After driving the new Toyota Hilux abroad some months ago, it was time to take it for a drive on home turf. The new model has a fresh look and lots of changes under the bonnet.

It aims to retain the reliability and durability badges while bringing more comfort and great fuel economy. With this new model, there are lots of improvements. The engine change is the most obvious one; there is a new global Toyota diesel engine fitted that, while smaller in capacity than the one it replaces, is more powerful in terms of horsepower and significantly so when it comes to torque.

The new four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine uses AdBlue to help reduce CO2 emissions. The filler unit is in the engine compartment; it is a little like an afterthought as the fuel filler cap area has a blanked-out AdBlue filler area. However, the end result is a very smooth drive that’s noticeably more powerful.

The official fuel economy figure of 14.3km/litre (7.0l/100km or 40mpg) was almost achievable even though I was driving the six-speed automatic version. That was impressive, because this rarely happens in practice. The Hilux is behind the competition in terms of rated fuel economy, but in practice the figure was impressive.

Trailer towing could well tell another story. I didn’t have the opportunity to give it a trailer test, as there was no towbar fitted. This is on the extras list at Toyota dealers, whiles it’s included in the new Ford Ranger deal as standard.

The new Hilux comes with a higher towing rating than before, up from 2.8t to 3.2t for the more popular twin-cab version. Toyota has retained the use of leaf springs on the rear suspension and claims these are new and more comfortable than in the past. I have to agree on that note.

The company also claims its rear axle unit is a heavy-duty one and, while the towing rating is lower than some of the competition, the durability will be retained. The overall kerb weight of the Hilux has increased, so it’s impressive that Toyota has boosted the towing rating while lowering the fuel usage level.

There are obvious changes in the cabin area. The dash area is completely changed, with a tablet-style touch screen control unit for the heating, radio and mobile phone. The large screen also doubles as the screen for the reversing camera. For models with the sat-nav specified, this screen gives great visibility.

There are natural concerns about the durability of the touchscreen, which is also now fitted to the Land Cruiser models. Toyota is confident of its durability, but expects to see lots of finger marks that might affect its visibility in some light conditions. The design of dash dials, behind the steering wheel, are more modern and clearer to read.

The floor lever used to engage 4WD is gone in the new model to be replaced by an electrically operated dial located just to the left of the steering wheel. Engagement of high 4WD is easy and can be done at low speeds. For the low speed 4WD the Hilux must be stopped and you need to wait for the system to fully engage; a little patience is sometimes required.

The new Hilux comes with three variations in terms of power or driving options – normal, eco and sport driving. I mostly used the economical eco system that lowers the engine revs and smooths auto gearbox. Hit the power button beside the gear lever and you’ll soon feel that you’re getting the full amount of the 150bhp and all of the 400Nm of torque. That would have to be a bonus for towing bigger loads.

The new Hilux load area is higher and wider than before, but a shade shorter. Toyota claims to be using a stronger and heavier-built load area than before, with stronger hinges on the tailgate. This section contained the reversing camera that’s enclosed in a chrome area, but I can’t vouch for how long it will last.

This new Hilux comes with an entry price of €36,500 or £21,510 in Northern Ireland. That’s a price lift of almost €3,000 from the previous model and it puts the entry level Hilux into a higher price bracket than the Mitsubishi L200 and the new Nissan Navara and marginally ahead of the new Ford Ranger. Older Hilux models are much sought-after and seem to retain their value well. The new model aims to keep that reliability message that supports the re-sale values with a new level of comfort and better economy. Price will not be the issue, as Toyota has the advantage of having new Hilux models in stock while Ford Ranger buyers seem to have a long delivery wait.