Toyota vows to improve HiLux safety

Toyota may have improved the level of standard safety equipment on its updated HiLux range but one of Australia's biggest selling vehicles is still yet to meet industry-best practice.

The HiLux has only just gained such basics as anti-lock brakes – which became widespread in 1979 – across the range, and the majority of models are not able to be equipped with side airbags or stability control.

By contrast, the Volkswagen Amarok, the first body-on-frame ute to score a five star safety rating, comes with side airbags and stability control on all models. The HiLux has a four star rating.

Ford confirmed this week that the upcoming Ford Ranger ute range will have stability control on all models – and side airbags on all but the base single-cab (on which side airbags are an option).

The Ford's twin, the Mazda BT50, is likely to follow suit, leaving the HiLux's standard safety list lacking compared to its newest peers.

Joining dual front air bags (which have been standard on HiLux for some time), the facelifted HiLux released this week gains side and curtain airbags on only 14 of the 35 models.

Meanwhile, stability control – widely regarded as the biggest safety advancement since the seatbelt as it prevents skidding in corners – is standard on only four of the 35 models and optional on 4 others.

The availability of stability control and side airbags across the entire HiLux range is unlikely until the next generation arrives in 2014.

"It's a work in progress," Toyota Australia executive director of sales and marketing, Dave Buttner, said at this week's launch of the new HiLux in Townsville.

"Because of the diversity [of the range] it's not as simple at facelift time as bolting on another component.

"This is our first step towards ensuring that in our commercial vehicle range we have vehicles with all of the active and passive safety attributes that we're slowly progressing through our passenger vehicles.

"This is an interim step towards the next generation but we believe it's a positive step, and it'll be picked up by … large fleets who are demanding this type of safety."

Buttner said Toyota Australia was working closely with the chief engineer of the next generation HiLux, who has visited Australia three times in the past eight months.

"We have a policy … that we're working very closely with [Toyota head office in Japan] and all the next generation engineers so they fully understand the paradigm shift in Australia, the importance of [occupational health and safety regulations]," Buttner said.

"We genuinely believe that this marketplace and the use HiLux is put to are some of the harshest conditions in the world.

"We want to make sure with the next generation we're a test base. We are totally committed to improving the active and passive safety of every vehicle we bring to market."

Despite the fact that SUVs and 4WD utes are over-represented in the driveway deaths and serious injuries of toddlers, to date no mainstream workhorse ute is available in Australia with factory-fitted rear parking sensors or a rear camera.

The only ute on the market with both these features is a $65,000 HSV Maloo, a performance vehicle sold in relatively small numbers.

The topline HiLux SR5 can be fitted with a Toyota accessory rear view camera for $422. The same camera can be fitted to other models at a cost of $1443 (including the $1021 cost of the upgraded audio system with TV screen). Rear sensors are an accessory on all HiLux models with a rear step bar or dropside tray for $351.

Body-on-frame utes are the third biggest vehicle category in Australia after small cars and compact SUVs. They account for one in six of all new cars sold but are represented in between 60 and 80 per cent of driveway deaths (figures vary from year to year).

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