Just as no van fleet manager ever got shot for buying a Ford Transit, no pick-up fleet manager has ever got shot for buying a four-wheel-drive Toyota Hilux.

Rugged and dependable, it is the go-to workhorse for anybody who has to tackle a muddy and severely pot-holed farm track or a steep rural hill covered in snow and ice,

A huge hit globally, it celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. But Toyota is not a company content to rest on its laurels. Last year saw it unveil the top end of the range, the four-door five-seater Invincible X Double Cab, at the Commercial Vehicle Show and it appeared in dealerships during the third quarter of 2018.

The Invincible X stands out from the rest of the Hilux pack because of the different front-end treatment it has received. It consists of a new grille with glossy black inserts and a contrasting chrome frame plus a new-look front bumper, fog lights and silver under-run. A silver under-run appears at the rear too, with a new step to make it easier to access the cargo area. Steps are incorporated into the sill bars as well.

The cab gets its own internal styling, which follows an all-black theme with leather-trimmed seats and a contrasting chrome instrument panel trim.

The Hilux specification walk starts with Active, then progresses through Icon and Invincible before it reaches Invincible X. Special editions are listed including one still available that marks the model’s half-century, achieved last year. And check out the AT35 conversion by Arctic Trucks.

All Hilux pick-ups are sold with four-wheel drive and you can choose the extended two-door single-cab or extra-cab instead of the double-cab.

Only one engine is on offer: a 148hp 2.4-litre diesel, and you can order it with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Opt for Invincible X – which is what we did – and the auto ’box comes as standard.

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Load bay

Access to the load area is by means of a drop-down lockable tailgate released by a single, centrally mounted handle.

Once released, the tailgate sits horizontally; the rear bumper and step prevent it from dropping down completely.

Our Hilux’s cargo bed had four load tie-down points – two on each side wall.

They look inadequate, and we would like to see better provision, but having said that one suspects that the majority of loads carried in double-cab pick-ups are not lashed down anyway.

The cargo area was protected against scratches and scrapes by a mixture of plastic linings and films. Total price? £487 plus VAT.

If the load area offers insufficient space for the items you need to carry then you can create more capacity by folding back the rear seats in the cab.

Rear privacy glass will help conceal whatever it is you are transporting.

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Interior and equipment

While the all-black interior is undoubtedly meant to be stylish, it can feel a little gloomy, and the digital clock that sits at the top of the fascia looks a bit like a stuck-on aftermarket afterthought.

By contrast, the tablet-style touch-screen that controls Toyota’s Touch 2 Bluetooth-enabled multimedia system sits snugly in the centre of the dash rather than projecting awkwardly above it, as is too often the case. Satnav is included in the Invincible X deal, and the touchscreen also shows the images from the rear-view camera when reverse is engaged.

A USB port is fitted and the steering wheel plays host to remote controls for the DAB radio.

The instrument binnacle has received a revamp, with white dials and a multi-info display with an Invincible X animation that starts whenever the ignition is switched on. Unfortunately, some of the chrome trim creates distracting reflections in the outside mirrors.

A power heater switch ensures the cab warms up more quickly at the start of a chilly day, and heated front seats are fitted. So is air-conditioning.

The driver’s seat is electrically adjustable for reach and rake while the steering column is adjusted manually for reach and height.

In-cab storage facilities include a roomy, lockable glovebox – cooled to stop your chocolate bar melting – and a deep lidded bin between the front seats that harbours a 220V socket.

There are two 12V power points on the dash.

Slim bins are mounted on all four doors, each of which has a can holder. There are two cupholders between the front seats plus a tray for small change. Look up, and you will see a compartment for your sunglasses just above the windscreen.

Electric windows are fitted all round and the heated exterior rear-view mirrors are electrically adjustable. They flip inwards by pressing a switch.

Driver, front passenger, front side and curtain airbags are installed along with a driver’s knee airbag.

While the front seats are comfortable enough, the rear ones are less so, with excessively firm back rests and limited legroom. At least they all boast headrests and lap-and-diagonal belts. If the middle seat is vacant then the back can be folded down and used as an armrest, complete with a couple of cupholders.

