Thread: Hilux hybrid.4wd vs dmax ls 4wd

Originally Posted by Sauer

I don’t think you guys have much idea of what the Hilux “hybrid” system actually is. It is not that much different to a standard diesel Hilux. It effectively just has an electric motor belt driving the crankshaft on the standard diesel engine, and a small 48V battery under a rear seat to power the electric motor.

Totally different to the hybrid system in other Toyotas, and cannot run on electricity alone.

Which means that for everything EXCEPT stop-start driving in traffic the system is completely useless, and only costing you money in fuel burn and wear and tear due to the extra weight you are lugging around and that extra weight simply costs you payload. Completely stupid and ill-conceived, incompetently executed and only good for the advertising teams to spout crap at you. It is really that bad.

What Toyota should have done, was incorporate a motor assembly into the driveshaft or on the rear diff or the back of the transfer case so that the thing could be utilised to help the vehicle off the line reducing wear and tear and provide some additional engine braking ability again minimising wear and tear. As it stands, unless you are an 'urban warrior' or your job is in town in peak and stop-start traffic you are paying huge $$$ for useless weight.

Also, that small 48v battery isn't under the rear seat, it's under the rear tray and apparently has to come out to allow things like towbars to be fitted. A couple of the hybrid hiluxes have created issues with the anti-theft setup and the 48v batteries not liking being removed which stopped the hybrid system from functioning as the anti theft setup refused to play once the battery was refitted and had to be replaced/reset/farted about with to make it work again.