Review: TRD Hilux 4000SL vs HSV Maloo R8 - The Battle Of The Performance Sports Utes

[JoeT]

TRD Hilux 4000SL vs LS3 HSV Maloo R8 Review

Matt Brogan & Paul Maric
20 June 2008
www.caradvice.com.au

When we decided to run two of Australia’s favourite sport utes head-to-head this week, it was bound to cause some heated discussion around the CarAdvice office.

Despite the pair of pick-ups having a slightly different application, they are still essentially the same high powered, tail happy tradie trucks that offer something just a bit above the boring old workhorse - real horsepower.

Now before we begin, remove purpose from this argument, because we well know these utes are essentially a sports car with a tray and that outright performance rates far more highly on the consideration list than payload or practicality in this instance. It’s this debate that in certain circles can start a bit of a **** fight.

You see most blokes see these utes as toys, or show ponies if you will, and more often than not will give a bit of lip to the well cut metro male for driving a ute that’s all go and show with no room to stow. But as we found out when it comes to at least one of the pair this criticism is well deserved.

Click here to continue article

Review: New FPV GT vs HSV GTS - The Big V8's At Play, Plus The New FPV F6 Turbo!

[mbukukanyau]

The Toyota seems to suck

[logansowner]

Am I the only one that things the Holden looks much nicer than the G8 GT SUT HEMI SVT or whatever the hell they are calling it?

That's a good looking cartruck thing.

[ZvetteGuy]

Originally Posted by logansowner

Am I the only one that things the Holden looks much nicer than the G8 GT SUT HEMI SVT or whatever the hell they are calling it?

That's a good looking cartruck thing.

Haa haa... that was funny... anyhow, I think that the Holden's hold the better looks of the bunch when it comes to their 'original' renditions of the Ute'... If I would buy a Pontiac G8 GT SUT HEMI SVT cartruck thing... I would look into attaching a Holden front clip to it...

[commodorecoops]

How anyone thought TRD would work in Australia is beyond me. Aurion might appeal to the odd Toyota, Subaru or Honda owner, but HSV and FPV owners are very loyal to their brands much like American truck owners. And as for the Hilux, no V8, hardly any creature comforts, handling an absolute joke, 0-100 more than 2 seconds slower than the Maloo, interior that looks like it's come from the base model, and it's just butt ugly. But unfortunately, Toyota won't be absolutely slammed by the media for this as Holden would be if they came out with crap like this...

[from oz]

When I look at the Maloo I think that if Transformers included GM cars from other markets, this would be our representative.

It's truly an awesome looking machine.

[nota]

Seeing as its not mentioned even once in the test, or in the specification list, you'd have to wonder whether CarAdvice realise that the TRD is equipped with selectable 4WD. Which along with its crewcab configuration would I think be the only possible rationale for choosing this Toyota over a traditional Aussie ute

[Butz]

The Toyota looks like the better truck with more sporting pretensions.


Not!


Is this some kinda joke? The Toyota TuRD Hilux looks ridiculous! Not even close to the HSV Maloo!

[Robert Ryan]

Is this some kinda joke? The Toyota TuRD Hilux looks ridiculous! Not even close to the HSV Maloo!

Actually both are selling very well. The TRD Aurion is not.

[Butz]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Actually both are selling very well. The TRD Aurion is not.

Where did I mention sales?

[Robert Ryan]

Photos of a Black Maloo near where I have lunch.

[Robert Ryan]

Where did I mention sales?

Your assessment of how it looks is not shared by a lot of people here. It is not a bad looking vehicle in the flesh.

[samkung]

OMG that HSV looks so much better

[Robert Ryan]

OMG that HSV looks so much better

BMW from the side.

[benroethig]

Originally Posted by JoeT

TRD Hilux 4000SL vs LS3 HSV Maloo R8 Review

Matt Brogan & Paul Maric
20 June 2008
www.caradvice.com.au

When we decided to run two of Australia’s favourite sport utes head-to-head this week, it was bound to cause some heated discussion around the CarAdvice office.

Despite the pair of pick-ups having a slightly different application, they are still essentially the same high powered, tail happy tradie trucks that offer something just a bit above the boring old workhorse - real horsepower.

Now before we begin, remove purpose from this argument, because we well know these utes are essentially a sports car with a tray and that outright performance rates far more highly on the consideration list than payload or practicality in this instance. It’s this debate that in certain circles can start a bit of a **** fight.

You see most blokes see these utes as toys, or show ponies if you will, and more often than not will give a bit of lip to the well cut metro male for driving a ute that’s all go and show with no room to stow. But as we found out when it comes to at least one of the pair this criticism is well deserved.

Click here to continue article

Review: New FPV GT vs HSV GTS - The Big V8's At Play, Plus The New FPV F6 Turbo!

...and In our next installment we'll be facing off between an Audi S8 and a Mini Cooper. They're both european cars...right?

The only thing remotely similar between these two vehicles is having a bed.