My good friend Pierre, a gentleman farmer from the Anysberg area where we occasionally test bakkies, recently upgraded to a hybrid Toyota HiLux after driving a VW Amarok for 250 000 km.
Working around the peninsula while regularly travelling to his farm, he provides valuable insight into how these vehicles perform in real-life conditions.
After three months with his new bakkie, Pierre reports a noticeable decrease in fuel consumption, now averaging around 9,5 ℓ per 100 km (though Toyota claims 7,4 ℓ per 100 km is possible).
With his livestock trailers attached consumption slightly rises from 9,1 to 9,5 ℓitres per 100 km. He has adapted well to the hybrid driving style and remains pleased with his purchase.
“The HiLux excels on gravel and is pleasant to drive in urban environments. The stop-start system functions exceptionally well. However, it doesn’t match the Amarok’s comfort during extended highway journeys. The bakkie offers abundant power that feels accessible and usable,”
Pierre noted.
The new mild-hybrid HiLux represents Toyota’s effort to refine the driving experience while preparing both the vehicle and its loyal customers for an automotive future beyond the traditional petrol-diesel dichotomy. It subtly enhances performance while moderately reducing fuel consumption, an excellent first step into the new bakkie era and something of a technological showcase.
Toyota has been selling the HiLux in South Africa for 50 years, spanning eight generations. This marks the first mild-hybrid option, featuring a 4,3 amp-hour, 7,6 kg lithium-ion battery that generates power when braking or decelerating (providing 7% more output) and assists during acceleration. The system effectively eliminates turbo lag, making the bakkie noticeably more responsive than standard HiLux models.
The GD-6 48V produces 150 kW and 500 Nm, ample power for nearly any application. This model includes Multi-Terrain Select, with six settings: sand, mud, rock, dirt, deep snow and auto. It features a limited-slip differential at the rear and comes equipped with 265/65R17 Dunlop Grandtrek tyres.
The electric motor generator replaces the conventional starter motor and remains permanently connected. Drivers can customise the stop-start functionality by selecting either normal or long modes, with the latter extending engine idle-stop time when the air conditioning is running.
The new HiLux includes many safety features: six airbags, EBD, ABS, stability control, trailer sway control and park-distance control, among others.
The SUV-like interior features all the kit you want. This bakkie delivers workhorse-truck capability while driving like an SUV. Toyota’s engineers have achieved a near-perfect balance between comfort and practicality, performance and economy.
The HiLux 2.8 GD-6 48V double cab 4×4 Raider, as tested, retails from R876 600.
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