- Toyota Australia has launched a GVM upgrade for the Hilux.
- It includes chassis reinforcements and longer rear shocks.
- Payload capacity is increased by 372-435 kg (820-959 lbs).
The Ford Ranger Super Duty arrived last year and immediately reset what an Australian midsize pickup could carry, leaving Toyota with a problem it could not pretend was not there. The response is a factory-engineered Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) upgrade for the new Hilux, designed to claw back ground on payload without forcing buyers into the aftermarket.
The setup adds longer monotube shock absorbers at the rear, lifting ride height by up to 10 mm (0.4 inches). Chassis reinforcements bump the structural axle load ratings by 100 kg (220 lbs) at the front and 280 kg (617 lbs) at the rear.
More: Toyota’s Hilux Just Became A Self-Loading Dump Truck That Carries 11,000 Lbs
Depending on the configuration, the upgrade unlocks an extra 372 to 435 kg (820 to 959 lbs) of legal payload, taking the Hilux to a maximum of 1,525 kg (3,362 lbs). That is a meaningful gain for a truck that has been losing fleet tenders on spec sheets alone.
It is also still not enough. The Ranger Super Duty hauls between 1,825 and 1,982 kg (4,023 to 4,370 lbs) depending on trim, and tows up to 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs) against the Hilux’s unchanged 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs). Toyota has narrowed the gap, but Ford still has the headline numbers.
The GVM-enhanced lineup spans six double-cab and extra-cab configurations of the workhorse, leaving lifestyle trims such as the Rogue and the Rugged X out of the equation. Toyota has restricted availability to automatic 4×4 models running the 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine in regular and mild-hybrid forms, which means manual buyers are out of luck.
More: Toyota’s Electric Hilux Costs $20K More Than The Diesel, And That’s Not Even The Worst Part
The pictured Hilux is the SR Double Cab-Chassis 4×4 grade with optional accessories from Toyota’s own catalogue. Goodies include a matte black steel hoopless bullbar, a snorkel, an aluminum tray with drop sides and a set of black 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires.
An Upgrade That Undercuts Ford
The GVM upgrade package adds AU$4,000 (US$2,800) to the base price. That takes the Hilux WorkMate double-cab chassis to AU$56,490 (US$40,200), with the SR5 double-cab pickup topping out at AU$69,990 (US$49,800). Either way, it’s significantly cheaper than the Ford Ranger Super Duty, which is priced between AU$82,990 and AU$99,990 (US$50,800 to US$61,200).
John Pappas, Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, said the GVM upgrade delivers for both fleet operators and private buyers. Aftermarket specialists like IronMan 4×4 and ARB 4×4 already sell similar upgrades for the Hilux, but Pappas argues the factory-backed package has two clear advantages the bolt-on crowd can’t match: a full five-year warranty and full compatibility with the truck’s safety systems.
