Today, the Chevrolet pickup trucks we know as the Silverado and Colorado have come a long way since the original One-Ton many years ago. The Silverado is one of the most powerful pickup trucks money can buy, and the Colorado is one of the most versatile.
There have been highlight eras that explain its current styling, where the iconic pickup has been, and where Chevrolet sees it moving towards in the future. Known for its unapologetically American style and capability, here is some history about one of the nation’s favorite vehicles, the classic Chevy pickup.
The Early Days Of Chevy Pickups
The Chevrolet pickup truck dates back to 1918. The 1918 One-Ton was essentially a rolling chassis with a configurable body or cargo area, making it a versatile vehicle for hauling goods. It was powered by an inline-four-cylinder engine.
Some key points about Chevrolet pickups:
Driven by a variety of powertrains
Has gone through four main eras
Form (mostly) follows function
At the top of its class in various areas
The second-oldest pickup truck ever
Initially built for factory workers
Early Era Chevy Pickups
Early Chevrolet pickup trucks can be classified as “pre-1960s” models. The AK series trucks were produced from 1941 to 1947 and signified a departure from pickup truck to passenger cars. From 1947 to 1955, we saw the Chevrolet “Advance-design,” and rebranded GMC “New Design” with an emphasis put back on getting work done. In 1995, Chevrolet introduced the Task Force pickup, also known as Cameo Carrier, which was the first to feature the iconic Chevy small block V-8 engine.
C/K series
The era of Chevrolet’s C/K series pickup trucks began in 1960 with the C-10 and ran until 1972. The C represented a two-wheel drive truck, while K designated a four-wheel-drive truck. The K series took the lead through the 1970s and into the 1990s with the introduction of the K1500.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevy Silverado has been at the top of its class since its inception. It took over the long-standing C/K series Chevy trucks and became the golden standard for the brand. The Silverado has gone through three full redesigns and is currently on its fourth generation.
Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevrolet Colorado was introduced in 2004 as a larger, more capable pickup truck. It competes in the mid-size truck segment and offers special models like the ZR2 to compete with other brands’ off-road models. The Colorado is an economical option for those who want to drive pickups as more of a daily vehicle.
The BRABUS XLP 800 6×6 Adventure is a luxury pickup truck that pushes the boundaries of off-road exploration. Based on the iconic Mercedes-AMG G 63, this vehicle is designed for thrill-seekers who crave an unlimited journey. One of its standout features is its six-wheel design, giving it a commanding presence with a length of over 20 feet and a ground clearance of 18.6 inches. Not only does this design turn heads, but it also enhances the truck’s off-road capabilities.
Equipped with an integrated winch capable of pulling up to 9,921 pounds, the XLP 800 6×6 Adventure is ready for any adventure. Additional features like the BRABUS Carbon Powerdome, Wind Deflector, and Adventure roof rack add to the vehicle’s aesthetics and functionality. Under the hood, it is powered by a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that has been tuned by BRABUS to deliver an impressive 800 horsepower. With a rapid 0-60 time of under 5.8 seconds, this supertruck offers both power and speed. It also rides on 22-inch BRABUS Monoblock Z/HD wheels, which not only look stylish but also provide strength.
Inside the cabin, the BRABUS XLP 800 6×6 Adventure seamlessly combines luxury and ruggedness. It features black leather and Dinamica microfiber upholstery, meticulously crafted to create a refined yet rugged atmosphere. The interior is further enhanced with the exclusive BRABUS “Triangle” quilting pattern, which is adorned with contrasting red stitching and piping. This creates an interior that is both elegant and robust.
The BRABUS XLP 800 6×6 Adventure defies conventions of performance and luxury. With its unmatched power, unique design, and premium features, it sets a new standard for off-road supertrucks.
Images:
You can view all vehicles for sale from BRABUS here.
Ineos has announced that the long-awaited pick-up version of the Grenadier will be showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month. The vehicle, known as the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster, will be introduced alongside Ineos’ hydrogen-powered Grenadier, and will participate in the event’s famous hill climb.
Previously, the pick-up model was spotted during testing in extreme winter conditions on icy roads.
Autocar confirmed last year that the Grenadier’s lineup will expand with the addition of a pick-up truck. The recent sighting of the pick-up without a camouflage wrap and fitted with chunky all-terrain tires has fueled speculation that it will possess similar off-road capabilities as its SUV-styled sibling.
During previous public road testing, the Grenadier pick-up did not feature a conventional load bed at the rear. This suggests that the commercial version of the Grenadier may offer various devices and storage compartments to cater to different applications, similar to its predecessor, the previous-generation Defender 130 pick-up.
