For many living just over our border in Botswana, Toyota provides the most compelling mobility solution. We took their flagship Hilux GR-S bakkie to the TGRSA Desert Race 1000 to learn why.
Toyota enjoys considerable popularity in South Africa but crossing over to Botswana showed even more market domination.
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Leaving Sandton at the crack of dawn, we jumped into a laden Hilux GR-S in a convoy comprising the bakkie and its long-roof Fortuner sibling, which would accompany us on the brief excursion over the border for the weekend. For the first time since before Covid-19, Botswana’s mining town of Jwaneng would play host to the only SARRC event outside of our borders.
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This means stretches of highways and national roads to Skilpadshek border gate before crossing into the landlocked country. Similar roads awaited us but the durability and ruggedness of South Africa’s best-selling bakkie proved its mettle on the less ventured paths that took us on a galavant to spectate the TGR 1000 Desert Race.
Based out of Jwaneng, the daily commutes for the GR-S required stints on dirt roads and unkept single-track paths. Under the bonnet, the tuned 2.8GD-6 turbo diesel motor accepted everything thrown at it in its stride while the updated suspension justified why this model is priced R187 800 over the entry-level 2.8GD-6 double cab counterpart.
Rutted dirt roads and sections of soft sand proved no foe formidable enough for deterring the bakkie with 4-wheel drive occasionally making its presence known upon navigating slow and technical sections. Fuel economy when returning to Johannesburg also registered just above 9 L/100km despite the enthusiastic driving and less-than-ideal off-road conditions.
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When venturing into the barren tracks towards the spectator point, the Hilux was also as common a sighting as the grazing cattle along the arid savanna. Brimmed spectator points were almost exclusively lined with bakkies, most being Toyota badged with Hiluxes and Land Cruisers spanning decades in age. This very aspect of the revered bakkie proves why it is the preferred choice for buyers in rough and rural African countries.
Toyota is a top seller locally, but in Botswana, it is outright domination. Outliers on the roads include ex-JDM imports like the Honda Fit (Jazz) which are now a more affordable alternative to the “kan nie dood nie” Hilux.
Despite being on the market for several years, this served as my first outing in a current-generation model. Expectations on ride comfort weren’t high but easily surpassed courtesy of the tuned GR suspension. That being said, the next significant upgrade that is crucial for the Hilux to successfully wear the Gazoo Racing badge would be the inclusion of disk brakes at the rear. Hard to believe a Hilux (this GR-S) costs a smidge under a million Rand now, but a journey like this justifies why the nameplate is worth every penny.
