We needed Park wheels. What better than the Legend?
Needing Kruger Park wheels a few weeks back, we asked around to see if any were available. ‘How about a Hilux Legend?’ Our Toyota contact asked. ‘What better?’ was our immediate retort.
There’s something solid and hearty about a big white Hilux. A third of new car owners every month can’t be wrong. Even if it’s now as old as the hills. You know what they say, if it’s not broke… We’ve had a few Hiluxes of late, to keep acquainted, but more 48Vs and GR-S models, so it was also good to be reacquainted with the flagship.
Legend. For a very good reason
It’s called Legend. And for very good reason too. Standing there in the underground airport gloom, we were instantly at ease with our steed. As if we were meeting an old friend, after a while. Considering its age, and all those facelifts, Hilux Legend still looks quite the part. Its contemporary LED head and fog lamps, that big, bold mouth and a deeper front bumper are a South African staple, no?
Maybe you get that fuzzy Hilux feeling because some rivals push their styling way too hard. Or is it just that good old feeling of familiarity. Especially in good old Boland White. Canopy and all.
Quack-quack – you should know the good old Hilux alarm welcome chirp by now – and it opens up to another familiar scenario. The premium perforated leather upholstered and piano black trimmed cabin with bespoke interior accents and panels under a black roof lining complimented by cool blue mood lighting already apparent in the underground gloom, set it apart.
A hearty 150 kW and 500 Nm, slick GD6 auto
Finger the button and the healthy 150 kW and 500 Nm GD6 fires up in another familiar tone, clacking away quietly. Upgraded 30 kilowatts and 80 Newton-metres to 150 kW and 500 Nm a few years back, that larger turbocharger and improved common rail injection mated to Hilux’s improved ratios in the familiar six-speed automatic gearbox make for a truly laid back and easy drive.
Through the late morning city traffic and onto the open road, the Legend is supple and silent, with almost no diesel clatter or fuss. Onto the open road, we’re soon reminded of that great Hilux ride. Later on over the passes, its decent road holding and fine handling qualities come through too. This chassis is surprisingly well sorted, steering feel is positive, quick and responsive and the brakes are sharp and effective too.
But where the Legend truly came to the rescue was driving on those poor pothole, or should we rather call it donga-infested Mpumalanga excuses for roads. Which it handled with extreme aplomb. Lucky for that!
Soaking up that Legend luxury
The open road also allowed a little time to soak up that Legend luxury. Good enough, we thought, to make it a worthy Lexus alternative. Hilux has been South Africa’s biggest selling new vehicle since the cows came home. That’s not going to change any time soon, either. Never mind it’s also quite capable of dodging those actual cows coming home, as we later found out!
Getting back to spec, Legend’s 8-inch infotainment is far more impressive by its well thought simplicity than most of its idiot complicated rivals ever will be. Specific buttons and knobs look after the main functions, leaving the touch screen to take care of less regular interface needs. It packs CarPlay and Auto mobile mirroring, Bluetooth with a USB and Google Maps. But we missed wireless charging.
It has all the apps though, and a radio that still has good old AM. Bravo! All controllable via the multifunction wheel to play on Legend’s fine JBL 9-speaker sound. Complete with frisbee-like dash-top speakers to add a bit more zing. The dials are bright and easy to read. Hilux even deciphers road signs to tell you the speed limit. The effective tilt-able multifunction steering however remains way short on length adjustment.
The perfect Park ranger. ‘Scuse the pun!
Once in the Park, we could not ask for a better game viewer. In fact we thought our big white Hilux was something of a good luck charm, considering all we saw those few days. Lazy and faithful, it was a pleasure to drive throughout. Legend thrived on the little dirt driving we did on where it was completely at home and even made fun of many an evil corrugation. And it parked proud outside the bungalow by night.
Trips like that make cars harder to give back and that was especially the case with our Park ranger, if you’d excuse the pun! Bragging all the executive tricks of the trade and a certain touch of class made it easy to settle into and feel totally at home with the Legend. Yes, sure, it’s nothing new and now way long in the tooth.
Yet it still dominates local new car sales month in, month out. Because Toyota still has that recipe spot on. And it’s been like that since day dot. It may not be the newest or the best bakkie out there. But that peerless and rock solid foundation of Quality, Durability and Reliability just keeps it right on the button. And that’s the winning recipe, after all. — Michele Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD6 DC 4x4 Legend
Engine: 150 kW 500 Nm 2.8-litre turbodiesel I4
Drive: 6-speed automatic 4x4
Payload: 750kg
Max Towing: 3500kg
ROAD TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 3.88 sec
0-100 km/h: 9.58. sec
0-120 km/h: 14.77 sec
0-160 km/h: 25.47 sec
400m: 16.8 sec @ 136km/h
80-120 km/h: 6.63 sec
120-160 km/h 11.91 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 175 km/h
Fuel: 7.9 l/100km
CO2: 298 g/km
Range: 1000 km
Warranty/Service 3y100K/9 service 90Kkm
LIST PRICE: R909K
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