Toyota Hilux SR5 Review: Has the King Lost His Crown?

The Toyota Hilux SR5 has been Australia’s ute royalty for decades. It’s the bloke at the BBQ everyone nods at — rugged, reliable, and always ready for a beer and a biff. In July, it topped the sales charts yet again with 4,676 deliveries, pipping the Ford Ranger. But after a week behind the wheel, I’m starting to think the Hilux is more “ageing monarch clinging to the throne” than “fearless king of the road”.

Yes, it’ll still go anywhere — from muddy paddocks to sand dunes — and it’ll tow a decent load without breaking a sweat. But the truth is, most Hiluxes spend more time in school zones than scrubland. And that’s where the cracks show. Underneath, it’s still rocking leaf springs and rear drum brakes. Despite the 2.8-litre diesel being updated with 48v “hybrid” technology, it remains is as industrial as a meatworks at dawn, and the six-speed auto is about as modern as a Nokia 3310.

Park it next to Ford’s Ranger Raptor and you can smell the difference. The Raptor’s turbo-petrol V6 and Fox suspension make it a sports SUV in high-vis drag, while GWM’s Cannon Alpha PHEV glides around like a silent, smug limo with a staggering 180km of EV-only range. Next to them, Hilux feels… agricultural. Even Mitsubishi’s new Triton, while hardly dripping with glamour, manages a few more nods to the 21st century.

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ABOVE: Hilux SR5

Inside, the Hilux SR5 is all business, no pleasure. The infotainment screen is so small you’d need to rope down the Hubble telescope to see it properly. Wireless CarPlay refused to connect — wired or otherwise — and the dealer’s “book it in for a diagnostic” advice was about as useful as a waterproof teabag. The manual handbrake is pure throwback, the dash is as thrilling as a spreadsheet, and the seats are firm enough to qualify as corrective posture devices. Rear passengers? Sure, if they’re under 5’10 and don’t mind their knees around their ears (our around someone else’s ears).

Hilux SR5 vs Ranger Raptor vs GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV

🏆 Ford Ranger Raptor

Price: From around $87,000 drive-away
Engine/Performance: 3.0L twin-turbo petrol V6, 292kW, 10-speed auto
Ride & Handling: Flawlessly fast and fabulously fun — Fox suspension makes corrugations disappear while cornering like it’s on rails.
Interior: Big, bold, and brimming with tech nicked straight from Ford’s SUV range.

💎 GWM Cannon Apha PHEV

Price: Around $65,000 drive-away (PHEV range-topper)

Engine/Performance: Plug-in hybrid petrol-electric with 180km of EV-only range — silent in traffic, smooth at speed, and dirt cheap to run if you plug in every night.
Ride & Handling: Multi-link rear suspension, four-wheel disc brakes — floats like a limo but still hauls like a ute.
Interior: Heated/cooled leather, giant touchscreen, more gadgets than a Mardi Gras float.

🛠 Toyota Hilux SR5

Price: Around $69,000 drive-away
Engine/Performance: 2.8L turbo diesel, 150kW, six-speed auto from the archives
Ride & Handling: Leaf springs, rear drums, steering heavier than a wet cement mixer. Tough? Yes. Modern? No.
Interior: Tiny screen (Hubble optional), stubborn tech, firm pews, old-school handbrake.

Here’s the rub — the Hilux SR5 costs more than the Cannon Alpha PHEV, yet gives you less tech, less comfort, and far less refinement. Even Kia’s incoming Tasman (a face only its designer could love) looks set to leapfrog it in the comfort stakes.

Safety tech is the final facepalm. While some rivals use electric steering for smooth lane-keeping, the Hilux’s answer is to slam one front brake at 100km/h to drag you back in line. It’s crude, jarring, and guaranteed to get the cabin chorus swearing in unison.

Yes, the Hilux SR5 will still do a hard day’s work and keep doing it for decades. But in 2025, with buyers wanting brains and beauty alongside brawn, Toyota’s king of the hill is looking more like a (naked) ruler who’s overstayed his welcome. Is it now selling purely on reputation? A new model might be coming, but buyers are ordering the current model as we speak.

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