Toyota HiLux Rogue 2020 Review

The new 2020 Toyota HiLux Rogue is a significant update of a model first introduced in Australia in 2018.

While based on the popular SR5 dual-cab 2.8-litre turbo-diesel including a six-speed automatic and 4x4 drivetrain, the Rogue gets its own look – essentially a resculpted front bumper – developed with input from Toyota’s Australian design office and inspired by the full-size Toyota Tundra pick-up truck sold in the US.

Priced at $68,990 plus on-road costs, the Rogue sits alongside the $69,990 (plus ORCs) Rugged X at the top of the popular HiLux range. The Rugged X has even more local input than the Rogue. A third halo model called the Rugged has been dropped as part of this update.

The Toyota HiLux Rogue is intended to be a stylish vehicle, equally suitable for a night on the town as a day on the worksite. The Ford Ranger Wildtrak is an obvious rival pitched in the same terms.

It’s yet another example of the niching that goes on at the top end of hard-core ladder-frame ute line-ups. There’s big profits in a $70K truck that is essentially the same as one sold for $40K!

These include the boost in power for the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from 130kW to 150kW and peak torque from 450Nm to 500Nm, the lift in braked towing capacity from 3200kg to 3500kg and a new 8.0-inch infotainment screen that includes a volume knob (yay!) and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection.

The 2020 HiLux Rogue rises in price by a substantial $6500 and new bits it gets – on top of the range-wide changes – include a locally-developed motorised roller shutter that replaces a hard cover and a sports bar that has been profiled in resin to look like a sailplane.

Other Rogue equipment includes a nine-speaker JBL audio system, a digital speedo incorporated into the instrument display, sat-nav with voice recognition and heated and perforated leather front seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver.

Outside the look is completed by LED headlights, new-design 18-inch alloys, pumped wheel-arches, a front underbody and marine-grade carpet in the tub.

However, the climate control system is only single-zone, which is a bit underdone for a $70,000 vehicle. Nor are there any of the latest USB-C plugs.

The HiLux Rogue comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty (reduced to 160,000km for commercial uses). Servicing is every six months/10,000km – more frequent than rival models – and the first six scheduled services are capped at $250 each.

The 2020 Toyota HiLux Rogue continues with a comprehensive driver assist package that was first rolled out in 2019. It is the standard all utes must now aim for. The days are gone when they could get away without having high-tech ‘active’ safety systems.

The cornerstone of Toyota’s ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) is autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which operates from 10-180km/h if a potential collision with a vehicle is detected ahead and 10-80km/h in the case of pedestrians and cyclists (in daylight).

Other parts of the Rogue package include adaptive cruise control, which operates at 40km/h and above, lane departure warning (which is very noticeable) and road sign assist. A new feature for 2020 is called Drive Start Control, which is designed to prevent collisions caused by pedal misapplications.

Other safety gear includes seven airbags, electronic traction and stability control, a reversing camera and lap/sash seatbelts for all five passengers. The new Rogue also adds two front and four rear parking sensors.

The HiLux range gets a five-star ANCAP rating based on 2019 protocols.

This generation Toyota HiLux has been incredibly popular since its launch, but there have always been criticisms of its engine and dynamic behaviour. Toyota has made a big effort to address this

As mentioned earlier, Toyota has given the 1GD-FTV DOHC 16-valve engine a boost in output. This has been achieved via a larger water-cooled ball-bearing turbocharger.

The rise in output has required modifications to the cylinder block, water jacket shape, head gasket material and shape, exhaust manifold and gasket material as well as cooling fan and coupling design.

The 50Nm torque boost comes with a wider spread of peak delivery, now delivering from 1600-2800rpm versus the previous 1600-2400rpm.

Claimed fuel economy remains unchanged at 8.4L/100km for the new Rogue.

The 1GD has also had its troublesome diesel particulate filter and dusting issues addressed.

It’s too soon to say how successful these measures have been, but it was noticeable during our test how frequently the DPF regenerated and the complete lack of white exhaust smoke that has previously been a tell-tale sign of the issue.

The six-speed auto has also been recalibrated to allow earlier lock-up for improved acceleration feel and to ensure adherence to Toyota’s temperature tolerances, especially when towing.

Chassis retuning includes changes to leaf springs and shock absorbers to improve unladen ride comfort without compromising the vehicle’s ability to carry loads over uneven terrain.

Low-friction rear shackle bushes add to ride comfort while rear stability and handling benefit from leaf spring front bushes with increased lateral stiffness. Revised chassis mounts are intended to reduce vibrations and noise transfer to the cabin.

A variable flow control power-steering pump is intended to improve steering feel on winding country roads and reduce steering effort when parking. It incorporates a low-range mode for off-road driving.

In terms of capabilities, there are some minor changes to key figures. The kerb weight goes up from 2174kg to 2231kg, while the gross vehicle mass climbs from 3000kg to 3050kg, meaning the payload drops from 826kg to 819kg. Gross combined mass climbs from 5650kg to 5850kg.

For all the changes the 2020 Toyota HiLux Rogue has undergone, the driving experience is pretty darn familiar.

The powertrain boost doesn’t push the HiLux forward to the front of the pick-up pack. It still feels lethargic when the accelerator pedal is pressed.

Switch from normal to the power mode and things liven up a bit. Swapping the transmission to sport mode also delivers more revs and quicker response, which helps.

Go all the way to operating manually via the gear lever or flappy paddles and the sense of response is at its most prompt. But this is no biturbo Ford Ranger in its alertness.

The Rogue is, however, impressively quiet in the cabin no matter how it is being driven.

The same relaxed nature applies to the handling package, which is defined by slow and quite heavy steering. It still requires a fair bit of effort to use in tight turns, despite Toyota’s ambitions.

The ride, too, hasn’t hit the targets Toyota has aimed for. At low speed and unladen the inputs from the rear are sharp. It gets better as speeds rise but, again, not up there with Ranger. We didn’t test the Rogue out with a load onboard this time round.

No debate about the improvements around the cabin. The new infotainment system is a huge step up in terms of both functionality and appearance. The front seats are generously comfortable and the rear seat provides enough space to accommodate two adults (albeit a little bit knees-up).

There are adjustable rear air-con vents and the rear seat base continues to flip up to improve storage space.

The new roller cover is easily operated by push-buttons near the tailgate and the new carpet looks good enough to lay in your living room. It’s more impressive than the somewhat unconvincing trim used for the steering wheel, while the overall cabin ambience is pretty dark.

We didn’t take the Rogue seriously off-road, only trying it out on some gravel roads with high-range four-wheel drive engaged. In those circumstances it was planted and secure.

If you want to get adventurous, we’ve previously established that low-range and the rear diff lock help get HiLux a fair way from the black-top.

The 2020 Toyota HiLux Rogue is one of many manufacturer attempts to grow the top end of their pick-up ranges.

The incoming 2021 Nissan Navara PRO-4X revealed recently is an obvious example.

The Toyota HiLux Rugged X is another and for me it works far better within the rugged confines of a separate-chassis vehicle than the more road-oriented Rogue.

Spending more than $70,000 for a dressed-up ute that delivers little advantage over cheaper models from the same range or rival line-ups is a tough ask.

Look further across the automotive landscape and consider what $70K can buy you and the Rogue looks even less convincing.

In isolation the Rogue is a decent ute. Trouble is, it’s not operating in isolation.

How much does the 2020 Toyota HiLux Rogue cost?
Price: $68,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 150kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.4L/100km
CO2: 220g/km
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)