Toyota HiLux 2025 Review — WA's Best-Selling Ute Tested

Why Western Australia Can't Get Enough of the HiLux

Walk through any regional WA town — Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Broome, or the outer suburbs of Perth — and you'll see HiLuxes parked three deep outside the servo. There's a reason Toyota's dual-cab has topped Australian new-car sales charts for years, and most of those reasons are amplified in WA. Long distances. Unsealed roads. Boat ramps. Job sites. The HiLux is engineered for exactly this life.

For 2025, the SR5 remains the sweet spot in the range — well-equipped enough that you won't feel like you're missing out, priced below the full Rogue Premium without sacrificing the features that matter most on WA roads.

**WA Driveaway Price: $74,990**

That's the SR5 double-cab 4x4 automatic, driveaway in Western Australia. It includes dealer delivery, stamp duty, CTP, and registration — no hidden extras. Financed over 60 months at AutoReady WA's standard new-car rate of 5.66% p.a. with a 20% deposit ($14,998), you're looking at approximately $1,143/month.

---

What You Get in the SR5

The SR5 spec sheet is generous for the price point. Key inclusions:

• **18-inch alloy wheels** with 265/60 all-terrain tyres — ready for unsealed tracks without an aftermarket trip
• **Leather-accented seats** with driver power adjust and heating
• **Dual-zone climate control** — genuinely needed on 40°C Perth summer days
• **9-inch touchscreen** with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• **Bi-LED headlights** with automatic high beam
• **Toyota Safety Sense** — pre-collision warning, lane departure alert, radar cruise control
• **Reverse camera** with front and rear parking sensors
• **10-way power driver's seat**

What you don't get: a sunroof (that's Rogue territory) and the 360-degree camera (also Rogue). For most working WA buyers, that trade-off makes the SR5 the sensible pick.

---

Under the Bonnet: The 2.8L Turbo Diesel

The HiLux SR5 runs a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel producing 150kW and 500Nm. On paper, that's not class-leading — the Ford Ranger's 3.0L V6 diesel produces more power. In practice, the HiLux engine is exceptionally well-suited to WA conditions.

**Real-world fuel consumption:** Toyota claims 8.9L/100km combined. Real-world WA driving comes in around 9.5–10.5L/100km in suburban Perth, dropping toward 11–12L/100km on the highway towing a loaded trailer. For comparison, the Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 auto (also $62,490) claims 7.9L/100km — a meaningful real-world gap that adds up over a year of driving.

---

Towing: Serious Capability for WA Life

Tow rating: **3,500kg braked**. That covers:

• A loaded 20-foot boat and trailer (common for WA's offshore fishing culture)
• A large horse float
• A full-size camper trailer or caravan up to around 2,800kg ball weight

The HiLux uses a leaf-spring rear suspension setup — less comfortable unladen than the Ranger's coil-spring rear, but more robust under sustained heavy towing and better for payload. If you're towing regularly, the HiLux's rear end is less likely to sag.

---

Off-Road Performance

The SR5 comes with a rear differential lock and Downhill Assist Control as standard. The all-terrain tyres make a genuine difference on corrugated dirt roads — you won't need to fit aftermarket rubber for typical station access tracks or fire trails.

Ground clearance sits at 279mm, which handles most WA unsealed surfaces. For serious rock crawling or deep sand work, you'd want a lift kit — but the stock setup handles Lancelin dunes and typical Pilbara station roads without drama.

---

Running Costs and Reliability

This is where the HiLux's reputation is earned over decades. Toyota's 3-year/100,000km warranty applies, with capped-price servicing every 10,000km or 12 months. Typical service cost: around $320–$380 at a Toyota dealer in Perth.

Resale value is the HiLux's other superpower. A 2021 HiLux SR5 in clean condition typically sells for 70–75% of its original driveaway price — exceptional depreciation resistance that lowers your true cost of ownership significantly.

---

Who Should Buy the HiLux SR5?

**Best suited to:** tradies, farmers, tow-heavy lifestyle buyers, anyone who needs long-term reliability and strong resale in WA's regional or suburban market.

**Consider alternatives if:** you want a more car-like on-road driving experience (Ranger), need a V6 diesel for maximum pulling power (Ranger XLT or Raptor), or are primarily doing urban driving where ride comfort matters more.

---

Verdict

At $74,990 driveaway in WA, the HiLux SR5 isn't the cheapest dual-cab on the market. But it consistently delivers what WA buyers actually need: towing confidence, proven durability on tough roads, and resale values that make the higher purchase price less painful over time. For most buyers in this state, it remains the benchmark — and that's not marketing spin. It's the result of hundreds of thousands of kilometres of WA roads.

**AutoReady WA Rating: 9/10**

[View the Toyota HiLux on AutoReady WA →](/vehicles/toyota/hilux)