The Grenadier pick-up will likely compete with popular trucks such as the Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Amarok, both of which are expected to be updated using similar foundations next year. While Land Rover has not yet confirmed an open-backed version of the current Defender, they have hinted at the possibility, suggesting it would likely be a popular choice.
It is highly likely that the pick-up will follow the SUV’s engine options, which include six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines from BMW with outputs of 283bhp and 250bhp respectively. The addition of a pick-up bed may result in slight performance improvements and enhanced off-road capabilities due to a decrease in rear weight.
Inside, the Grenadier pick-up is expected to have a more utilitarian focus to support the demanding workload of a 4×4 pick-up. While the standard car prioritizes durability with features like drain holes in the floor and stain-resistant materials, the pick-up variant may be offered at a lower price point with fewer features and luxurious touches.
In Brazil, the highly-anticipated Ram Rampage has made its debut, providing the market with a compact, unibody pickup that shares a striking resemblance to the larger Ram 1500. The response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, as Ram reported that the initial batch of 500 pickups were completely sold out within a mere 28 minutes of the automaker opening online orders.
All 500 trucks in this batch were equipped with the Elite Pack as standard, a package typically available for an additional cost of $1,250 (6,000 Brazilian Reais). The Elite Pack includes attractive features such as LED running lights, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and a high-quality 10-speaker Harmon-Kardon stereo system.
The F-series pick-up truck has a deep-rooted and revered history in America. First developed in 1977, the F-Series has remained the best-selling pickup truck line in the United States and the highest-selling vehicle overall since 1981. The F-100, Ford’s entry-level F-Series pickup truck before the arrival of the F-150, has gained a beloved status despite its lower towing and hauling capacities compared to its successor. Florida-based company Velocity Restorations specializes in restoring and customizing classic American vehicles, including F-Series pickup trucks. After restoring and modifying an F-250 last year, the company has now unveiled a resto-modded F-100 as part of its Signature Series.
The Perfect Blend Of Old-School And Modern
The restoration process of the 5th generation F-100 model (produced between 1967-1972) involved maintaining its original look and silhouette while incorporating modern components. The restomodded F-100 is available in two trims: the standard Signature Edition and the Street Edition. The most notable design change is the integration of JW Speaker LED headlights into the chrome grille, improving illumination and visibility. The Signature Edition also features Custom BASF Glasurit paint, chrome bumpers, and all-new glass and weather seals, while the Street Edition includes vintage-inspired beltline trim, a color-matched Raptor Liner bed liner, and custom-machined exterior billet components.
Revamped Interiors And Jacked Up Performance
The interior of the F-100 retains its retro look while incorporating modern upgrades. Highlights include an adjustable classic wood steering wheel, a custom bench seat, a Velocity-exclusive Dakota Digital gauge cluster, power windows, and various machined billet components. The truck also features an Alpine head unit with a backup camera and a Bluetooth-enabled RetroSound Huntington head unit connected to a Focal speaker system. Under the hood, the F-100 is powered by a Ford Performance 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The chassis and suspension have been upgraded, including a Roadster Shop chassis, Fox coil-overs, a 9.0-inch rear axle, an independent front suspension, and Baer four-piston calipers with 13-inch rotors.
Price, Deliveries, And What’s Next For Velocity
The Signature Edition of the F-100 starts at $279,900, reflecting the meticulous craftsmanship and 14-week production timeline. Velocity Restorations is currently accepting orders for both the Signature and Street Editions, and deliveries are scheduled for fall 2023. The F-100 is the company’s fourth product in the Signature Series, following the Bronco, F-250, and K5 Blazer lines. Velocity Restorations has also teased a resto-modded version of the Ford Mustang and is currently accepting reservations for the first round of F-100s.
The F-Series pick-up truck in America has a deep-rooted history and is highly revered. Developed for the working class or blue-collar workers, the F-Series offered a wide range of design configurations and a practical and versatile vehicle. Since 1977, the F-Series has remained the best-selling pickup truck line in the United States and the highest-selling vehicle overall since 1981.
The F-100 was Ford’s entry-level F-Series pickup truck for over 30 years before the introduction of the F-150. Despite having lower capacities, the F-100 has gained popularity over the years. Velocity Restorations, a Florida-based company specializing in restoring and customizing classic American vehicles, has now restored and modified an F-100 as part of its Signature Series.
