2018 Toyota HiLux Rugged X (front), Rogue (left) and Rugged (rear)

Toyota has launched its new high-end Rugged X, Rogue and Rugged HiLux models that were designed and developed in Australia and are pitched at buyers who want a ute-with-the-lot and intend to give it a decent workout in demanding off-road conditions.

The headline act is the Rugged X, priced from $61,690 plus on-road costs – or from $63,690 with an automatic – and looking like no official factory HiLux seen before with an exterior makeover that includes a huge variety of mainly functional equipment.

This includes a heavy-duty steel front bar and bash plate, front and rear recovery points, LED light bar and ‘spread beam’ driving lights, heavy-duty steel rear bar with integrated step, side rock rails, snorkel, tow ball and tongue, seven-pin flat tailer wiring harness, a tub liner with tailgate protection, black tailgate handle with integrated camera, a functional black sports bar and 17-inch ‘Tough’ alloy wheels with high-profile 265/65 R17 tyres.

Toyota says the sports bar can support a vertical load of 75kg and, with multiple tie-down points, secure up to 200kg on the floor of the tub.

Of a more cosmetic nature is a revised grille design and black finish on the wheel arch and body side mouldings, wing mirror caps, door handles and tail-lamp surround.

Cabin highlights include black perforated leather-accented seats, metallic black ornamentation, black roof headliner, all-weather floor mats and a redesigned instrument cluster with white illumination and orange needles.

The Rogue also starts at $61,690 but has auto included, so the $2000 difference is found mainly on the exterior treatment, which is not quite as hardcore and has different points of emphasis – as seen with its different grille and bumper treatment, less aggressive rear graphics, hard tonneau cover (in body colour), marine-grade carpet tub liner and 18-inch ‘Rogue’ alloys with 265/60-section rubber.

That leaves the non-X-branded Rugged, which kicks off at $54,990 for the manual and also has the option of automatic ($2000). Whereas the Rugged X and Rogue are based on the SR5 HiLux, the standard Rugged is based on the slightly lower-tier SR grade and misses a few X-rated features such front recovery hooks. It also has a full steel bull bar as a key point of difference.

Toyota insists the three new hero models aren’t simply accessorised SR5 or SR variants, but proper additions to the range that spent three years in development – in both Australia and in consultation with the engineering team in Thailand – and were “fully integrated and engineered into the core vehicle” and are hence covered by the standard factory warranty.

The new equipment will not be sold separately – at least for the time being – and while there are no mechanical changes, all the extra gear adds about 200kg, which in turn reduces payload. GVM remains 3000kg, but the load capacity reduces to 748kg for Rugged X (2252kg kerb weight), 765kg for Rugged (2238kg) and and 826kg for Rogue (2147kg).

Towing capacity remains at 3500kg for six-speed manual variants, or 3200kg for the six-speed automatics.

The powertrain in question is HiLux’s top-spec ‘1GD-FTV’ turbo-diesel – a 2.8-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 130kW of power and, in the manual, 420Nm of torque. Auto adds 30Nm.

Official fuel economy on the combined cycle is quoted at 7.9 litres per 100km on the Rugged X manual, 8.5L/100km for the Rogue auto and 8.6L/100km for the Rugged auto.