Toyota’s Hilux has been freshened up for 2009, with minor styling changes and a number of mechanical revisions being made to the European version of the ever-popular work ute.

A new grille, a redesigned front bumper and new 15 and 17-inch alloy wheels round out the exterior changes, while on the inside, the updated Hilux gets steering wheel mounted controls for the stereo and trip computer and a new climate control system.

Suspension settings have also been revised for 2009, with better shock absorber valving, new bushes and double-row rear axle bearings improving ride quality and suspension durability. Braking hardware is now larger too, with 297mm discs on the front and 295mm drums on the rear of all 4WD models, while stability-control-equipped models get 319mm discs on the front.

Toyota has also injected a bit more brawn into the 2009 Hilux. The 128kW 3-litre diesel gets a 17Nm bump in torque, bringing peak twist to 360Nm. The old four-speed automatic has been retained.

There’s no word yet on whether we’ll see similar revisions being made to Aussie-delivered Hiluxes, but considering the current Euro-spec vehicle is virtually identical to the one we get over here, there’s a reasonable chance we’ll be getting the upgraded kit too.

GALLERY » 2009 Toyota Hilux