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• Toyota’s new Hilux has arrived in South Africa.
• The bakkie also receives an upgrade to its engine.
• Ford and Isuzu won’t have it easy against the new Hilux.
• For more motorsports stories, visit www.Wheels24.co.za
By now, most of us are fully aware of the arrival and local debut of Toyota’s new Hilux. The bakkie is not brand new, but rather a much revised facelift.
With a fresh new design, increased power, and improved off-road capabilities, the Hilux is now so much more than meets the eye.
Launched digitally before an off-road excursion, Toyota made sure everyone knew what was new in their bakkie, as well as how the overall driving experience had been improved over the previous model.
And while the off-road session was only there to highlight the improvements made to the bakkie’s drivability, there is much more to the bakkie that will ensure its continued success in South Africa.
It goes’?
A big talking point around the bakkie is the extra power Toyota managed to pull from its 2.8-liter turbocharged diesel engine. The four-cylinder engine now has an additional 20 kW and 50 Nm to carry the powers of up to 150 kW and 500 Nm. The latter is for the six-speed automatic model, while the manual’s torque figure remains unchanged at 420 Nm.
This is quite revealing because that 500 Nm puts it on par with Ford’s 2.0-liter biturbo diesel engine, but the Blue Oval’s engine is 7kW more powerful.
READ: A Newer Hilux: Toyota Gives South Africa’s Favorite Vehicle A Major Overhaul
Driving the bakkie off the beaten track, it is quite remarkable how much smoother power is transmitted to the tires. The articulation of the wheels is also improved, as well as the 4×4 system. Testing the bakkie on a slope with low grip levels, the new Hilux stopped halfway. With only 4×4 Low activated and the traction and stability control deactivated, the bakkie managed to find enough grip to climb the incline without having to engage the differential lock.
Before this, the previous Hilux did the same test, but fell short without its differential lock engaged. This was an indication of the improvement of the new model over the previous one. However, the Hilux was not road driven so we will hold onto a final verdict until we have that experience.
Do you think the new Hilux will be a hit at SA and why? Send us an email with your opinion.
Toyota Hilux 2021 (Charlen Raymond / Wheels24)
Reason for concern?
When sales figures for September 2020 were tallied, it was the Hilux that once again became the best-selling vehicle in South Africa with 4,252 units sold. Considering that we are in the process of recovering from a pandemic, the Hilux appears to have resumed business as usual. This “picking up where he left off” is quite revealing for his rivals because the new bakkie will find much more favor from a wider audience.
The Ford Ranger and the Isuzu D-Max are the Hilux’s closest rivals, but it would be unwise to rely on brand loyalty alone so that potential buyers won’t go for Toyota. If the previous Hilux was a popular choice, the new one will be even more so.
READ | 3000 km later – Update on the new Ford Ranger Thunder
Yes, both Ford and Isuzu will introduce new models in early 2022, but by then this Hilux will have dominated the market even more. And even when these newcomers are released, it will be a year or two before a completely new Hilux appears.
With our long-term Ranger Thunder waiting behind the scenes to test his metal against the new high-end Hilux Legend RS, we’ll be sure to provide a full report on how the two bakkies compare.
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