A successful building project needs specific trades to work together seamlessly. Carpenters, sparkies, plumbers and roofers are all required to complete their tasks with precision, all while effortlessly working with other trades on site.
The WorkHorse Range from Toyota has been developed and built with this very same core value and ethos in mind. They are sturdy, worksite vehicles, built to perform in Australian conditions.
The Toyota WorkHorse Range includes the feature-packed All-New HiAce, the unforgettable HiLux and the legendary LandCruiser 70 series. A lot of tradies out there are going to be particularly excited by the HiAce petrol van with automatic transmission which has undergone a complete redesign from the ground up. The all-new HiAce impressively comes in two options of wheelbase length, the SLWB providing a jaw dropping cargo volume of 9.3 cubic metres, and the LWB taking an impressive 6.2 cubic metres of cargo. Both the SLWB and LWB are nimble and surprisingly easy to navigate on-site or in tight city driving. The equipment you can fit in the rear cargo area will make this a go-to vehicle for a vast number of trades. Plumbers and electricians needing to carry PVC pipes and conduits will be especially happy with the carrying capacity. In fact, I can think of about a dozen who are going to be quizzing me about this new HiAce very soon.
For those tradies out there, who just love their HiLux, don’t worry, Toyota hasn’t forgotten about you. The HiLux range has introduced a suite of safety features as part of the Toyota Safety Sense package as standard. Each of these work vehicles has been designed and built to make even the most challenging task easy and to further advance Toyota’s reputation for reliability and performance, and let’s be honest, the team onsite are going to love it.
The All-New HiAce
A brand-new, semi-bonnet design has completely changed the look of the HiAce and allowed the powerful 3.5-litre petrol engine to sit further forward, providing more comfort and driving stability than ever before.
The HiAce SLWB and LWB models have been designed to help tradies and businesses. Toyota has obviously done its homework in what the tradies of Australia are looking for with great little additions like internal ladder racks¹, and the cargo space is perfect for tools and equipment, building materials and can even load an Australian standard pallet through the rear door. The dual side doors of the SLWB version accept both the Australian standard pallet or the smaller Euro-sized pallets, as well as making it considerably easier to access tools and equipment.
From the driver’s perspective, the HiAce handles more like a vehicle and less like a van than its generous cargo capacity would suggest. It’s light, smooth and enjoyable to drive, and the controls, positioning and support of the seat and the visibility around the van are all impressive, while the 3.5L petrol engine delivers plenty of power.
The steering is light, and the wheel includes controls for audio, phone and the Multi- Informational Display (MID). The cruise control was easy to set up and worked well, including on both uphill and downhill sections.
Technology hasn’t been forgotten, either. There’s a 7″ colour touch-screen display, a 4.2″ Multi-Informational Display (MID), sat-nav3 and Bluetooth®,4 connectivity. Toyota Safety Sense2 comes as standard across the range, including:
- Pre-Col l ision Safety System wi th pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection
- Lane Departure Alert (LDA)
- Automatic High Beam (AHB), and
- Road Sign Assist (RSA).
The All-New HiAce has achieved a full 5-star ANCAP (2019) rating across the van range, so you have a bit more peace of mind.
HiLux WorkMate
The WorkMate has been a hugely popular choice for many Australian tradies over the years.
Offering 7 SRS airbags, steel wheels, automatic headlights and remote keyless entry, WorkMate owners from earlier years would be gobsmacked at the safety and tech features now included in this icon of Australian work utes. Airconditioning, Halogen Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs), a 6.1″ colour touchscreen display and the 4.2″ MID all feature as standard.
Not only is the WorkMate an impressive looking machine, it also offers the Toyota Safety Sense2 package as standard.
HiLux SR
Climbing into the Toyota SR Double Cab you can feel this particular work vehicle has some extra styling added to the overall look and feel, yet still has its eyes firmly aimed at the worksite.
Workmate Features
- A 5-speed manual transmission is optimised to give the smoothest possible drive using gear ratios that make the best use of available power in all conditions and ultimately places less stress on the engine Quality, durability & reliability that Toyota is known for.
- We found that the automatic 2.8L turbo diesel with the 6-speed auto transmission has plenty of go. Packing 450Nm of torque, it pulls up the hills with ease and drives exceptionally well. The engine has been developed to produce the maximum torque at the lowest possible RPM, giving it outstanding driveability off-road or under load conditions, as well as delivering power smoothly. This is excellent news for worksites off the beaten track, weekends away with the family camping or 4WDing with mates.
The suspension has been tested and configured in Australia to optimise its impressive off-road performance, even when pushing through the roughest of tracks or technical off-road conditions.
The SR’s good looks are matched with plenty of great worksite features, like the front airconditioned cooler box to keep drinks cold on blazing summer days, 60/40 rear fold seat (Double-cab only), side steps to get you up and into the cabin with ease and also make life a lot easier when strapping timber or surfboards to the roof-racking system (roof racks sold separately). Durable vinyl floor covering will even stop mud-coated size-13 work boots from trashing the footwell.
HiLux Standard Features:
- Toyota Safety Sense (TSS)2 available across the entire HiLux range, including:
- Pre-Collision Safety System with pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection
- Lane Departure Alert (LDA)
- Road Sign Assist (RSA)
- Active Cruise Control (ACC)
Downhill assist control (DAC)2,6, and hill-start assist control (HAC)2 are features you will appreciate when carrying a decent load. The audio set up will have you enjoying your fave playlist with crisp and clear sound even when you crank it up. It’s these little things that add up to create a great, worksite-ready Workhorse that is equally enjoyable to drive.
Like its stablemates in the range, there are plenty of safety and tech features, including a 7″ colour touch screen display and the Toyota Safety Sense2 range of automated safety features.
WorkMate & HiLux SR Features:
WorkMate:
- Trailer Sway Control (TSC)2 automatically uses brake and engine output to help limit trailer movement should it experience excessive sway due to crosswinds, variable road surfaces or steering changes by the driver
HiLux SR features
- Front air-conditioned cooler box to keep cool drinks cool
- 7″ colour touchscreen display
Proven In The Toughest Environments
From the incredibly long distances that separate towns, worksites and mines, to the searing heat and corrugated dirt roads, Australia is about as harsh an environment as any work vehicle could encounter. In punishing conditions Toyota has proven itself time and time again. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realise it’s the build quality, durability and reliability that has made Toyota what it is today.
If you’re a smart, hardworking, hands-on tradie, you’ll expect the same qualities from the rest of your team, including the equipment and tools you use and rely on every day. The new Workhorse range from Toyota has been built with you in mind.
For more information search ‘Toyota WorkHorse Range’ in your favourite search engine.