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Toyota Hilux Almost Rolls Over During Moose Test

Nine years ago, when the seventh-generation Hilux was in production, motoring publication Teknikens Varld performed a moose test that almost ended in tears. Nine years since, the eighth generation of the Hilux was put to the test. To the driver’s surprise, Toyota’s mid-size pickup was inches away from rolling over.
2016 Toyota Hilux almost fails moose test 11 photos
Photo: Teknikens Varld
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As you can see in the following video, the old Hilux was riding on 16-inch alloy wheels when it took evasive maneuver at 35 mph (56 km/h). The newcomer, however, is equipped with 18-inch wheels and performed the moose test at 37 mph (59 km/h). Notice any resemblance between the two tests?

Oskar Kruger, the test driver at Teknikens Varld, explains that the Hiluxfeels like it gets way to much grip, I was totally focused on getting the car back in between the last cones and didn't notice it until we were very close to flipping over.” By comparison, six other pickups tested during the same session fared better than the Hilux. Still, none of them made it past 43 mph (70 km/h).

It should be noted that the Hilux’s bed was loaded with 1,830 pounds (830 kg) when the test was performed, significantly less than the maximum payload of 2,209 pounds (1,002 kg). A few days after the first moose test was conducted, the peeps over at Teknikens Varld tried their luck with another Hilux. The second time around, the test driver opted for 17-inch wheels shod in 265/65 rubber. Once again, the 2016 Toyota Hilux lifted the inside wheels.

As expected, Toyota Sweden couldn’t keep its eyes closed on this development. In a letter addressed to the Swedish motoring publication, the manufacturer told the following: “We will take your evaluation very seriously, in the same serious way we do with the capacity for evasive maneuvers in the development of our vehicles.” On an ending note, Toyota's regional department also added that the current generation of the mid-sized workhorse aced the ISO 3888 standard for evasive maneuver tests.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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