The Toyota Hilux remains South Africa's favourite bakkie by a country mile.
I know Toyota has long since stopped using the slogan “Everything keeps going right, Toyota”. But it honestly couldn’t be more apt than it is today. The Toyota Hilux and Fortuner have remained glued to the top of the sales charts in South Africa, and with good reason too.
It is almost impossible to argue against Toyota’s reputation for reliability that ensures the demand for used Hiluxes and Fortuners are just as strong as they are for brand new ones off the showroom floor.
Where Toyota score highly again is that they constantly look to improve their products in subtle ways, and this was the reason I got to spend a few days in their upgraded Hilux and Fortuner.
The Fortuner has been South Africa’s top seller for years. The range starts at R599 000 for the 2.4 GD-6 Raised Body with manual gearbox, but it was the top-of-the-range R837 100, automatic 2.8 GD-6 4×4 VX that was our adopted, slightly more mommy orientated, family car for the week.
What you need to know is the 2.8 models now offer dual-zone climate control, while our specific VX test model gets a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) with selectable view and a 11-speaker JBL Premium Audio system to drown out the kids fighting in the third row of seats.
What you do lose is the on-board satellite navigation due to the move to the smarter smartphone apps (get it?) that can be operated via the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality.
Helping ensure that your Fortuner stays in your driveway, all models feature an enhanced Smart Entry system with additional security measures.
I am not exactly sure what this means in technical terms, but in South Africa it could mean anything from a Trellidor to a Rottweiler on the passenger seat. Either way, take it, we need all the security we can get.
Heading out on the road, the familiar 150kW/500Nm 2.8 GD-6 engine resides under the hood and provides plenty go.
A six-speed automatic box is the only choice with the 2.8 models, and I for one are happy with this, and my wife was even more so. Smooth and easy is how we like it in the more senior years of our lives.
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But for the weekends when I get to play race car driver or go bundu bashing and chase my youth, the switch to a Hilux was most welcome. Like the Fortuner, you have a quite a variety to choose from in terms of models. No wait! Quite is completely the wrong word. Comprehensive is a better word.
There are 39, that’s right, 39 different Hilux derivatives for you to consider when looking to buy a Toyota bakkie. From a R316 800 single cab workhorse to the new full house, top-of-the-range 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Legend RS that comes in at R882 400 and was now towing my race car to the track like a work horse.
This is another of the strengths of a Toyota Hilux. Despite all the luxury and spec on-board, you just know it is not afraid to do some hard work and come out the other end like a miner dressed in a tuxedo.
It’s actually mind boggling how far the good old bakkie has come in terms of refinement, fit and finish. They are more like luxury cars these days.
Following this theme, on the 4×4 Legend RS that I was using you get a full leather interior, JBL premium audio system and Toyota Safety Sense (Pre-crash system, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control) safety system to go with a power-adjustable driver seat and dual-zone climate control like on the Fortuner.
Further mirroring its sibling, you get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on all models fitted with an audio system in lieu of the old on-board satellite navigation.
The towing and on-road driving part was an effortless affair thanks to the same 150kW/500 Nm 2.8 GD-6 engine found in the Fortuner. And the on-the-fly 4×4 system takes care of any off-road worries you may have.
The main rivals to the Toyota Hilux and Fortuner duo are the Ford Ranger and Everest and Isuzu’s D-Max and MU-X. They provide some competition in terms of price, value, drive and tech. But in a flat-out sales race, nothing stands in the way of a Toyota.
For more information on the Toyota Hilux and Fortuner, click here.
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