Toyota Hilux Double Cab - As tough or gentle as you need it to be

By Ané Theron

Why opt for an SUV if you can have a double cab that can do everything from helping your mother-in-law move out, to taking the family on trips that require ground clearance and a low-range transfer case? This seems to be the question on the lips of many South African trouser-wearers, as they all seem to be buying a double cab these days.  Retailing 3 369 units, Hilux took overall honours in February as SA’s best-selling vehicle, boosting Toyota South Africa Motor’s total sales tally to 10 264 units. This means that Toyota currently holds the title of most popular automotive brand in the country, with a market share of 22.1%.

In the spirit of adventure, we thought we’d take the subtly refreshed Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Raider 6MT to McGregor for the weekend, to see what makes it so immensely popular.

Far from the madding crowd

My fiancé and I are lovers of the great outdoors, so whenever we get a chance, we head out to hidden country gems such as Boesmanskloof (Bushman’s Kloof) with its rugged mountains, green gorges, hidden rock pools and a variety of fynbos. It’s a 2-hour drive from Cape Town and just on the other side of Riviersondered.

The N2 is all lovely and smooth (albeit traffic-ridden) up to where you exchange it for the R317 just outside of Stormsvlei, and then it all turns to gravel, and in some parts, deeply rutted dirt. Switching from 2H to 4H can be done while happily cruising along - just turn the rotary dial and keep going.

In our powder-fine dust-covered Hilux, we enter the town of McGregor late-afternoon. I immediately fall in love with the quaint farm-style thatched-roof houses with little loft rooms upstairs, some of which are over a hundred years old. We also make a quick stop at Lord’s Winery just outside town, but since wine-tasting without an Uber is not just dangerous, it’s illegal (the legal limit for wine is 150 ml, and no-one’s spitting expensive wine out), we promise the winemaker that we’d be back one day with a designated driver, as it’s a stunning venue. But first, we have to traverse a steepish mountain pass at dusk, to reach our lodging for the night.

King of the dirt

In 4H, the Hilux does a dirt road like it’s nobody’s business. My fiancé who normally drives an Isuzu single cab 250D, is seriously impressed – so much so that I nearly have to wrestle

him for the driver’s seat on more than one occasion. There’s just nothing that fazes the Hilux on this surface – it feels completely planted, stable, secure, and seems to float over the undulations. “Is this a really good dirt road, or is the Hilux’s suspension just that good?”, he asks. We stop for photos and the condition of the road is not pretty.  The Hilux scores full marks on dirt and gravel, even though it’s a bit hard and sometimes fidgety on tar. When Toyota builds an off-roader, they have many, many years of experience to utilize, and it shows! All Raider derivatives are now also fitted with stylish dual tri-spoke 18” alloy-wheels with 265-60-R18 all-terrain tyres.

Boesmanskloof sits on the other side of McGregor, and our pretty little bungalow for the weekend is on a friend’s flower farm, in-between a variety of colourful Proteas. When you open your city-weary eyes in the morning, you can rest and rejuvenate simply by gazing at the majestic mountains and into the lush valleys below. There’s only cell phone reception on the outside table next to the braai, so if you need to switch off in more ways than one, Boesmanskloof is the way to go!

Inside

A “car-like interior” is the worldwide bakkie-ambition, and the Hilux is following this trend. Some of the surfaces still feel a little less glamorous, such as the hard plastic covering the upper- and lower cubby holes (yes, there are two) and the top of the dash. The front fascia has a flowing design with upmarket glossy black accents. Clever placement of air-vents keeps everyone in the car cucumber-cool, and climate control is standard.

Toyota’s touchscreen system is not my favourite where user-friendliness is concerned. If you compare it to the brilliant system in the Toyota C-HR, it’s hard to imagine that they’re even related (but in the Hilux’s defense, it has a much-needed rearview camera). Buttons on the steering wheel are another way to access the system and its functions, and a shortcut menu is available on the small TFT screen between the speedometer and rev counter. The rest of the cabin has a logical layout, with large buttons and switches for the aircon and such, and two 12V power sockets underneath the touchscreen (there used to be only one). A singular USB port is present, but we mostly streamed music from Deezer through the system via Bluetooth on my iPhone (I did use it to charge my phone though). The system can also play a DVD.

