Toyota South Africa has given its ever-popular Hilux model a little facelift to keep it ahead of the pick-up pack.
Toyota South Africa has given its ever-popular Hilux model a little facelift to keep it ahead of the pick-up pack. The vehicle remains fundamentally the same as when it was introduced towards the end of 1998, but a few changes have helped give it a more contemporary look.
It has an all-new front-end styling package. New fenders, bonnet, grille, valance and bumpers provide a fresh look. Raider models feature a new headlamp and indicator lamp treatment, with sculpted headlight clusters, as well as a new striping package.
All 4×4 Raider models are fitted with 7JJX15 alloy wheels of a new design, while the new powered side mirrors on the top of the range 2700i Petrol and 3,0 KZ-TE Diesel 4×4 Double Cab Raider models have a chrome finish.
The interior styling has also been upgraded. Seat coverings are revised and Raider variants sport combination leather/cloth seat trim. Double Cab Raider models also have a new centre console. The instrument cluster on all models across the range other than the base line two-litre short wheelbase variant is of a new design. The 3,0 KZ-TE diesel 4×4 Double Cab Raider is now fitted with driver’s side and passenger side airbags to complement the safety features of the Hilux top of the range derivatives.
The model line-up remains at a total of 16 variants to suit a full range of customer needs. There is one change, however, in that the petrol engine Hilux 2700I 4×4 Double Cab SRX is dropped from the range in favour of a new variant. This new variant is the 3,0 DE 4×4 Double Cab that uses the 5L-E Toyota diesel engine with electronic injection control.
To implement these changes Toyota South Africa invested a further R27 million for revised tooling for the Hilux. With this latest investment in local manufacture the Hilux now boasts a local content of 47 per cent.
“In the Toyota South Africa line-up the Hilux accounts for 27 per cent of sales and ranks second among Toyota’s top five vehicles in terms of sales,” says Dr Johan van Zyl, Toyota SA’s Chief Operating Officer.
“Last year the Hilux outsold its nearest competitor by over 9 000 units. The popularity of the Hilux is evident in all major sub-sectors of the one-ton market as measured by NAAMSA in 2001.”
The Hilux came out tops in CAR and CARtoday.com’s Top 12 Best Buys competition, winning the pick-up section. “Toyota’s Hilux continues to top the sales charts, and it’s easy to see why. Its combination of bulletproof dependability and sophisticated engineering is unmatched on the local market,” the CAR editors said when explaining their choice.
Pricing:
Hilux 2000 SWB R109 480
Hilux 2000 R 120 915
Hilux 2000 SR R130 485
Hilux 2400D SWB R137 150
Hilux 2400D R139 735
Hilux 3,0 D-E RB R158 320
Hilux 2700i Raider RB R176 365
Hilux 3,0 KZ-TE Raider RB R198 925
Hilux 2700i 4×4 R202,760
Hilux 3,0 D-E 4×4 R207 290
Hilux 2700i 4×4 Raider RB DC R215 615
Hilux 2700i 4×4 Raider R227 170
Hilux 3,0 KZ-TE Raider RB DC R235 755
Hilux 3.0 D-E 4×4 DC R250 130
Hilux 2700i 4×4 Raider DC R295 110
Hilux 3,0 KZ-TE 4×4 Raider DC R303 410.