The Perfect Blend Of Old-School And Modern
Velocity Restorations
A side view of the 2023 Velocity F-100
The restored F-100 is the 5th generation model produced between 1967-1972. Velocity Restorations has made significant design changes and incorporated modern components while retaining the overall look and silhouette of the original. The Velocity F-100 is available in two trims: the Signature Edition and the Street Edition. The Signature Edition features custom BASF Glasurit paint, chrome bumpers, and all-new glass and weather seals. The Street Edition includes additional details such as vintage-inspired beltline trim and custom-machined exterior billet components.
Revamped Interiors And Jacked Up Performance
Velocity Restorations
A dashboard shot of the 2023 Velocity F-100
The interior of the Velocity F-100 maintains the retro style but has been upgraded with modern components. Features include an adjustable classic wood steering wheel, a custom bench seat, a Velocity-exclusive Dakota Digital gauge cluster, power windows, and machined billet components. The truck also has an Alpine head unit with a backup camera and a Bluetooth-enabled RetroSound Huntington head unit with a Focal speaker system.
Velocity Restorations
The engine shot of the 2023 Velocity F-100
Velocity Restorations has upgraded the mechanicals of the F-100 to enhance its performance. The truck is powered by the Ford Performance 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 paired with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The chassis and suspension have been upgraded with features such as Fox coil-overs, a 9.0-inch rear axle, and Baer four-piston calipers with 13-inch rotors for better ride, handling, and stopping power.
Velocity Restorations
Forgeline wheels are available on the Street Edition trim of the Velocity F-100
The F-100 is currently available for order in both the Signature and Street Editions, with prices starting at $279,900. Velocity Restorations aims to deliver a limited number of F-100s in fall 2023. The company is also working on a resto-modded version of the Ford Mustang.
Velocity Restorations CEO remarks, “The F-100 is the latest addition to our lineup, showcasing our team’s dedication and creativity in transforming another vision into reality. We are excited to see these trucks back on the road.”
There is nothing more quintessentially American in the vehicle universe than the pickup truck. Most of the top-selling vehicles in America are full-sized pickups, such as the Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500. Mid-sized pickups also make it into the top ten list. At the opposite end of the spectrum, ranking low on these lists is the compact pickup.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz seems to be positioned to attempt to change this dynamic, and in doing so, change the bigger-is-better world of American pickups. Does it have the image, features, and specs needed to accomplish this goal in the land of wide open spaces and brawny trucks? Sadly, it does not seem to have what it takes.
With the Santa Cruz, Hyundai is big game hunting in the largest segment of the American vehicle market with a pint-sized predator. We all know what will happen when a fox takes on a grizzly. The Santa Cruz is a marvel of pickup downsizing. It’s a beautiful vehicle with plenty of luxury, and cool tech, and is fun to drive.
J.D. Power even rated it as one of the most reliable pickups on the road. So what’s not to love? In almost every way, the Santa Cruz is more a car than a truck, and in that lies its difficulty in appealing to people who love trucks. Except for gas mileage, in the eyes of a truck lover, it’s one truck compromise after another.
Why Americans Love Pickup Trucks, And The Santa Cruz May Break Your Heart
Hyundai
A front 3/4 outdoor shot of a Hyundai Santa Cruz
American full-sized pickups are just as luxurious as any car but also strong, bulletproof, versatile, and durable (think Ford Tough). How can a compact pickup like the Santa Cruz compete with a huge luxury battleship that can take a beating?
There are almost as many reasons why Americans love full-sized pickups as there are different models. For many truck buyers, pickups are the Swiss Army knife of vehicles. With one truck, you can rule all the roads and carry all the loads. There is nothing a full-sized pickup can’t do except possibly find a large enough parking space close to your preferred entrance.
With a full-sized pickup, you can haul the kids and all their friends in the cab while hauling enough construction material in the bed to build them a tree house. You’ll have enough ground clearance and 4×4 power to go off-road almost anywhere, as well as make it safely home through snow-covered roads without ending up in a ditch. You could even connect a snow plow and blaze your own trail.
Hyundai
A shot of the side profile of a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Driving a full-sized pickup, you will not feel like a bite-sized appetizer in the land of giant trucks. If protection from wild bumpers and wilder road rage matters to the potential buyer, bigger always feels safer, whether accurate or not. When it comes to trucks in America, perception is king.
Does the Santa Cruz deliver comparable hauling capacity, off-road ability, bigger is safer perception, or have enough space for the whole gang as a full-sized pickup? Sadly, it does not. How can it compete with something almost twice its size? A stock Santa Cruz, with its slightly below-average ground clearance of 8.6 inches, is not on many lists of the best off-road trucks, while many full-sized and mid-sized pickups top those lists.