Along with map pockets (remember road maps?) the backs of the front seats boast hooks you can hang your Friday night bag of takeaway food on.

As for electronic safety systems, ABS with emergency brakeforce distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability control (VSC), hill-start assist control, and trailer sway control are all fitted. Ventilated disc brakes are on the front wheels but the rears are equipped with drum brakes.

The impressive-looking 18in alloy wheels are shod with 265/60 R18 Bridgestone Dueler H/T tyres. Turning to the suspension, a double wishbone set-up helps support the truck at the front while leaf springs and a rigid axle do the honours at the back.

Hydraulic power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering offers a 6.4m turning circle kerb to kerb, expanding to 6.7m wall to wall.

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Engine and gearbox

You use a push-button starter to fire up the engine and you need the key fob present.

Featuring a silhouette sketch of the Invincible X’s frontal design, it should probably be kept in a metal-lined Faraday pouch to ensure the code it contains isn’t read and copied by thieves who aim to steal your vehicle.

The four-cylinder in-line 16v common-rail diesel produces max power at 3,400rpm while max torque of 400Nm bites across a 1,600-2,000rpm plateau. For most applications 148hp is adequate, but you might want a bit more punch if you regularly tow a heavily laden trailer in hilly terrain.

Tap the auto gearbox’s shift lever to the right and you can use it in manual mode. All you need to do then is either push it away from or towards you depending on the gear you want. The number of the gear selected will appear on the instrument panel.

Driving

Swinging smoothly through bends without drama or fuss, the Hilux handles remarkably well for a four-wheel drive pick-up with a comparatively high centre of gravity. It rides well too, coping with all but the worst of potholes without lurching or juddering.

On the downside, the automatic transmission’s gear change is not as smooth as what is on offer from some rivals, and the transmission can at times sound harsh and unrefined.

Performance depends on which button you push. Hit the Power Mode button and you enjoy extra-strong acceleration when you overtake slower-moving traffic or if you need to climb a steep incline when heavily laden. Press the Eco Mode button instead and your performance is restricted, but you should enjoy better fuel consumption.

Of course, you can always opt to press neither, and if that is your choice, you are unlikely to feel short-changed. The Hilux pulls away from rest briskly and cruises comfortably at the legal motorway speed. Cruise control is fitted if you need it.

Maintain a light touch on the accelerator pedal and you are rewarded by a little green Eco button illuminating on the instrument panel. If you are heavy-footed then it immediately goes out, and never lights up at all if you move to Power Mode because it knows you intend to put your foot down hard.

Fortunately, a road sign assist symbol on the dash tells you what the prevailing speed limit is and warns if you are breaking it. Although on one occasion it told us that it was 100mph (!), it appears to be reliable for the majority of the time.

If you want to hold a particular gear for longer than automatic mode will let you then being able to switch to manual is a useful facility. If you are trundling down a dual-carriageway, however, then you might just as well leave it in auto.

Venture off-road and you may, of course, wish to opt for the manual setting depending on the terrain. Four-wheel drive is engaged by twisting a knob on the dashboard. You twist it again to engage a set of low-ratio gears.

The Hilux is fitted with a locking rear differential and if you hit the downhill-assist control switch it will help rein you in when heading down a steep slope. It only works if four-wheel drive is engaged and at speeds of up to 18mph.

If you intend to plough through mud then it might also be worth noting that you can switch off the truck’s VSC and its stop/start system. You can switch off the lane departure warning and pre-collision warning systems too. The latter alerts you if you are getting too close to the vehicle in front. You can increase the distance at which it cuts in so you receive the warning earlier. The system includes pedestrian detection.

Turn off the traction control and you can rock the truck backwards and forwards to free yourself from the embrace of clinging mud. Leave it on, and it may reduce power to the engine, making freeing yourself more difficult.

If the going gets rough then there are grab handles on the cab’s A and B pillars so some passengers will have something to cling to.

If you get lost while off-roading then bear in mind the onboard computer boasts a compass that will hopefully help you get back to civilisation.

We didn’t get lost, but then again we’re not that adventurous. We simply squelched across one or two sodden Herefordshire fields, up and down a steep embankment, then negotiated a couple of rutted and overgrown farm tracks. Honour satisfied, we returned to the public highways.

