After a number of teaser showings and an appearance at Nampo in the heart of the Free State farming community, Toyota has formally launched the new Hilux as Gen 9 and which represents the most comprehensive overhaul since the introduction of the eighth generation.
For nearly six decades, the Toyota Hilux has operated as a mainstay of the South African automotive landscape, functioning not merely as a mode of transport but as an integral component of commercial enterprise, agricultural logistics and leisure exploration.
This latest iteration, says Toyota SA, is engineered to address a rapidly shifting market landscape while preserving the core tenets of quality, durability and reliability that have underpinned its local popularity. The resultant vehicle presents a more robust, technologically advanced and comprehensively connected offering.
Toyota has streamlined the Hilux range while introducing targeted new offerings to better align with market demands.
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The SRX grade returns to the family, strengthening the value-focused segment. Available in 2.8 GD-6 RB SRX 6AT and 2.8 GD-6 4x4 SRX 6AT configurations.The Raider continues as the versatile all-rounder, bridging work and lifestyle applications. Offered as 2.8 GD-6 RB Raider 6AT and 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Raider 6AT.The new Raider X introduces enhanced technology and advanced safety systems. Available in 2.8 GD-6 RB Raider X 6AT and 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Raider X 6AT.
The flagship Legend grade represents the pinnacle of refinement and innovation. It introduces Mild Hybrid technology featuring a 48-volt system with an 8,5 kW/65 Nm electric motor generator, lithium-ion battery and DC/DC converter, delivering smoother stop-start operation and improved responsiveness from standstill. Available as 2.8 GD-6 RB Legend 6AT MHEV and 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Legend 6AT MHEV.
Exterior colour options include Chromium Silver, Arizona Red, Oxide Bronze, Glacier Silver, White Pearl, Attitude Black, Desert Gold Metallic and Ash Grey.
The exterior design language is guided by what Toyota terms the ‘Cyber Sumo’ philosophy, so the front-end treatment features slimmer LED headlamps, a more assertive grille and revised visual proportions. Practicality remains paramount, with integrated access steps incorporated at the rear to facilitate cargo loading.
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The cabin, however, has undergone a more profound transformation. A new horizontal dashboard layout enhances spatial perception and ergonomics, with physical controls retained for intuitive operation under demanding conditions. Material quality has been elevated across the range, with premium grades featuring new upholstery and soft-touch surfaces.
Higher specification models introduce a fully digital 12,3-inch instrument cluster paired with a 12,3-inch infotainment display, offering a highly configurable digital environment. Multiple USB-C charging points are provided throughout the cabin, ensuring connectivity for all occupants.
A significant advancement lies in the vehicle’s comprehensive connected ecosystem. Through the Toyota Remote and MyToyota applications, owners can remotely monitor vehicle status, lock and unlock doors, locate their vehicle, schedule servicing and receive maintenance notifications. The system incorporates roadside assistance access, geo-fencing, driver scoring, vehicle health monitoring and tracking capabilities. Built-in WiFi functionality further enhances connectivity for both business and leisure applications.
The new Hilux also introduces the most advanced suite of driver-assistance technologies ever offered on the model. Selected grades are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3, which includes enhanced Pre-Collision functionality capable of detecting vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, alongside Emergency Steering Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beam and Proactive Driving Assist. For the first time, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist technologies are available.
Security enhancements are particularly pertinent to the South African context. The introduction of Ultra Wide Band technology on Smart Entry-equipped models accurately measures the distance between the vehicle and the key to prevent relay attacks, while a redesigned gear-lock system provides an additional layer of anti-theft protection.
Extensive customer feedback informed significant revisions to the suspension, steering and mounting systems. Engineers focused on improving vehicle behaviour on gravel roads, a critical requirement for local operators. Revised suspension geometry, enhanced damping characteristics and refined steering calibration deliver greater composure and stability on loose surfaces, providing increased driver confidence at speed and improved directional control through corners.
Electric Power Steering offers lighter low-speed manoeuvrability and reduced driver fatigue. Modifications to cabin and engine mounting systems have reduced vibration and noise intrusion, resulting in a more refined driving experience.
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The Hilux lineage commenced in 1968, evolving from a compact utility vehicle into a globally recognised pickup benchmark. Across eight generational shifts, it has consistently adapted to evolving consumer demands while adhering to its foundational brief: providing dependable mobility under the most challenging operational parameters.
While the Hilux retains its position as a market leader, the competitive dynamics of the one-ton segment have intensified considerably, with established competitors introducing new products and emerging manufacturers offering technology-rich alternatives. Concurrently, customer expectations have undergone a marked evolution.
Today’s buyers seek advanced safety systems, seamless connectivity, enhanced interior comfort and sophisticated driver-assistance technologies alongside traditional durability. The proliferation of lifestyle-oriented double-cab ownership has accelerated these demands, with customers requiring a vehicle capable of accommodating rigorous work duties during the week and serving as a family conveyance at weekends.
Pricing
Xtra Cab:
- 2.8 GD-6 RB Raider X 6AT – R751 800
- 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Raider X 6AT – R842 200
Double Cab:
- 2.8 GD-6 RB SRX 6AT – R658 500
- 2.8 GD-6 4x4 SRX 6AT – R746 100
- 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Raider 6AT – R892 900
- 2.8 GD-6 RB Legend 6AT MHEV – R945 500
- 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Legend 6AT MHEV – R999 900
Pricing for the ninth-generation Hilux Single Cab models and the 2.8 GD-6 RB Raider 6AT will be announced in the third quarter.
The new Hilux is supported by a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 9-services/90 000 km service plan, with service intervals set at 10 000 km. The Mild Hybrid battery in the Legend grade is covered by an 8-year/160 000 km warranty.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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