STRONG AND COMFORTABLE

2016 TOYOTA HILUX 4x4 2.8D

The people at Toyota know how to put together a proper towing vehicle, says Norman Gasson from Marquard. We camp with a 2015 model Sensation Devee (I was luckly enough to order one before Sensation stopped producing it), and for the past year I’ve towed it with my Hilux. I was looking for a towing vehicle with enough power for the big caravan, and after also considering the Land Cruiser, I ended up buying the double cab Hilux with automatic gearbox new for R570 000. It’s a lot easier for me to tow with an automatic gearbox rather than a manual. I’m very pleased with it. It’s not noisy, doesn’t handle like a bakkie, and it has more than enough power. I previously towed with a Hilux 3.0 diesel, but the new one’s six-speed gearbox is a big improvement on the old one. It’s also lighter on fuel. Without the caravan I get close to 10,5 ℓ/100 km. I haven’t measured it exactly when we’re towing, but I reckon it’s in the vicinity of 14 ℓ/100 km. I’m very satisfied, but that said, I wouldn’t mind towing with the new BMW X5. We like to camp at Forever Thipise to escape the cold Free State. The hot springs are lovely and there is always entertainment for young and old.