The Santa Cruz is also hurt by an impression of being underpowered compared to its larger brethren. In showrooms filled with big V-6 and V-8 pickups, the Santa Cruz’s four-cylinder engine just doesn’t provide enough perceived fire in the belly. Even the turbocharged 2.5-liter four with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque seem weak by comparison, and this weakness appears confirmed by its towing capacity.
Compared to typical full and mid-sized American trucks, the Santa Cruz feels more like it was designed for the urban cowboy and cowgirl lifestyle than people who get their boots dirty. All this does not make it a bad vehicle, and it does not mean you can’t go off-roading with your Santa Cruz, but it does seem to put it at a serious competitive disadvantage in the eyes of the typical American truck lover. The Santa Cruz is a gorgeous, well-made piece of metal, and maybe that’s why it will break many hearts. It’s got the looks but not the coveted truck oomph.
It’s A Pickup Truck That Can’t Haul Your Cargo Or Your Friends And Family
Most people in the American truck market likely view the Santa Cruz more as a compact compromise than a full-blooded, born in the U.S.A. pickup truck. The Santa Cruz, with its limited towing capacity of 3,500 to 5,000 pounds, cannot even trailer most mid and full-sized pickups. Compared to the over 10,000 pound towing capacity of full-sized pickups, the Santa Cruz feels like it’s missing that critical towing tool that makes a pickup the Swiss Army knife of vehicles. So if you want to pull anything more than smaller travel trailers or boats, the Santa Cruz is not the best truck for the job.
When most truck lovers think of a four-door pickup, they imagine a spacious crew cab with over 40 inches of rear legroom. On paper, the dimensions of the Santa Cruz’s four-door cab sound fine, with 36.5 inches of rear legroom, but one look inside sends a different cramped message. Again, it’s a case of perception. Can four or even five adults fit inside this compact truck? In theory, yes, but it doesn’t look like they will enjoy a long ride in the back.
Hyundai
A shot of the rear seats in a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Rear Seating Dimensions
Headroom: 40.1 inches
Legroom: 36.5 inches
Shoulder room: 56.1 inches
Hip room: 53.5 inches
For many American truck shoppers, the Santa Cruz’s pint-size pickup bed is likely the biggest obstacle of them all to true love. One of the reasons people buy pickups is to have the option of hauling big things around in that big open pickup bed. It really doesn’t matter that most people use their pickups to haul little more than bags of groceries on a regular basis. It’s the potential that counts. Once again, it’s the Swiss Army Knife effect.
Hyundai
A shot of the bed in a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Not that many years ago, the standard size of a pickup bed was eight feet. That’s changed, and long beds are now 8 feet or more, standard beds are 6.5 feet, and short beds are 5.8 feet. In this field, the Santa Cruz clocks in with only 4.3 feet of bed space. That’s half the length of a long bed. This is not a truck that’s going to be hauling larger pieces of furniture, big household appliances, construction materials, or even luggage for a family of four on a road trip. With its 27 cubic feet of cargo capacity under its included tonneau cover, this is a truck that does not even give you the enclosed cargo capacity of many compact hatchbacks.
Goldilocks, the Three Bears, and most American truck buyers would have a hard time considering the enclosed cargo capacity of the Santa Cruz anything other than ice-cold porridge. Again, none of this makes the Santa Cruz a poor choice for many people. It’s just one more thing many American truck customers will find missing from their must-have list.
This Hyundai Compact Pickup Truck Is Neither Truck Nor A Car
Could American truck lovers learn to love a pint-sized Santa Cruz? If sales figures are any indication, the answer is no. Even among compact pickup trucks, the Santa Cruz is being outsold. The Ford Maverick is arguably the closest competitor to the Santa Cruz. In 2022 Ford sold 74,370 Mavericks, while Hyundai sold 36,480 Santa Cruz pickups. In that same year, a total of 2,702,515 pickups were sold in America.
So the Santa Cruz garnered only 1.3-percent of that pickup market. By comparison, in 2022, Ford sold 653,957 F-Series pickups which equals about 24-percent of the market, while the Chevy Silverado got 19-percent and the Ram 1500 took home 17-percent of all pickup sales. In 2022, only two ICE powered pickups had lower sales figures than the Santa Cruz.
