With over 50 years of heritage in Australia, the Toyota HiLux could be considered an honorary Aussie. Today’s HiLux is easily the best yet, with a contemporary new look to highlight its exciting advances in technology and equipment. In 2024, Toyota introduced a new engine option for a number of variants including this HiLux Rogue.
The 1GD 2.8 litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine now has V-Active (48V) technology and that means it’s a Mild Hybrid. The V-Active (48V) technology is a newly developed system and it is designed to improve overall fuel efficiency while enhancing driveability, acceleration performance and engine refinement particularly in low speed, off-road and urban driving situations.
Consisting of a motor generator (producing 8.4kW and 65Nm), a 48-volt battery and a DC/DC converter, V-Active (48V) technology improves performance by using energy stored in the battery to enhance powertrain outputs when accelerating. It also provides additional torque at low engine speeds for improved off-road control. When decelerating, energy is recovered by the motor generator and fed back into the battery.
Without testing two vehicles back-to-back it would be hard to confirm if there was any difference in acceleration or engine refinement. But I could compare my fuel use in this Rogue compared to the Rogue that I drove last year. My fuel use for the two Rogues was identical at 10.0L/100km even though official combined fuel efficiency for the 2024 Rogue is 7.8L/100km compared to 8.6L/100km for the 2023 HiLux Rogue. A crucial part of V-Active (48V) technology’s fuel-efficiency and exhaust emissions improvement is its switchable, dual-mode engine start-stop system, so those driving in congested traffic may see some benefit from the technology?
The mild hybrid diesel engine is still noisy and has the same power figures of the non-electrified diesel with 150kW of power and 500Nm of torque with three drive modes Sport, Comfort, and Eco and I spent my week in Comfort mode. The 4×4 drivetrain has H2, H4, and L4 options and is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with downhill decent control and rear diff lock. Stopping power for the HiLux Rogue comes from 17″ front disc brakes and rear ventilated disc brakes.
The towing capacity for the 2024 HiLux Rogue has not changed with 3,500kg for a braked trailer and 750kg for an unbraked trailer. The HiLux Rogue comes as standard with a tow bar, tow ball and tongue and a 7-pin flat trailer wiring harness.
The HiLux Rogue is longer, wider, and higher than other HiLux variants and is differentiated on the exterior by 18″ Rogue alloy wheels, Rogue design grille, wheel arch moulding, exterior mirrors, fog lamp detailing, front and rear bumper and overfenders. Driving with a friend who owned an older Toyota HiLux commented that she thought the ride was smoother than her HiLux, maybe due to the rear stabiliser bar? But for me it still rides like a ute, jiggly and not very comfortable.
Keyless entry and keyless start come as standard, but you need to press the button on the door with the key fob in the vicinity of the vehicle to unlock it. In the HiLux Rogue the seats are covered with perforated leather accented seat trim and both front seats are heated. The driver’s seat has 8-way power adjustment that moves the recline, forward/back and seat height front and rear, but it has memory positions. The passenger seat has manual recline and forward/back adjustment only. Between the analogue taco and speedo is a 4.2″ colour Multi Information Display that can show the driver a variety of information.
Other exclusive features include a Rogue gear knob, premium steering wheel, and Rogue leather accented door trims with blue illumination across the door trim and dials. The 8″ colour touchscreen display has satellite navigation and comes with 3 years complimentary access to Toyota Connected Services. Voice control is activated by pressing the button on the steering wheel with the masculine looking silhouette on it and worked well for me making phone calls and changing the radio station, but was not good for setting a destination on the sat nav.
As standard you get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that plugs into the one USB-A port on the dash. There’s a wireless charge pad at the front of the centre console, but it’s hard plastic with no lip so your phone could fall out when off-roading. For enjoying your tunes in the Rogue it has a 9 speaker JBL premium audio system with the media sources being AM/FM radio, DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth, and Miracast.
