Is Hilux the best bakkie on earth? Join us as we find out.
I doubt a Koenigsegg in this colour would have made a bigger impression in the Boland. Aspects of our local population have a way with words. Especially when it comes to cars. The chirp I liked the best of probably fifty in this week, came straight off a severe ululation: “Haai m’Lannie, dissie mooiste bakkie oppie hele aarde!” Which basically means, hey sir, that’s the best pickup on earth. Trust me, Google won’t translate that!
Anyway, meet the new Toyota Hilux. Regular readers would have followed our five-year build up to this one. We first thought it’d be a completely new take on the new US market Tacoma. But when the bakkie Akiyo showed in his EV disguised look at the future a year or so later, it was clear this would be a remake. We were pretty well spot on with our scoop a couple of years back. And now, here he is.
A new Toyota Hilux is also the biggest car news of the year. Never mind, the decade. SA’s consistent best seller, this vehicle consistently outsells the next best two-to-one. Month in, month out. So believe us when we tell you that this is without doubt the most important new car launch this year. But is it ‘die mooiste oppie hele aarde?’ Well, let’s take a look…
A most significant Hilux evolution
We actually started preparing for the new Hilux in December, when we specifically requested a previous top model Legend to sign off on it as we conducted a December a road trip around the country. We wanted to remember it well so we could be best prepared for when this day came. Let’s get to it then.
Toyota tells us that this is among the most significant Hilux evolutions yet. It embraces the needs of a rapidly changing market while remaining true to the qualities that make Hilux South Africa’s favourite vehicle. So new Hilux is tougher, smarter, safer and more connected than ever.
So despite of more competition than ever as old rivals rush new models, and wannabe manufacturers race tech-rich concoctions to market in an attempt to woo apparently ever evolving customer expectations, there’s still only one King. Early new Hilux sales clearly confirm that. South Africa’s most wanted new vehicle has lost none of its lustre.
Toyota knows what its owners want
None of that smoke and mirrors matters. Toyota knows what its owners want. And it’s once again giving them precisely that. See, Toyota will never fix what ain’t broke. And least of all on Hilux. Which is probably why that big move to a Tacoma base fell apart. Instead it took what it knows best, and made it better. And believe us, far better, too.
They say it’s unmistakably a Hilux that even better delivers that famous Toyota promise. So let’s start with what you, and what our pal up top also saw first. Styling is probably the hottest new Hilux point. Even from our spot-on first sketch, some bitched. We reserved judgement. A good call. Because in the flesh, it’s pretty darned impressive.
They call it Cyber Sumo, a style that salutes technology, connectivity and digital integration as much as it celebrates Hilux strength, stability and toughness. The slimmer LED headlamps, assertive egg crate grille, angular, stronger proportions, and the rest, will test you the first time you realise that this is actually the new Hilux.
Biggest changes are inside, underneath
New integrated side steps (now where’ve we seen those before?) bring convenience. A new deboss stamped tailgate and fresh LED taillamps set it well apart from any predecessor. This one’s chunky bull bar, roller-top and the rest separate it as the Legend it is. Toyota promises that it all comes down to emphasising that Hilux Legend. But looks are a moot point. So you decide!
The biggest changes happen inside and underneath, however. Focused on utility, comfort and tech, its all-new Prado-like cabin architecture is the biggest Hilux step forward. There’s no arguing in here. Everybody loves it. The dash adopts strong horizontal feel for a greater sense of space. Well-thought out physical controls invite intuitive operation. Albeit alongside a much improved digital interface.
Elevated material quality, soft-touch surfaces and refined finishes marry with the smart, dual 12.3-inch instrument cluster and infotainment display monitors. A Prado level interior, it offers Corolla Cross levels of interface. Although it is still better than the Cross system. Carplay is for instance far easier to connect than in the Corolla Cross. And day and night versus the previous Hilux.
Has everything Hilux owners will ever want
Hilux now has wireless device charging too. But we’re a touch concerned that Toyota’s jumped to only USB C ports. What about those millions of USB A cables out there? One of few oversights. So yes, it may not be the highest tech on the market and does lack versus say a Lexus. But this is a bakkie after all. And it has everything most Hilux owners will ever want or need, and more, anyway.
Seamless multimedia functionality stretches to enhanced Toyota Remote and MyToyota tech to monitor your bakkie, locate or unlock it, schedule services and more via your smartphone. Add roadside assistance, geo-fencing and even driver scoring and vehicle health monitoring, tracking and built-in Wi-Fi functionality.
The most safety advanced Hilux yet comes with latest Toyota Safety Sense 3 Pre-Collision, Auto High Beam, Driving Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Steering and Lane Tracing Assist. The bothersome among those are happily all easily extinguishable. There’s also Blind Spot, Rear Cross Traffic and Safe Exit.
Not much has changed under the bonnet
Nothing much has changed under the bonnet. Except that the 150 kW 500 Nm GD6 is now standard and it’s also a secret hybrid. This Legend benefits the 9 kW 65Nm 48-volt starter generator and lithium-ion battery from the previous 48V version. To deliver smooth stop-start operation, enhanced driving refinement and better response from standstill.
That new chassis not only looks different. It is different. New Hilux benefits extensive suspension, steering and mounting enhancements that spread from thoroughly revised suspension geometry to better honed damping, and significantly improved and refined steering courtesy of new electric power unit versus the old hydraulic gubbins.
How does it drive? Well steering is immensely better and directional control decidedly calmer than the previous bakkie. But there’s more to it. Suspension feel, ride and stability are dramatically improved. New Hilux sits flat and solid on the road. So much so, that it no longer seems to be ‘searching for mud’ on the freeway.
New Hilux delivers greater driver confidence
More planted and predictable on the road, Hilux also retains its legendary off-road capability off it. That in spite of its inboard rear dampers and all the assumptions that go with it. It all brings far greater driver confidence. Especially on gravel. One area new Hilux does lack a little, is perhaps in performance. That versus our VBox and some other bakkies. Not that it feels at all sluggish on the road.
Then again, who are we trying to fool here? This is a bakkie after all. Its three and a half tonne braked towing ability and loading capacity are right in the ballpark anyway. Economy is, perhaps surprisingly, far better. Whereas we’d have expected to average in the high nine litres per hundred in the old one, mid eights are everyday this time around.
All in all, we’d prepared for a long time for our first outing with the new Toyota Hilux. But is it ‘die mooiste bakkie oppie hele aarde?’ Well, as far as first impressions go, we can’t argue. In typical Toyota style, it took an unbeatable bakkie, fixed what was broken and left the good stuff all exactly as it was.
Is that a winning formula? Damn sure it is! Watch for our next impressions of a far more intensive few days with new Hilux soon. – Michele Lupini.
Testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 DC Legend 4x4 MHEV
Engine: 150 kW 500 Nm 2.8-litre turbodiesel I4
Hybrid: 9 kW 65 Nm starter generator, lithium-ion battery
Drive: 6-speed automatic 4x4
Payload: 800 kg
Braked Towing: 3500 kg
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 4.20 sec
0-100 km/h: 9.80 sec
0-120 km/h: 13.60 sec
0-160 km/h: 26.71 sec
400m: 16.8 sec @ 134 km/h
80-120 km/h: 6.94 sec
120-160 km/h: 13.10 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 175 km/h
Fuel: 7.5 l/100 km
CO2: 197 g/km
Range: 1070 km
Warranty/Service: 3y 100K/9 Sercvce 90K km
LIST PRICE: R999K
How does it compare? Check with Auto's Test Data right here