So the Santa Cruz does not appear to have what it will take to attract American truck buyers in droves. Smaller is probably not the answer for breaking into the American pickup market. In the future, long before 2035 and the phase-out of ICE, big pickup trucks in America will have to become more energy efficient, but it’s unlikely that will be accomplished with smaller engines in smaller packages like the Santa Cruz. That route simply won’t fly in the land of the freeway and home of big open spaces.
For the American pickup lover, improved energy efficiency will come from electrification that delivers even more horsepower and more fun per mile. Until then, the bottom line is that the Santa Cruz may be perceived as neither a typical pickup nor a typical car, and as neither fish nor fowl, it risks satisfying few people at the American truck-buying dinner table.
California-based electric vehicle start-up Telo is taking on the conventional pickup truck with its compact and highly efficient electric truck, the Telo MT1. The Mini Cooper SE-sized electric truck comes with the same practicality of a mid-size truck like the Toyota Tacoma but with a smaller footprint. Priced at around $50,000, the Telo MT1 is claimed to be the world’s most efficient electric truck on the market.
Telo was founded by CEO Jason Marks, an expert in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) who holds LiDAR patents, and CTO Forrest North, who was part of the early team that developed the Tesla Roadster and holds 15 patents in electric vehicle batteries and charging. To create the Telo MT1, the company sought the expertise of designer Yves Behar, who has worked with top brands such as Samsung, L’Oreal, Prada, and Puma, to oversee the design.
The Telo MT1’s key feature is its compact size. It is only 152 inches long, the same as a Mini Cooper SE, 73 inches wide, and 66 inches tall, comparable to the Audi Q4 e-tron. The electric truck utilizes a skateboard chassis design to maximize practicality and eliminates excess spaces. Most of the body and some of the chassis components are made from carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic (CFRP), making them cheaper to acquire.
The Telo MT1’s electric-powered drivetrain eliminates the need for a long hood, which is an essential design element in traditional pickup trucks. Instead, it comes with a flat front that has a skidplate and a raked windshield. Overall, the Telo MT1 is a game-changing electric truck that provides impressive performance in a compact and efficient package.
The Maverick, Ford’s entry-level pickup, debuted in 2021 and since then has been sold in over 120,000 units in the United States alone. Presumably, some buyers got a Maverick as their first-ever pickup, but others chose Ford’s unibody truck because it promises decent fuel economy and lower maintenance costs compared to the bigger pickups out there.
However, as the video embedded at the top of this page shows, it’s not a perfect vehicle, especially if you like to wander off the beaten track frequently.
YouTuber Overland Florida explains in the 5-minute long production that the biggest gripe he has with his 2022 Ford Maverick Lariat FX4 is the low ground clearance and low-hanging front bumper, which isn’t ideal when going off-road.
He says that because it’s an FX4-equipped pickup, it should have a higher ground clearance from the factory, seeing how the optional package comes with goodies like all-terrain tires, exposed front tow hooks, hill descent control, and skid plates as standard.
Ford released the Tremor pack for the 2023 model year, which comes with a lot more off-road-oriented features, like an electronic lockable rear differential, skid plates, and – more to the point of this article – different front and rear shocks that increase the ride height by one inch (25 millimeters), compared to the base variant Maverick.
The premium pickup is quite a desirable lifestyle offering, we find out how it handles itself on both tarmac and dirt
The Toyota Hilux legacy began around 55 years ago and the iconic pickup truck only graced our shores in early 2022. It arrived with a hefty price tag well over Rs 30 lakh even with localised assembly as a CKD kit, putting it beyond the reach of many. As such, the Hilux has become a highly desirable lifestyle vehicle. So when Toyota invited us to join them on their first-ever Great 4x4Xpedition for a short road trip, we were thrilled to get the keys to the Hilux for all of it.
What is the 4x4Xpedition?
Given its popular range of premium off-road vehicles, Toyota has kickstarted an event that would allow its customers to experience their cars to the fullest. Hence, the creation of this new experiential event, the “Great 4x4Xpedition”.
As of now, this event is not exclusive to Toyota customers and open to all who wish to participate with their 4×4 cars. In this first iteration itself, the convoy of 30-odd cars included a few Mahindras too (Thar and Scorpio N). There was even a kitted-out Isuzu D-Max V-Cross.
There were over ten Toyota Hilux pickups in our convoy, showing its popularity despite the pricing. They were all the top-spec variants which cost almost Rs 40 lakh on-road. Many joined us in their Fortuners while Toyota even brought along a company-owned Land Cruiser LC300.
What was the plan?
