AEB and advanced safety slated for Toyota HiLux

Australia’s best-selling new vehicle, the Toyota HiLux, will adopt modern safety aids including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) under a mid-life update due on sale in the coming months.

It is understood the HiLux will join the Ford Ranger and the Mitsubishi Triton in embracing AEB along with speed sign recognition, radar cruise control and lane departure warning.

The update is part of Toyota’s pledge to eventually equip every vehicle it sells with the marque’s 'Safety Sense' suite, and coincides with changes to crash testing whereby new vehicles are required to offer AEB to earn a five-star rating.

The changes are set to take effect from May production at the HiLux’s manufacturing base in Thailand, which will likely correlate to a June arrival in showrooms.

“What I can tell you is that it is something that’s on our radar,” Toyota Australia spokesman Orlando Rodriguez said.

“Our priority is always to offer the highest level of safety in all our vehicles. We do have plans to introduce Safety Sense across the entire range.”

While officials were reticent to nominate exact timing for the changes, it is understood the safety additions have been slated for the next ‘tech change’ due mid-year.

The changes will ensure the HiLux maintains its future popularity among fleet and commercial buyers, along with striking a chord with safety-conscious mum and dad owners.

The update will also bring the popular ute up to speed with recently-updated stablemates including the Corolla hatch, Camry sedan and, soon, the new RAV4 SUV.

AEB, speed sign recognition and radar (or adaptive) cruise control were recently confirmed for the European-specification Toyota HiLux.

Toyota’s update reinforces a broader push for safety in the popular dual-cab ute segment.

Ford recently expanded the standard fitment of AEB and other important safety tech to the Ranger; AEB is standard on all Mercedes-Benz X-Class and SsangYong Musso models. The recently facelifted Mitsubishi Triton offers AEB on most models, too.

That leaves the Holden Colorado, Mazda BT-50, Nissan Navara, Isuzu D-MAX and Volkswagen Amarok to follow suit.

While ute-makers busily prepare updates to advanced safety driver aids, several candidates including the HiLux continue to make do with fabric rear seat top tether child anchorage points.

However, under sweeping legislative changes, that too is set to change from November.