not a small thing, and I found myself within inches of collecting a wall when parking. Cameras exist but the extra overhang of tray was hard to judge. Sensors can be had as an option, but they really shouldn’t be.
And certainly not with an entry price of $57,990. What that does allow for is some breathing room to personalise a solid and dependable base, because the step down from the SR5 brings with it a $6500 saving.
Careful planning can see you make a good start; perhaps some storage for that tray, or an electrical system.
Regardless of the way you go, you’re starting with a tried and tested base that’s going give you many miles of reliable motoring.
Like: Rugged but comfortable, Vinyl floor means cleaning is easy, gutsy big banger for a 4-cylinder
Dislike: Drivetrain refinement is lacking, likely exacerbated by the vinyl floor, Needs parking sensors
Car Guy Rating – 7.5
Look, the Hilux isn’t the most exciting vehicle in the world, and that’s even more evident in the SR grade. But excitement comes in many forms, and I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for off-road touring. I reckon the SR is the pick here – simplicity and ruggedness is the key for these sorts of builds. Even though the price differential with the SR5 is small, I’d still rather put the coin towards customising. And I know if it does happen to have issues in central Australia, I’m not going to have an issue getting parts. Would Buy
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