Power and pride
A drive ready for the test
THE eighth-generation Toyota Hilux (GUN125) is now available exclusively at Automart Premium.
The Hilux was at the forefront of global Japanese models that went missing in their home market when they stopped selling one in Japan in 2004.
Now that they have resumed selling Hilux in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), One of Fiji’s largest automotive company — Automart has made a commitment to bring these fully loaded high specifications models for our local customers as well.
The GUN125 Toyota Hilux Revo will strike a warning shot to those who buck the trend, those who are afraid to be tomica-nised, and those that made Japan left behind with the rest of the globe in terms of cars.
So, now that the Hilux is back after its long drought, what’s new about the newly revived truck?
Keeping it true to the Hilux spirit for almost five decades. The Hilux’s masculine design stretches out from the front, the side, and the back.
While it’s rare to see a pickup truck roaming around on the streets of Tokyo, the Hilux’s design shows that this truck is bravado in the land of anime, idols, gadgets, and small cars.
It has the heart and soul of a Japanese ‘otaku’ (taste) inside and out.
On the inside, despite its bravado looks, the Hilux is as comfortable as a Toyota Corolla in so many ways.
Judging from its Auris-styled dashboard, it’s classic Toyota comfort for five passengers and accommodating inside the new Hilux can be downright average or decent if you may.
Not too shabby but not too luxurious, at least it’s well-lavished for some country folks working hard for a living.
As a medium-sized pickup truck, the bed can accommodate up to 500kg of payload, which is not what you called a one-tonner or a half-tonner either.
But rather above average to carry some stuff for the farm or for a day off at the beach. Now that’s versatile on so many levels.
Under the hood, the Hilux is powered by Toyota’s 2GD-FTV 2.4L diesel engine that produces 150PS of power and 400Nm of torque.
Mated to a six-speed Super ECT gearbox, fuel economy is 11.8km/L based on JC08 Mode standards.
Because the Hilux has a wide reputation for being unbreakable, it comes with a highly rigid frame like most pickups have, high tensile steel sheets, specially developed crumple zones, and impactabsorbing structures.
The perfect vehicle to handle the tough terrains and challenging road conditions of Fiji.
Like most pickups, the Hilux comes with a 4WD drive system. You can switch to either 2WD, high-range four-wheel-drive, or the off-roaders’ favorite setting; low-range four-wheel-drive, at the turn of the knob.
When you engage the 4WD settings there are other components such as the active traction control, rear differential lock, Hill-start Assist Control and Downhill Assist Control — which keeps the Hilux prepared to take on uncharted territories no matter how crushing or brutal your exploration can be.
With the Toyota Safety Sense P tech, it makes it even more accessible to those who want a safe truck to drive. How’s that for explorers?