Rugged X in the 4X4 garage

• Part 1: X in the shed
• Part 2: A closer look

Part 1: X in the shed

Not long after we were handed the keys to our long-term Rugged X – the top-of-the-line variant in the Hilux range – the suits at Vic Government HQ initiated another lockdown and we were restricted somewhat in our travels. Thankfully, we'd managed to squeeze in an off-road play at Werribee 4X4 Training & Proving Ground just before the latest round of restrictions came into play.

Priced at a smidge under $70,000 at $69,990, the Rugged X is around $10K more than the popular SR5 and SR5+ variants. For that extra coin though, punters are treated to a number of factory accessories that’ll come in handy when it's time to tame hardcore off-road tracks.

Locally designed and engineered, the Rugged X gets a steel bar with an inbuilt LED light bar, rock rails running down each flank, a steel rear bar with a step for easy tub access, an intake snorkel, uprated springs, and rated recovery points fore and aft.

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Of course, the entire Hilux range received an update at the back end of 2020, with the vehicle receiving a few warranted changes. In Rugged X guise, the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine now generates 150kW and 500Nm, an increase of 20kW and 50Nm on the outgoing model. This has raised its towing capacity from 3200kg to 3500kg. The Rugged X variant is only available with a six-speed automatic transmission. No manual cog-swapper, unfortunately.

The cabin received a welcome makeover too, with Toyota adding a bigger and more intuitive eight-inch touchscreen as part of a cleaner looking dash and centre console. The touchscreen runs all modern technological niceties including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Toyota’s own myToyota app integration. And importantly for the 4x4 community, volume knobs make a welcome return. The Rugged X is also equipped with a JBL sound system, one of the better ones from the factory in the dual-cab market.

The comfortable and supportive pews are draped with leather accents, as is the gear lever and steering wheel. For frosty mornings, the front pews are heated, and the driver gets eight-way power adjustability. Rear seat passengers aren’t as spoilt, with less leg room than some of the Hilux’s closest rivals. The tub has a plastic lining, four tie-down points, a sports bar properly anchored into the tub floor, and a soft-drop tailgate.

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As part of the refresh, Toyota also gave the Rugged X a new-look grille. Engineered and designed in Australia, it features a wider mouth and was put through countless hours of local testing to ensure it provided optimal cooling, while not infringing on the advanced safety-system cameras.

Not only is the Rugged X the most expensive vehicle Hilux variant, it’s also the heaviest, weighing in at 2316kg. When you include all of the accessories equipped to the Rugged X, its GVM of 3050kg is left with a payload of 734kg – something we’ll look more closely at during our time with it, to assess just how much weight can realistically be added.

Despite its heft, the Rugged X feels quite nimble and controlled on both open roads and in suburbia – on the test tracks at Werribee on our sole off-road venture, it didn’t put a foot wrong, feeling measured and composed through all technical obstacles. Still, the suspension set-up – albeit revised for 2020 – lends the vehicle to remain somewhat stiff on bitumen.

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The traction-control system is first class, with simple activation of 4x4 and low range via the dial located within the centre console. It maintains a high level of safety too, receiving a five-star ANCAP safety rating back in 2019. Safety kit comprises of seven airbags, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and AEB.

Much like the SR5, the Rugged X excels off road, and our brief time with it has proved it to be a comfortable and capable 4x4 with a well laid-out interior and competent driving dynamics.

But is it worth the extra coin over an SR5 that is a substantial amount for a handful of factory accessories? Only time will tell.

Part 2: A closer look

After awarding the SR5 Hilux our 4x4OTY gong for last year, we were keen to put some outback miles on one and the Rugged X arrived with the intention of heading up to the Finke Desert Race in it. COVID killed that idea so the X was limited to local runs in Victoria.

As far as 1-tonne utes go, the Rugged X is a very nice place to spend time behind the wheel. The added weight of the factory-fitted steel front and rear bumpers, side-steps and model-specific sports bar seem to soften up the ride of the Hilux which is often criticised for being to harsh when unladen. The suspension tweaks made to the 2020 Hiluxes went someway to fix that but the Rugged X feels better again.

The fact that those accessories are functional makes them all the better, with the front bar containing an LED lightbar which endows the X with what must be the best OE lighting package we’ve sampled. The tow points front and rear are rated and are a positive addition to any vehicle that heads off road and even the sports bar is functional.

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Unlike most such bars, this one, developed by TMCA here in Melbourne, bolts to the floor of the cargo tub and not up on the rails. It’s a solid piece of kit that incorporates a headboard to which you can secure items or even mount a second spare wheel.

The Toyota air intake snorkel might not be the best looking one available, but it's better than none at all. Having it fitted does not change the factory 700mm wading depth.

Inside the X we loved the heated leather seats and the JBL sound system. It’s nice to get into a ute where you can crank up the tunes and not have the speakers sounding like they are held in the doors with cable ties.

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The new AV screen in the 2020-on Hiluxes is much better than the one it replaces. It’s bigger, clearer and includes a dial for the volume control. The factory sat-nav is bloody good too, plus you have the option of Apple and Android app connection to use the nav through them.

It’s great to get a new car from a manufacturer that already has many of the accessories fitted that you would normally have to get elsewhere. About the only thing Toyota hasn’t changed are the tyres, which are the first thing most buyers who want to head off the sealed road will change.

Tyre choice is very specific for most buyers so it’s probably fair enough that Toyota has left that up to the owner. The use of 17-inch wheels is ideal as it give buyers plenty of tyre choices.