The route for this event would take us around 200 kilometres away from Bengaluru and into the hills. There, the Japanese carmaker had organised an off-road course that would showcase the full potential of the Hilux’s rugged capabilities.
This expedition gave us a chance to experience the Toyota Hilux pickup in a variety of driving conditions, similar to how most of its owners would use it, and more.
On the highways
The pickup is offered with a 2.8-litre diesel engine and the one we were piloting was the 6-speed manual transmission. In this variant, the diesel plant has plenty of grunt on offer, at 204PS and 480Nm. Although a manual, the torquey delivery of the powertrain made for a smooth and relaxed cruise for the 150+ kilometres of highway driving.
The pickup does offer cruise control, but there was rarely a chance to implement it given Indian driving conditions. It even gets an iMT function, but we chose to drive the Hilux as a proper three-pedal manual offering.
Thanks to its height, the Hilux has a very commanding driver’s position with a great view of the road ahead. The rear leaf springs do make the ride a bit stiff, especially for the rear passenger.
In terms of convenience, the Hilux is a fairly premium and well-equipped offering. Its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was easy to use but it really should offer wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well. As the top-spec High variant, it offered the comforts of dual-zone climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and leather seat upholstery.
In the hills
The Hilux is big, and that size is even more noticeable when you take it into the narrow hilly roads. It is surprisingly dynamic through the corners despite its long body with the spacious truck bed behind the cab. Once again, the torquey nature of that large diesel engine is plenty sufficient for overtaking even on an incline. Even when the tarmac runs out, the Hilux just keeps going undeterred.
Taking a few wrong turns meant getting familiar with the Hilux’s turning radius in those narrow spaces. Thanks to its high ground clearance, small ditches do not limit you from making room to do a full U-turn in an otherwise cramped spot.
Through the trenches
The Toyota Hilux gets 4WD as standard with on-the-fly switching. We got into the automatic variant for the off-roading course, to make life a little easier. The course was dug up specifically to be completed by the participating vehicles.
The first thing to do was to turn the drive control dial from 2H to 4-low to engage the low-range gearbox. It started off easy with a positive-side incline (the car is tilting towards the passenger side), followed by driving in and out of a deep ditch, and then a negative-side incline (the opposite of the first one). These are relatively mild off-roading obstacles that show off the car’s ground clearance, its approach, break-over and departure angles, and its overall stability.
Next was the articulation test which shows off the Hilux’s body rigidity. For this test, we had to engage the electronic rear differential lock. This ensures that there is no loss in power delivery when the system detects a lack of grip on any of the four wheels. With a little guidance from the experts regarding steering input to keep us from getting stuck, the Hilux makes easy work of this test. You can even stop in the middle and balance the pickup with only one tire of each axle on level ground.
Going up!
We kept the differential lock on for the next challenge as well – the hill climb. The gradient of the incline was approximated at 45 degrees with only a dirt path, but it’s not a problem for the Hilux whatsoever. Just pick your line of ascent and keep your foot down in 4-Low till you reach the top of the hill.
What goes up…
The last challenge required the least driver input – the hill descent. The rear differential lock was disengaged and we switched on the Downhill Assist Control (or DAC as the button’s label).
Simply feather the throttle till the ground falls below your eye line and feel the car tilt over the drop, and then take both feet off the pedals. The DAC electronically applies the brakes to make sure you descend the hill in a slow and controlled manner. You can just focus on steering it in the right direction. In the case of a long descent, while driving an automatic, it is advised to switch to manual gear selection and lock it in first gear to retain maximum vehicle control.
Through every obstacle, the Hilux gave plenty of confidence with the heavy steering and the 4WD system. It was so easy, that even my colleague who’d never done any kind of off-roading course was able to complete the course in the pickup without any hassle.
Final thoughts on the Toyota Hilux
We spent three days with the iconic Toyota pickup, covering close to 500km in total. In every scenario, from the driver’s seat, the Hilux was hard to fault. The thrust of that massive diesel engine is somewhat addictive, it feels stable at highway speeds and is relatively nimble when you need it to be. Its off-roading prowess comes as no surprise, but the actual usability across scenarios was impressive.
If there’s one thing that makes the Hilux a bit difficult to live with as a city dweller, it’s the size. Yes, it does have front and rear parking sensors that are quite helpful in tight spots and while parking, but it’s always a bit stressful through crowded city streets if you are not used to the size.
The Toyota Hilux is not a substitute replacement for conventional full-size SUVs. It’s an adventurous choice and one that many of us would like to be able to make.
