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Toyota Hilux & Prado Performance, Towing & Touring Guide
Unlock the Full Potential of Your Toyota Hilux or Prado
The venerable 3.0-litre 1KD-FTV powered the N70 Hilux for around 10 years and early Prado 150 models for approximately six. The key difference was intercooler placement: the Hilux used a top-mounted unit, while the Prado’s front-mounted intercooler provided better heat management. Toyota reflected this advantage in the Prado’s ECU calibration, giving it an additional 50 Nm of torque. Despite this, the 1KD remained conservatively tuned from the factory. With an HPF calibration alone, it can gain 40 kW and 170 Nm, while our dyno-proven staged packages offer outputs of up to 240 kW and 700 Nm.
In mid-2015, the facelifted Prado 150 replaced the 3.0-litre engine with the newer 2.8-litre 1GD-FTV. The N80 Hilux followed in October 2015 with the same turbocharged four-cylinder diesel. In the Hilux, power increased by 4 kW while torque rose by a substantial 90 Nm. Prado output remained broadly similar to that of the previous 3.0-litre engine, but both vehicles gained quieter operation, stronger low-speed torque, improved fuel economy and lower emissions. From 2015 to mid-2020, the 1GD produced 130 kW and 450 Nm and although the standard turbocharger limits its ultimate output, HPF upgrades can deliver up to 40% more power and 25% more peak torque with the factory turbo, or up to 75% more power with an upgraded unit.
In 2020, Toyota released an updated 1GD-FTV with a larger, higher-flowing turbocharger, piezoelectric fuel injectors, improved cylinder-head cooling, a more effective cooling fan, and a stronger, more rigid engine design. Toyota also revised the DPF system to address a common reliability issue. Producing 150 kW and 500 Nm, the updated engine surpassed Ford’s 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel but fell short of the V6 that replaced it. The larger turbocharger gives our calibrators greater scope, allowing an HPF remap alone to increase power and torque by around 20%. Our staged packages can deliver up to 230 kW and 750 Nm, giving this version of the Prado / Hilux platform no shortage of performance.
Released around September 2025, the N90 introduced revised styling and a belt-driven mild-hybrid generator that provides approximately 12 kW and 65 Nm of assistance during acceleration. It also replaced the N80’s air-to-air intercooler with a water-to-air system, which is less affected by under-bonnet heat and low vehicle speeds and better able to absorb temperature spikes under hard acceleration. Aside from the mild-hybrid system and intercooler upgrade, the engine remains largely unchanged from the N80. The Prado also adopted the same 2.8-litre mild-hybrid powertrain and water-to-air intercooler. Most upgrade parts swap over from N80 to N90 so the options and gains remain the same between the two models.
Legendary Toughness
The Hilux is engineered for dependable performance but increases in torque from an ECU remap can place additional demand on the factory clutch assembly. Even though Toyota has gradually improved the size and clamping force of the OEM clutch, upgrading the clutch is required to ensure the driveline remains matched to the vehicle’s new performance requirements. Our heavy-duty clutch options are designed to deliver improved torque capacity while retaining smooth, factory-like operation. We also offer more robust options for vehicles being pushed further.
Improved Efficiency
The Hilux is one of Australia’s most commonly tuned 4x4s, and as a result, it benefits from a strong aftermarket with plenty of proven upgrade options. At HPF, we work closely with some of Australia’s leading component manufacturers to target the key limitations of the platform and improve overall performance. Our staged packages are designed to address these restrictions in a logical way, beginning with our Stage 1 package, which typically delivers an increase of around 20 to 30 per cent in power and torque. From there, the range continues well beyond that, with packages capable of producing 75 per cent or more additional power and torque. The idea behind our staged approach is simple: remove the guesswork, provide a clear upgrade path, and ensure each step is a worthwhile foundation for the next.
Heat Management
All versions of the 2.8 and 3.0 litre Hilux respond very well to tuning, but the factory under-bonnet intercooler can quickly heat soak and reduce power under sustained load. Toyota’s air-to-air intercooler layout is effective from a packaging standpoint, but it is not ideal when the vehicle is working hard, especially at low speeds where airflow through the core is limited. As intake temperatures rise, the ECU will progressively pull power to protect the engine. For that reason, simply fitting a larger intercooler will not fully solve the issue if there is still insufficient airflow across the core. This is where replacing the top-mounted intercooler with a front-mounted unit really benefits the platform, as the engine’s cooling fan can continue drawing air through the intercooler even when the vehicle is stationary.
ECU Calibration
Both the 3.0L and 2.8L Hilux / Prado engines respond strongly to tuning, with moderate calibration changes typically delivering around 20 per cent gains in power and torque. For those chasing more, the real potential starts to open up with supporting hardware such as high-flow injectors, an upgraded exhaust, and a larger turbocharger. With the right combination in place, our calibrators can extract more than 75 per cent additional power and torque over standard.
We do this without intrusive wiring, cutting, or unnecessary hardware changes. Backed by decades of experience with Toyota’s latest platforms, we calibrate within proven safe limits for fuel delivery, boost pressure, and engine parameters, with power as the outcome rather than the starting point.
No two vehicles are exactly alike, which is why every HPF tune is custom calibrated on the dyno to suit your specific vehicle, its supporting modifications, and how you intend to use it.
Hilux / Prado Upgrade lInks
HILUX 2.8L 2020-2025 | ECU REMAP
HILUX 2.8L 2015-2020 | ECU REMAP
PRADO 2.8L MY20-23 | ECU REMAP
PRADO 2.8L MY15-19 | ECU REMAP
PLEASE NOTE : The Horsepower Factory (HPF) has no affiliation with Toyota and service offered by our company may impact on your vehicle manufacturer warranty as well as the fuel efficiency and emissions of your vehicle.