Above the charge pad there is one 12V socket and under the arm rest, one 3-pin plug with a 220V/100W maximum input. There’s just one rigid cup holder in the centre console and another cup holder that pops out from either side of the dash and good-sized drink bottle storage in the front door cubbies. There’s an upper and lower glove box and the upper glove box has a vent linked to the climate control system, so you can open the vent when you want to cool items stored here, but this is not a fridge.
The rear seats have adequate head and leg room for me, but taller individuals may find the space is a bit tight and my knees felt like they were up a little high. The centre seat folds down as an arm rest with two rigid drink holders in it and there’s good sized drink bottle storage cubbies in the rear doors. For younger passengers there are ISOFIX anchors for two child restraints in the rear seat including two top tether anchors only. This tether system could cause confusion though as the metal latch point is located behind the centre seat and you have to feed the rear strap of the car seat through the loop behind the outer seats and clip it on the centre metal latch.
Rear passengers have two central air vents with individual direction control and one central on/off roller switch and two USB-C ports below the air vents. I like the single carpet mat that covers the almost flat rear floor and the hooks on the rear of the front seats would be handy for hanging a takeaway bag, so your dinner doesn’t fall over.
The tub of the HiLux Rogue has a Motorised Roller Cover with resin sailplane sports bar that provides water and dust resistance in most situations to help keep your tools and gear secure and clean. It has smart operation functions including anti-pinching, anti-tamper and adjustable aperture and is opened/closed using the buttons on either side of the tub. The LED lighting clearly illuminates the cargo space, plus you’ll find an integrated 12V socket located in the rear tub on the passenger side. The tailgate can also open independently of the cover then centrally locked using the key fob and it has a soft open functionality and standard manual close. The tub is lined with marine grade carpet tub liner, which is velcroed into place, and it’s very comfortable to kneel or sit on as there’s foam in the tub depressions.
The tub is approximately 110cm at its narrowest point between the wheel arches and the depth is 150cm. The roller cover protrudes around 50cm into the tub and there are only two substantial tie down points located at the rear of the tub, so this may impact on the size and types of items you can carry in the tub?
All current HiLux models have a 5-star ANCAP (2019) safety rating with dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags (curtains) and a driver knee airbag are standard. The Adults Protection score of 36.66 points out of 38 (96%) and a Child Occupant Protection score of 42.64 points out of 49 (87%), which applies to dual-cab utes only.
Toyota Safety Sense comes as standard across the HiLux range and includes Lane Departure Alert, Pre-Collision Safety system with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, Road Sign Assist (speed signs only) and Active Cruise Control (high-speed). The cruise control is slightly older technology and is activated by pressing a stalk behind the steering wheel. The HiLux Rogue also comes with Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. For parking convenience, you get a standard reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, but you have to remember to turn them on using the button on centre console and it has auto lights, but no auto high beam.
ANCAP tests of the autonomous emergency braking system showed GOOD performance at highway speeds with collisions avoided or mitigated in most test scenarios. ANCAP tests of the lane support system functionality showed some GOOD performance; however, the system does not intervene in more critical emergency lane keeping scenarios and overall performance was classified as ADEQUATE. Overall, the Safety Assist systems on the HiLux have an ANCAP score of 78%.
All new Toyotas sold come with a five years/unlimited kilometre warranty and Toyota will increase this under the Warranty Advantage Extended Engine and Driveline coverage to seven years, provided your vehicle is properly serviced and maintained per its Warranty and Service Book. The HiLux service interval is every 10,000kms or six months, whichever occurs first and for the first six services the price is capped at $290 each.
The Toyota HiLux Rogue Double Cab Pickup starts at $71,530 excluding on-road costs and as tested with the optional paint in Stunning Silver ($675) this Rogue is $72,205 plus on-roads. You can Build & Price your Toyota HiLux online or visit your preferred Toyota dealer for more information.
| Pros | Cons |
| Exclusive exterior and interior features | Noisy engine |
| Towing pack comes as standard | The design of the rear tether anchorages |
| Comfortable tub liner | Needs more USB ports at the front of the cabin |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.