The recent touch-up to the interior also include piano black trim in the doors and padded urethane door armrests, while soft-touch leather on the centre console replaces the previous material-covered lid.

The seats are very supportive, and covered in a durable-looking material that feels very comfortable against the skin; it has an almost velvet-like texture. If you’re travelling long-distances in your khaki shorts or denim skirt, you’ll grow to appreciate it. It can be quite painful, burning your thighs on a black leather seat that’s been exposed to the sun!

Space on the rear seat is average – my dad sat in the back with the kids during another family outing, and a few more centimetres of legroom would have been welcome. If you need a double cab with a smidge more space in the second row, you can consider the Mitsubishi Triton or Fiat Fullback.

Keeping safe

With seven airbags, the Hilux is equipped to protect all inhabitants against an impact, not just the two people in front, which is a huge selling point for families. There are Isofix mountings on the rear outer seats and all three seats in the back have three-point safety belts.

Assistance systems like stability and traction control supplement the usual ABS with EBD and brake assist, while daytime running lamps serve to make Hilux more visible. New auto-levelling LED headlamps make light work (ahem) of illuminating dark country roads, while LED fog lamps have also been added.

HAC (hill assist control) and DAC (downhill assist control) will help you up and down steep inclines, and the aforementioned rear-view camera is a must when you’re driving a bakkie. (Trailer Sway Control enhances towing safety.)

Verdict

With the latest Hilux, Toyota knows that bakkies are the default vehicle for many modern families, and they have fully catered to every family member’s needs. Features that seem insignificant (coat/shopping hooks, a cooled glovebox, a ticket holder in the driver’s sun visor) go a long way to ease your daily existence. With proven durability, a rock-solid off-road reputation and more safety features than most of its competitors, the Hilux has earned it stripes many times over. The 2.8 has enough power and torque (130kW/420Nm) for easy overtaking and towing heavy loads, and its diesel usage won’t make your eyes water (10 l / 100 km average). The easy-shifting 6-speed manual gearbox feels decidedly less utilitarian than that of its Isuzu counterpart, for example. The Hilux DC 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Raider 6MT is priced at R576 400.

All models come standard with a 5-year or 90 000 kilometre service plan (whichever occurs first). A 3-year/100 000 kilometre Warranty is included.

*Things to do in McGregor

If you’re able-bodied, the hike down into Boesmanskloof is well worth it, and offers breathtaking scenery with natural rock pools for swimming and even a waterfall. We walked about 4 km in total but having injured my knee the previous afternoon, we turned around after 2 km, afraid I may not make it back up. If you’re just in the mood to rest and relax, head over to the lodge’s own pool for a refreshing swim. If you’re a seasoned hiker, you can do the entire 16 km Bushmanskloof/Die Galg hiking trail, which ends in Greyton.

A stay at Boesmanskloof / Die Galg is extremely affordable – a romantic, double-volume chalet can be had for a mere R700 per night, for the entire place! And it can sleep the whole family too, with additional beds on the level above. For larger groups of up to 60, the main house can be booked out. In winter, you can expect a flurry of snow every now and again, so keep checking those weather reports.

Visit http://www.boesmanskloof-diegalg.co.za for more details and bookings.

If you’re keen on sitting on the stoep of a stately old Karoo house whilst you sip on a G&T with the sweet notes of live piano jazz filling your ears, do visit the Green Gables Country Inn. Walk-ins are welcome for dinner from August onwards, as they are currently renovating. http://www.greengablesmcgregor.co.za

If you’re a bit of a foodie, make reservations well in advance for dinner at Karoux. They were completely full so we can’t vouch for the food. However, they bagged EatOut’s Best Western Cape Bistro back in 2015 and the menu on the blackboard looked scrumptious. http://www.karoux.co.za