Operating

Well put-together with the heftiest bonnet we can ever recall coming across, the Hilux is covered by a five-year/100,000-mile warranty; comprehensive, but not quite as generous as what is on offer with one or two rivals. Isuzu’s D-Max comes with a five-year/125,000-mile package while Ssangyong’s Musso comes with a praiseworthy seven-year/150,000-mile guarantee.

The Hilux’s paintwork is covered for three years, and a 12-year anti-corrosion and perforation warranty is provided too.

Organised by the AA, roadside rescue and recovery is offered for just 12 months, which seems a little short. Service intervals are set at 10,000 miles, or annually. While that may seem a little on the short side from a mileage viewpoint too, regular workshop visits make sense if you frequently use Hilux off-road. Your truck may have sustained damage without you realising it.

Toyota quotes a 36.2mpg official combined fuel consumption figure. At 33mpg we averaged rather less, but we were probably making more use of Power Mode than we should have. A full-size spare wheel is fitted and you will find the jack and tools underneath the back seats.

Toyota Hilux Invincible X Double Cab automatic 4×4

Price (ex VAT)    £30,136
Price range (ex VAT)    £20,828-£45,916
Gross payload    1,055kg
Load length    1,525mm
Load width (min/max)   1,105/1,645mm
Load bay height    480mm
Loading height    914mm
Gross vehicle weight    3,210kg
Braked trailer towing weight    3,500kg
Residual value   31.1%*
Cost per mile    56.3p
Engine size/power    2393cc, 148hp @ 3,400rpm
Torque     400Nm @ 1,600-2,000rpm
Gearbox    6spd auto
Fuel economy    36.2mpg (combined)
Fuel tank    80 litres
CO2    189g/km
Warranty   5yrs/100,000mls
Service intervals   1yr/10,000 miles
Insurance group    42
Price as tested   £30,623

* after 4yrs/80,000mls; Source: KwikCarcost

Options fitted

Load bed protection £487

Rivals

Ford Ranger
Price (ex VAT) £20,845-£39,895
Load volume n/a
Gross payload 1,059-1,307kg
Engines 130hp, 170hp, 213hp 2.0 diesel

Verdict: The heavily revised Ranger was on the brink of going on-sale in the UK at the time of writing. It looks highly impressive. Coming with an optional 10-speed auto gearbox and an Ecoblue diesel, it delivers more power than its predecessor. 4WD and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection come as standard.

Isuzu D-Max
Price (ex VAT). £15,994,-£28,994
Load volume n/a
Gross payload1,091-1,282kg
Engines 164hp 1.9 diesel

Verdict: A rugged workhorse and our Pick-Up of the Year for 2019, the D-Max handles and rides well and has a wide choice of specifications and a comprehensive warranty. It’s pleasing that the importer has not concentrated solely on the double-cab market, with two-door single-cab and extended-cab variants on sale too.

Mitsubishi L200
Price (ex VAT). £19,550-£32,165
Load volume n/a
Gross payload 1,045-1,060kg
Engines 151hp, 178hp 2.4 diesel

Verdict: Also marketed by Fiat Professional as the Fullback, the successful L200 remains a dependable choice. An extensively reworked model will appear in dealerships towards the end of the year with new exterior styling, re-engineered 4WD systems and a new package of safety and driver assistance devices.

The Final Verdict

Design	8/10	Well thought-out package that ticks most of the boxes.
Cabin	7/10	Comprehensively equipped undoubtedly, but a little gloomy.
Ridea	8/10	Better than one might expect from a 4×4 pick-up.
Refinement	8/10	Well put together and in-cab noise levels are not excessive.
Load area	7/10	Fine as it goes, but more tie-down points might be useful.
Handling/performance	8/10	Former is exemplary; latter is too if you use Power Mode button.
Engine/transmission	7/10	Well-matched, but latter can at times sound harsh and unrefined.
Standard equipment	9/10	All the goodies you are likely to need and then some.
Operating costs	7/10	Attractive warranty, but roadside assistance should be longer.
What Van? subjective rating	8/10	A good all-rounder that is unlikely to let you down.