Toyota Hilux (2015-2025) Expert Review

The Revo changed the Hilux's entire attitude

The 2015 Hilux Revo was a significant visual departure from the older Vigo. Toyota made it wider, sharper and considerably more modern without abandoning the traditional pickup proportions. The representative Double Cab measures approximately 5,330 mm long, 1,855 mm wide and 1,815 mm high, with a 3,085 mm wheelbase. The high-body configuration also provides substantial ground clearance, making it well suited to difficult roads. The front end is dominated by a large grille and swept-back headlamps, while higher grades add alloy wheels, chrome detailing, fog lamps and LED daytime running lights. The side profile remains unmistakably pickup-shaped: four doors, a substantial cabin and a separate cargo bed. The cargo bed is approximately 1,555 mm long, 1,540 mm wide and 480 mm high, providing useful space for luggage, tools, construction equipment and other loads. Toyota's published Revo specifications confirm similar cargo-bed dimensions for the Double Cab configuration. The Revo also looks properly rugged rather than merely decorated to look rugged. Its high stance, large wheels and substantial bodywork suit Bangladesh particularly well. It can handle broken roads, rural tracks and muddy surfaces without looking as though somebody has fitted an aftermarket lift kit to a family sedan. The only real exterior drawback is size. At more than five metres long, the Revo can be a nuisance in Dhaka. But outside the city, its dimensions start looking rather useful.

A pickup that finally became comfortable

The Hilux Revo's interior was one of the biggest improvements over the Vigo.

The dashboard became more modern, the controls more polished and the cabin considerably more car-like. Higher grades could provide touchscreen infotainment, automatic climate control, push-button start, keyless entry, multifunction steering controls and better upholstery.

The high driving position remains one of its greatest strengths. You sit above most traffic, giving you an excellent view of the road ahead.

That is particularly valuable in Bangladesh, where traffic can contain everything from buses to motorcycles to rickshaws occupying approximately the same piece of road.

Front-seat comfort is good, particularly for long journeys. The rear seats are usable for adults, although the Hilux still feels like a pickup rather than a luxury SUV.

The dashboard storage is practical, the centre armrest is useful and the glovebox can provide cooling on suitably equipped versions.

The major weakness is rear-seat ride comfort.

Leaf-spring suspension is excellent for carrying loads but cannot provide the same cushioned experience as a large monocoque SUV.

Still, compared with the old Vigo, the Revo feels like a different class of vehicle.

It is no longer merely a work machine with seats.

It is a proper everyday vehicle that happens to have a truck bed attached to it.

The point where Hilux stopped being primitive

The Revo introduced a much more substantial equipment list than the previous generation.

Higher specifications could include a 7-inch touchscreen, automatic climate control, push-button start, keyless entry, cruise control, multifunction steering wheel, rear camera, USB connectivity and upgraded audio equipment. The 2015 launch specification also included features such as Eco/Power driving modes and rear air-conditioning vents on suitable Double Cab versions.

The practical equipment is what makes the Revo useful.

Cruise control helps on Bangladesh highways. A rear camera is extremely useful when manoeuvring a five-metre pickup in Dhaka. Rear AC vents help passengers during long journeys.

The 4WD system is an even more important feature than the touchscreen. Depending on specification, the Hilux can provide electronic assistance systems such as Hill-start Assist, Downhill Assist, Trailer Sway Control and a rear differential lock.

Modern smartphone integration such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was not universal across this generation, so Bangladesh examples with aftermarket screens should not automatically be recorded as factory-equipped.

The Revo therefore sits in an interesting middle ground.

It is modern enough to feel comfortable every day but old enough to remain mechanically straightforward.

That combination is one reason it remains attractive in Bangladesh's used Hilux market.

A major leap over the Vigo

Safety was another area where the Revo represented a major improvement.

The 2015 model introduced a substantially more comprehensive electronic safety package on higher specifications, including ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill-start Assist, Downhill Assist and Trailer Sway Control. The launch specifications also included multiple airbags, with up to seven airbags on suitable versions.

This is a substantial step forward from the previous Hilux generation.

The body-on-frame chassis provides a strong foundation, while the high driving position gives the driver excellent visibility.

The 4WD system is also a safety advantage on muddy, wet or loose surfaces because it provides substantially more traction than a conventional rear-wheel-drive pickup.

However, this generation should not be confused with a modern Hilux equipped with Toyota Safety Sense.

Automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and traffic-sign recognition were not universal features of the 2015–2020 Revo.

Equipment varies significantly between grades and markets.

Therefore, a Bangladesh buyer should verify the exact airbag, stability-control, camera and driver-assistance specification of the individual vehicle.

A clean chassis, healthy brakes and good tyres remain more important than a long equipment list.

400 Nm makes a surprisingly convincing argument

The 2.4L 2GD-FTV diesel is one of the defining engines of the Revo.

It produces approximately 150 PS and 400 Nm, with the torque available from low engine speeds. Toyota developed the new GD engines specifically to improve torque, efficiency and drivability compared with the previous generation.

In Bangladesh, this makes the Hilux feel effortless when carrying passengers or equipment.

The 6-speed automatic is particularly useful in Dhaka traffic. It keeps the diesel engine in its useful torque band and eliminates the constant clutch work associated with manual pickups.

The 4WD system gives the Hilux an entirely different personality once the road disappears.

On normal asphalt it is simply a large pickup.

On muddy village roads, construction sites or badly broken surfaces, suddenly you understand why somebody bought a Hilux.

The suspension is firm when the cargo bed is empty. This is unavoidable because the rear leaf springs are designed to carry weight.

Put some proper load in the back and the ride becomes noticeably better.

On highways, the Revo is comfortable enough for long journeys, although wind and tyre noise are more noticeable than in a large SUV.

Bangladesh fuel economy should be around 7–9 km/L in city traffic and 11–13 km/L on highways, with approximately 9–11 km/L combined.

It is not economical like a small hybrid.

But for a large 4WD diesel pickup producing 400 Nm, those numbers are reasonable.