Toyota 4x4 off-road X-Pedition: Exploring Karnataka's western ghats with Hilux

Toyota Kirloskar Motor launched the Toyota Hilux pick-up truck in the Indian market in order to take on the lifestyle SUV segment. While we had driven the pick-up truck and shared our first-drive review earlier, the time spent with it was quite limited as it is on most first drives. The pick-up truck had so much capability and features that we had to drive it for a longer duration and take it through a more detailed testing process.
Shortly after our first drive experience, Toyota announced the Great 4x4Xpedition and invited us to join them for a road trip.We were once again given the keys to the new Hilux and an opportunity to push it to its limits. This expedition gave us a chance to experience the Toyota Hilux in a variety of driving conditions such as highways, broken patches, hill stations and off-road trails.
So, what is this Great 4x4Xpedition? It is an initiative taken by Toyota across the country this year. The event will take place in 4 zones - North, East, West and South. These drives have been designed to engage with the country-wide 4x4 SUV community to offer exciting and thrilling off-roading experiences. One cool thing here is, that the 4x4expedition isn’t limited to Toyota customers and owners of SUVs from other brands can also participate in the event.

In the first-ever Great 4x4Xpedition, it was a convoy of more than 30 SUVs which included over ten Toyota Hilux pickup trucks, over five ToyotaFortuners and there was a company-owned, iconic Toyota Land Cruiser LC 300. SUVs from other brands included a couple of Mahindra Thars, lifted Jeep Wrangler, Scorpio-N and Isuzu D-Max.
The destination was the Kadumane estate, near Sakleshpur where Toyota had created an off-road course that would showcase the full potential of the Toyota SUVs. On May 26th, 2023 we left early in the morning to beat the traffic and our convoy of SUVs dominated the Hassan highway.
The Hilux we drove was powered by a 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine paired with a 6-speed torque converter. This engine puts out 201 hp of power and 500 Nm of torque. The pick-up truck cruised on the highway effortlessly and the fuel efficiency was impressive for a vehicle this big. We got a system-indicated 12.8 kmpl despite having four occupants inside the cabin and a bed full of luggage. The pick-up truck gets three drive modes - Eco, Normal and Power. On the highway, in Eco and Normal mode, the engine and gearbox take a bit of time to respond but things improve significantly in Power mode. It gets to triple-digit speeds quickly but the engine does get loud when rushed. However, the noise levels are well within acceptable limits.

The space inside the cabin is good, and the seats offer good cushioning but the rear seat comfort isn’t that great due to the upright backrest and limited space. Convenience features include an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, rear air-con vents, front and rear parking sensors, reverse camera, LED headlights and leather upholstery. Needless to say, all the features that we required on the journey were present in the vehicle and made for a pleasant experience.

Along the way, we visited Shettihalli Rosary Church located around 10 Km from Hassan. The Church was built in the 1860s by French missionaries in India and is a magnificent structure based on Gothic architecture. In 1960, due to the construction of the Hemavati Dam, the church was submerged underwater.
It was dark by the time we arrived at our resort in Hassan. Having been behind the wheel the entire day, we had a quick dinner and then hit the bed as the rain outside provided a soothing soundtrack to fall asleep to. The next morning, after a nice breakfast, we checked out and headed towards the hills.
It was on these winding roads that the Hilux surprised us with its brilliant dynamics. Despite its size and weight, the pick-up tackled the corners with ease. The weight gives great confidence at higher speeds while the steering does require minor corrections over long, winding corners. Taking a few wrong turns allowed us to test Hilux's turning radius in those narrow spaces. The heavy steering requires effort to turn but the front and rear parking sensors along with the rear camera helped us take U-turns in tight spaces with ease.

We finally reached the Kadumane estate where Toyota had created an off-road course which was made specifically to be completed by all the participating vehicles. The Hilux gets 4WD as standard across all variants and the four-wheel-drive with low range can be operated via a dial. This pick-up also comes with chunky 265/60 R18 tyres. An electronic differential lock for the rear axle and hill descent control are standard fit. The safety kit includes seven airbags, electronic stability control, hill start assist and ISOFIX child seat mounts.

We first encountered a positive-side incline where the truck tilted towards the passenger side followed by driving in and out of a ditch, and then a negative-side incline. All these obstacles showcased the Hilux's approach, departure and break-over angles as it was able to get through them flawlessly.

We encountered the articulation next which showcased the the ability of the wheel to travel up or down relative to the wheel on the opposite side and Hilux's body rigidity. With the help of an electronic rear differential lock and guidance from the experts, the pick-up aced the challenge without any drama. After this, we encountered a steep hill climb and we kept the differential lock on with 4WDLow. We kept our foot down and the Hilux did the rest on its own.
We then went towards the last obstacle which required us just to give steering inputs. It was a steep descent and the Downhill Assist Control (DAC) took care of braking. This system electronically applies the brakes and you can just focus on steering it in the right direction. I would, however, say that I preferred keeping the control in my own hands rather than leaving it up to the DAC. The Hilux with its chunky tyres, 4x4 capabilities and torquey diesel engine felt absolutely calm and composed through all the obstacles with ease.

The 4X4Xpedition came to an end and we drove the new Hilux for almost 500 km in two days. As I was driving back home, I was recollecting how much fun I had with this pickup truck. I drove on highways, on narrow mountain roads and hardcore off-road courses and enjoyed every bit of it. At the same time, I was thoroughly impressed by Hilux’s capabilities.

With prices ranging from Rs 30.40 to 37.90 lakh, ex-showroom, the Toyota Hilux isn’t aggressively priced but it isn’t super expensive at the same time. It is more expensive than its nearest competitor, the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross but for that money, you get a more powerful engine, more features, a better in-cabin experience and overall a pick-up that will put a big smile on your face every time you drive it.