ST X NAVARA/ SR5 HILUX

Maybe you should wait for the new Navara 550 with V6 Diesel 7 speed auto box.

Navara 550

G'day Turbo Lux

I can't comment on shifting from a 'lux to a Nav but I do have a 2008 auto 2.5crdi D40 Navara. Gotta say thus far (now have 55000km on the clock) it has performed very well in both off road (Vic High Country, Simpson Desert, Gary/Gunbarrel/etc Highways) and nothing has gone wrong with it. I have fitted quite a bit of after market stuff but would have done this whatever vehicle I bought (ie bar and winch, rear air locker, underbelly bash plates, 50mm lift, storage system, water watch, 2x120ah aux batteries, water tank and a few other odds and sods). I can say that the footprint of the D40 is every bit as big as the Patrol if the size of garage is anything to go by. I previously had a GU Patrol and had to rearrange my garage to fit the Nav in.
One drawback with mine is that it is a trifle thirsty returning a average of 14.5 ltrs/100km over the 55000km thus far....and quite a bit of that was towing my 1.4 tonne Kanga campertrailer.
I'm happy with it thus far but like all modern vehicles the jury is still out on longevity - but then again we also worried about that when we progressed to electronically controlled engines and that proved to be nothing to worry about at all.
For what it is worth - I my final two were the 'lux and the Nav and I finally went for the Navy because of the larger cabin space, better value for money and looks. Resale is not an issue for me as I tend to keep vehicles too bloody long to worry about such things :-)

I have a STX and clearance is an issue. I have done 20,000km without any problems yet.

I went through the same thoughts as you when buying and I figure that with the extra $ that the Hilux costs, you can spend that on upgrades with the Navara.

Good luck.

A good friend of mine recently traded his Nav STX in on an SR5 Hilux. He was happy with it in most respects (doesn't really do hard core 4x4ing), but traded it with about 40k on the clock due to clutch woes. But in an Auto this would be moot.
He has said to me that he prefers the lower end torque of the hilux, and it uses less fuel.
Have you considered the DMAX/Colorado?

Cheers Chris.

Sister and Brother-in-law's diesel D40 has given them a fair bit of grief. It's been in limp home mode several times, had DPF troubles, sensor troubles, transfer switching troubles and recently a new rear diff. It had an ironman 2" lift that didn't cope all that well with off-road duties (broke the rear leaf-packs & snapped the front struts). It now has a tough-dog setup. Clearance has been a bit of an issue when off-road. But otherwise it goes well. Huge though.

I'm keen to look at the V diesel when it's out.

What about Isuzu DMax, Mitsubishi Triton, Holden Colorado?
Why pick the 2 bottom contenders of utes.

To pay the massive money Toyota want for a Hilux for what is a very average vehicle with low towing capacity and towball weight made in Thailand is beyond me. They say ones are born everyday and lucky they are for Toyota.

I think Toyota are very wise to keep the Hilux towing capacity down to 2.25T.
Looking at the number of bent chassis on dual cabs such as the D40...in my opinion they should also be downgraded to 2.25T. In any case, Nissan are recognising the problem and now restrict the towball weight according to weight of the vehicle - at GVM you are only allowed 80kg on the towbar.
Navara specs - see page 4

Thanks for the comments everyone, planning on a test drive on the Navara next week, I'm a little concerned about the lack of space under the bonnet for the battery etc, a little concerned about the low radiator as well, however still think it is a great ute that will do everything we need it to do. I think in the end it will come down to value for money, who knows Toyota might drop the price of the Lux........but I doubt i very much!!

And therein lies the problem.
Tow capacity of the D 40 STX Dual Cab Navara is 3,000kgs with a towball download of a maximum of 300kgs.
But what do some people do? They hook up their 2.8 - 3.0 tonne van (cause the car can tow 3.0 tonne) then they add a boat to the top, outboard motor,fuel for the boat plus all the safety and fishing gear then the 80litre fridge for all the fish they hope to catch then they start on the extras we all like to take in the van but wont fit.
They end up with an excessive ball weight and more than likely over the cars towing capacity as well. Iv'e seen plenty of examples of this with all kinds of tow vehicles, not just Navaras.
No wonder things bend and break.

Also, I know there are a lot who take their Navaras etc bush bashing but to me they are not built for that so again they bend and break.
If these trucks were meant for bush bashing they would be built that way.

I took mine on the CSR but I upgraded the suspension especially to do this and we took 18 days to travel the CSR - thats about 100ks per day.
We took our time and in our group only 1 shock absorber needed to be replaced (on a Defender).

Only my opinion - probably wrong, but its mine!

Jeff.

I just went from a 2007 ML 3.2lt TD Triton ( good car except for the steering and engine computer programming issues) to the MY11 SR5 Hilux. I never liked the Navara and still dont. The Hilux does have 1 or 2 less creature comforts, but with the new model with 17inch wheels and traction/stability control, air bags galour, it is still up there with the other utes. I hope its known reliability remains with the new model. The towing capacity I think is the same as the others, its just that the others are pushing the marketing limits to rate that high ( and it seems to work ). Toyota has not gone to the smaller wound up motors so still have the low down torque missing in the smaller motors. It does have the good clearances and under protection standard but I will be looking at a 50mm lift. Navara has some problems doing lifts due to design of its suspension so do your research if going that way. As far as price goes the Hilux is only about $5k more than a Navara and I think its money well spent. I qualified for some good discounts on the Hilux which gave a drive away price of $49k which sealed the decision to go Toyota. I have now added ARB Step/tow, canopy, Sahara Bar and Snorkel. Side bars will go on when they are released to side air bag compatability. Dual battery will go in later and there is a spot for them under the bonnet. I would also advise you to look at the Triton if you want good value for money.

I just went from a 2007 ML 3.2lt TD Triton ( good car except for the steering and engine computer programming issues) to the MY11 SR5 Hilux. I never liked the Navara and still dont. The Hilux does have 1 or 2 less creature comforts, but with the new model with 17inch wheels and traction/stability control, air bags galour, it is still up there with the other utes. I hope its known reliability remains with the new model. The towing capacity I think is the same as the others, its just that the others are pushing the marketing limits to rate that high ( and it seems to work ). Toyota has not gone to the smaller wound up motors so still have the low down torque missing in the smaller motors. It does have the good clearances and under protection standard but I will be looking at a 50mm lift. Navara has some problems doing lifts due to design of its suspension so do your research if going that way. As far as price goes the Hilux is only about $5k more than a Navara and I think its money well spent. I qualified for some good discounts on the Hilux which gave a drive away price of $49k which sealed the decision to go Toyota. I have now added ARB Step/tow, canopy, Sahara Bar and Snorkel. Side bars will go on when they are released to side air bag compatability. Dual battery will go in later and there is a spot for them under the bonnet. I would also advise you to look at the Triton if you want good value for money.