Responsive and economical 3.0-litre 1KZ-TE turbo-diesel engine
Spacious cabin
High standard of fit and finish

Suspension lacks compliance when unladen
Ponderous dynamics
Vague steering
Front seats lack support
3.4-litre 5VZ-FE petrol engine lacks refinement
1KZ-TE turbo-diesel engine susceptible to overheating and cracked cylinder heads

Review: Toyota Mk.6-I Hilux utility (1997-01)

Overview

Released in October 1997, the Toyota Mark 6 Series I (Mk.6-I) Hilux utility was available in single cab, extended cab (‘Xtra’) and dual cab bodies. Manufactured in Thailand, the Toyota Mk.6 Hilux was available with 2.0- and 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engines or 3.0-litre diesel and turbo-diesel engines.

The Toyota Mk.6-I Hilux range consisted of three variants: the entry-level Workmate, mid-range (Standard or simply ‘Hilux’) and range-topping SR5. The full range is given in the tables below.

Engines

Of the engines,

The 2.0-litre 1RZ-E four-cylinder petrol engine had electronic fuel injection, a single overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.0:1;
The 2.7-litre 3RZ-FE four-cylinder petrol engine had sequential multi-point fuel injection, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1;
The 3.0-litre 5L four-cylinder diesel engine, indirect injection, single overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 22.2:1. In November 2000, the 5L engine was replaced by the 5L-E unit which had electronic fuel injection; and,
The 3.0-litre 1KZ-TE four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, indirect electronic fuel injection, a single overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 21.2:1.

Transmission options consisted four-speed A340E automatic or five-speed manual units (G52, G54, W56 and R151F).

Suspension and steering

The Toyota Mk.6 Hilux had independent, double wishbone front suspension with a lower mounted torsion bar spring and leaf-spring rigid axle rear suspension. Furthermore, the Hilux had recirculating ball type steering; for the Standard and SR5 variants, the steering had engine-speed sensitive power assistance.

Toyota Mk.6-I Hilux utility specifications
	Single cab		Extra cab		Dual cab
Variant	Work-mate, STD 4×2	STD 4×4	STD 4×2	STD 4×4	STD 4×2	STD 4×4	SR5 4×2	SR5 4×4
Wheelbase (mm)	2850	2860	3085	3095	2850	2860	2850	2860
Length (mm)	4725	4725	5100	5100	4725	4725	4855	4855
Width (mm)	1690	1690	1690	1690	1690	1690	1690	1700
Height (mm)	1605	1780	1610	1770	1630	1810	1625	1805
Tray length (mm)	2160	2160	1855	1855	1355	1355	1355	1355
Tray width (mm)	1465	1465	1450	1450	1465	1465	1465	1465
Tray height (mm)	405	405	405	405	405	405	405	405
Ground clearance (mm)	200	225	200	225	200	225	200	225
Maximum braked towing capacity (kg)	1800	1800	1800	1800	1800	1800	1800	1800

Cab	Engine	Variant	Drive	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
Single cab	2.0-litre I4 (1RZ-E)	Workmate	RWD	5sp man.	80 kW at 5200 rpm	166 Nm at 2800 rpm
	2.7-litre I4 (3RZ-FE)	Standard	RWD	4sp auto, 5sp man.	108 kW at 4800 rpm	235 Nm at 4000 rpm
	2.7-litre I4 (3RZ-FE)	Standard	4WD	5sp man.	108 kW at 4800 rpm	235 Nm at 4000 rpm
	3.0-litre diesel I4 (5L)	Standard	RWD, 4WD	5sp man.	65 kW at 4000 rpm	197 Nm at 2400 rpm
	3.0-litre diesel I4 (5L-E)	Standard	RWD, 4WD	5sp man.	71 kW at 4000 rpm	200 Nm at 2600 rpm
	3.0-litre turbo-diesel I4 (1KZ-TE)	Standard, SR5	4WD	5sp man.	85 kW at 3600 rpm	295 Nm at 2400 rpm; 315 Nm at 2000 rpm
Extra cab	2.7-litre I4 (3RZ-FE)	Standard	RWD	4sp auto, 5sp man.	108 kW at 4800 rpm	235 Nm at 4000 rpm
	2.7-litre I4 (3RZ-FE)	Standard	4WD	5sp man.	108 kW at 4800 rpm	235 Nm at 4000 rpm
	3.0-litre diesel I4 (5L)	Standard	4WD	5sp man.	65 kW at 4000 rpm	197 Nm at 2400 rpm
	3.0-litre diesel I4 (5L-E)	Standard	4WD	5sp man.	71 kW at 4000 rpm	200 Nm at 2600 rpm
Dual cab	3.0-litre turbo-diesel I4 (1KZ-TE)	Standard	RWD, 4WD	5sp man.	85 kW at 3600 rpm	295 Nm at 2400 rpm; 315 Nm at 2000 rpm
Dual cab	3.0-litre turbo-diesel I4 (1KZ-TE)	SR5	RWD	5sp man.	85 kW at 3600 rpm	295 Nm at 2400 rpm; 315 Nm at 2000 rpm

Safety equipment

For all Mk.6-I Hilux Standard and SR5 models, safety equipment such as front passenger airbags, ABS and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters were optional.

Brakes

The Hilux 4×2 had 257 mm ventilated front disc brakes with two-piston fixed calipers and 270 mm rear drum brakes. The Hilux 4×4, however, had 289 mm ventilated front disc brakes (with two-piston fixed calipers) and 295 mm rear drum brakes.

ANCAP crash testing

In ANCAP crash testing , a rear-wheel drive Hilux single cab fitted with a 2.7-litre petrol engine received a three star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 19.69. In the offset crash test, protection from serious head and neck injury was poor for the driver, with a risk of life-threatening head injury greater than 50 per cent; chest protection was also marginal for both front occupants. In the side impact, there was a moderate risk of a life-threatening head injury for the driver.

Features: Hilux Workmate, Standard and SR5

Standard features for the Hilux Workmate included a two speaker sound system with an AM/FM radio and cassette player, front bench seat and vinyl seat trim.

The Standard variant was further equipped with a driver’s bucket seat, cloth seat trim, variable intermittent wipers, separate front headrests and a tilt adjustable steering wheel. Beyond this, Extra and Dual Cab models added front bucket seats and a rear window demister; while Extra cab models had a rear jump seat, Dual Cab models had rear bench seats.

The Hilux SR5 was distinguished by its lockable glovebox, remote fuel lid release, digital dashboard clock, power windows and power door locks (i.e. central locking); 4×4 models were also fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels and power mirrors. Visually, the SR5 could be identified by its: chrome plating package which included the front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, door mirrors, door handles and windscreen mouldings.

November 2000: Hilux update

In November 2000, the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine was upgraded with its peak torque increasing from 295 Nm to 315 Nm at 2000 rpm. The SR5 was also fitted with a new high-grade 3-in-1 audio unit with a 2DIN-size audio head unit with a single CD player.

The SR5 dual cab was also fitted with side steps.