Hilux impresses in strict safety tests Down Under…

Toyota’s Hilux is the best-selling vehicle in both South Africa and Australia. That means that the safety rating of Toyota’s hugely popular bakkie is crucial, considering the sheer volume of people who buy and travel in them.

Although South Africa does not have a crash-testing authority or facility of its own, the Australians do – which conveniently serves as a reference for us, due to the similar driving conditions and vehicle specification in both markets. ANCAP also tests right-hand-drive cars.

The 2019 ANCAP crash testing protocol has been revised and updated from last year and made stricter, requiring more safety features to enable a vehicle to achieve the desired five-star rating.

Toyota’s latest upgrades to the eighth-generation Hilux has made its bakkie the first double-cab to score a five-star rating in the revised 2019 ANCAP tests.

A range of collision avoiding technologies were added to Hilux in the past year, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and cyclist awareness. Active lane keep assist and a speed assistance system further boosted the 2019 Hilux’s safety specification. The South African spec Hiluxes are not equipped with the collision avoidance tech, which is paramount to scoring high in modern crash tests. To see what's specced on the local derivatives check out this specs and pricing article.

The Hilux also features dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting curtain airbags, in addition to a driver’s knee airbag.

In ANCAP’s different evaluation segments the 2019 Hilux scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child passenger protection and 88% for vulnerable road user protection (pedestrians and cyclists).

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