Fly, the beloved bakkie
The mood in the Toyota SA office must be jubilant when the local monthly sales figures are announced. Aside from a few occasions, the bestselling nameplate in the land has for the most part belonged to the famed Japanese manufacturer. That venerable Hilux pick-up never struggles to find a home. From fleet applications to steeds for the captains of agriculture and livestock trades, and families in want of a robust hauler, there is a derivative for everyone. Is the Hilux the objective best-in-class offering? Well, that will always remain great fodder for comparison tests and vehement debates around the campfire. One cannot ignore stiff competition from the accomplished Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok and Nissan Navara. Then you have the rudimentary but hardy Isuzu KBSeries. And fringe players such as the Mitsubishi Triton and Fiat Fullback. Mercedes-Benz will swindle, sorry, sell you what it describes as a
premium pick-up. Yes, there are many to choose from. But as evidenced by those sales numbers, there are many who take assurance in the reputation for reliability earned by the Hilux, bolstered by the store-on-every-corner presence of the Toyota brand. Last week the brand announced some changes to the range. Most notable is the adoption of a new face first seen on the special-edition Hilux Dakar launched earlier this year. The beefier countenance has now been grafted across to Raider and SRX models. It addresses a long-standing criticism of that ungainly underbite — a styling feature that inspired lots of amusing impressions and internet memes. This redesign will be welcomed by many indeed. And this is the extent of the cosmetic changes. There are no technical upgrades per se, just an expanded range in a bid to pander to a wider customer base, primarily in the workhorse arena. This includes a single-cab SRX with a raised body and automatic transmission in 2.4 GD-6 guise. The basic SRgrade version has been expanded, with a 2.4 GD-6 raised body manual option, which was previously only available in 4x4. Another derivative joins the Xtra-cab line: that is a middle-grade 2.4 GD-6 SRX with a six-speed automatic. Then, in the double-cab range, an entry-level S-grade model is aimed at heavy-duty tasks, forgoing the frills with a PVC interior upholstery, steel wheels and black bumpers. But arguably the biggest news on the commercial front is the reintroduction of the chassis-cab variant, offered in three derivatives: 2.0 VVTi 5MT AC; 2.4 GD-6 5MT AC and 2.4 GD-6 6MT SRX 4x4. We were reacquainted with the beloved bakkie during a stint in the double-cab 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Raider, with a six-speed manual. This model costs R601,500. It must have been the assertive face, combined with a resplendent, striking blue shade not unlike a pricey formal shirt, because a good number of fellow road users found themselves doing a double-take. As the range-topping grade, the Raider is replete with all the expected amenities. This includes a touchscreen interface with Bluetooth, navigation, a reverse camera, airconditioned glovebox, climate control, cruise control and seven airbags — including one for your knees. Operating three pedals and a shifter has become a bit of a novelty these days, with the market moving towards automatics. We found ourselves empowered to work that gear lever, sometimes provoking a chirp at the rear as that stout 130kW and 420Nm output made abrupt contact with bitumen. Things were decidedly less fun in stop-go traffic, obviously. This raises a valid suggestion. If town and freeway is your natural habitat, with the odd prospect of a dirt road, why not opt for the cheaper 4x2 Raider with the automatic gearbox at R553,600? There are almost 40 different models in the Hilux range, though, so you are bound to find whatever you seek for the intended job. It seems safe to say that Toyota’s reign in the category, from a sales metric anyway, is going to endure for a while.
Prices:
Single cab — from R253,200
Xtra cab — from R386,700
Double cab — from R385,100
Chassis cab — from R250,500