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This is a pretty special road test. The fiftieth anniversary edition Toyota Hilux calls for a proper look back into its incredible history in the South African market, so join us on a little journey down memory lane before we take a look at what is without doubt the smartest Hilux in those fifty fantastic years…

It all started way back in 1969 – being a 9-year old car fan back then, I remember well when the very first basic 1.5-litre short wheelbase Hilux stirred a pickup revolution in South Africa. Our staple bakkies until then, were the big Yank tanks – old Ford F250s and Chevy Fleetsides, hard, cold steel machines that sucked way too much petrol to carry not enough load at all.

Toyota had already established itself with the basic Stout as well as its Corona and Corolla-based pickups in SA, but the ‘revolutionary’ new Hilux was about to turn the market on its head and prove a shockingly brilliant alternative to those feeble oversized gas-guzzling trucks. 

The market was pretty well primed – it very much needed a cheap, economical but highly efficient pickup truck that toted an extraordinary load and that was precisely what the new Hilux offered. Toyota had done its homework and literally lit that blue touch paper – Hilux exploded onto the SA market to instantly become the pick-up of choice, rocketing to the top of SA’s LCV sales charts in its first full year on the local market…

Banking on supreme quality, durability and reliability, the more of these quaint bakkies that sold, the more the public became aware of the phenomenon and Hilux’s popularity mushroomed. Buoyed by its success, Toyota soon introduced a long wheelbase Hilux in 1972, not long before the far more modern second-generation Hilux arrived in the choice of in short or long wheelbases and 1.6 or a two-litre engines a year later

Bakkies were basic back then – simple specification and huge practicality is what it was all about – they were first and foremost tools of business and did what they were asked, and Hilux did that best of all of them to take its place right on top of the SA bakkie pile, outselling the rest and proving immensely popular with anyone and everyone who owned one.

But bakkie needs soon began to evolve and Toyota moved swiftly with the times through the life of the third and fourth generation Hiluxes. Mk 3 came in an unthinkable seven derivatives including the revolutionary first 4x4 Hilux and a new 2.2-litre diesel engine all wrapped up in typical Toyota Quality, Dependability and Reliability to deliver millions of trouble-free kilometres in every sphere of life. And everything just kept going right. Remember that? 

The fourth generation Hilux followed to herald a fresh bakkie revolution – SA’s first-ever double cab 4x4 and a five-speed gearbox, all soon followed by SA’s first 4x4 diesel 1-tonner. Then in 1991, Toyota celebrated 21 years of Hilux in SA with the introduction of a cheeky special edition of luxury specification ‘Raiders’ to grow the range to 14 models, all bristling with many brand-new car-like comforts.

The fifth-generation Hilux arrived in 1998 to once again offer all the very latest in Toyota LCV tech – Raider novelties now included front airbags and ABS braking being among its bakkie firsts, while a sound system, electric windows and air conditioning rounded off a most luxurious specification level. Latest 2.7-litre petrol and 3-litre turbodiesel helped propel Hilux to South Africa's overall top selling vehicle in 1999 – an honour it has maintained ever since.

Series 5 Hilux also set 89 SA national land speed records in a Gerotek speed fest, while also building a brilliant off-road racing pedigree as it raced to several SA off-road racing championships. All along however, Hilux made its biggest mark out there on the road, plying millions of kilometres every month – just look how many of those Series Five Hiluxes still so work so hard every day, to figure that one out.

Toyota then celebrated Hilux’s 35th anniversary with the 2004 special edition Legend 35 – so strong was demand that the initial 600-off special edition kept on going until 5 523 units were sold. Never mind that seemed like yesterday – how time flies!

The sixth-generation Hilux proved to be a vital model for Toyota South Africa – the cornerstone of the IMV Project that saw TSA’s Prospection, Durban plant become a global hub of Hilux and Fortuner production, it revolutionised local manufacturing standards to also become the first locally produced vehicle to see more units exported than were sold here, while at the same time seeing local Hilux production past the million unit mark.

That Sixth Generation Hilux played a vital role in the SA economy and while it certainly became a little long in the tooth, it clearly carried on out-selling the rest for very good reason. First facelifted and upgraded in 2008 to keep it sharp against fresh market competition, the Legend celebrated 40 years as Toyota introduced the Hilux extra-cab to plug a last hole in its rage. 

Then following another successful SA off-road racing campaign, Toyota SA embarked on a new mission as it took a couple of race Hiluxes to the Dakar, bringing back bronze as Toyota SA Motorsport became the company’s international off-road race team.

Later that year, once again in the face of mighty market challenges, Series Six enjoyed another facelift, but this time besides a new chrome smile and fresh lights and wheels on the outside, Hilux benefited a raft of cabin enhancements from a dash mounted multifunction monitor to a reverse camera and a range of new infotaiment functions.

To celebrate its race success, Toyota introduced a Dakar special edition, and guess what? Sales grew again, while Hiluxes stormed to a South African off-road championship hat-trick and Giniel de Villiers brought his Dakar racer home second in the 2013 race to prompt another Dakar Special Edition.

The next two years brought the Legend 45 to close off Series Six production in market leading style, along with another two SA Cross Country titles and two more Dakar podiums, before Series Seven arrived to see South Africa’s favourite vehicle into the next phase of its truly record-breaking legend in 2015.

Toyota has reigned unbeaten in SA cross country racing ever since, while Series Seven has broken every sales record along the way too. The initial 2.8-litre turbodiesel was joined by a 2.4 version and the venerable 3-litre V6 soldiers on. The next Raider edition brought with it a butch grille and a few extras like LED DRL headlamps and an even cleverer infotainment set-up thanks to a user friendlier touchscreen.

Nasser Al Attiyah finally brought Hilux its elusive Dakar win on its 50th birthday earlier in 2019 and to celebrate, not only did Toyota build a limited number of celebratory Gazoo Racing Sport editions, but it also added even more refinement to Legend 50 to celebrate fifty years of market leadership in this bakkie that has to be the ultimate jewel in the Hilux crown”

So, back to the here and now, this handsome blue Legend 50 not only stood me apart from the hordes of white Hiluxes in the village, but it certainly attracted the tyre kickers parked outside the pub too – not just because it is new bakkie, but also because the manne just appreciate a new Hilux!

Now far more rugged looking with that butch grille and scowl – probably the reaction to consumer think tanks that rated other bakkies more macho, the new look divides as much as it conquers, but it’s handsome none the less. Twinkling daylight running LED headlights add even more visual impact, while those protective black side panels add a certain gravity to the whole affair and those neat badges take it next level – so much cooler than those horrid old stickers…  

Step aboard and Legend 50 packs a cool blue themed infotainment with new shortcut buttons for more effective interfacing, a reverse camera, auto climate and cruise control, seven airbags, stability, traction and trailer sway controls among many other trinkets.

Packing Toyota’s now venerable 2.8GD-6 Global Diesel lump, Hilux operates in burbling, friendly big brother style with early-ten second 0-100km/h acceleration, impressive tractability and decent economy too.

No, Hilux is not best at much besides topping the sales charts every month. Legend 50 rather does it better overall and it’s the entire package that counts, from a damn decent bakkie to backup, service and client care like no other to ensure that Toyota just keeps on selling more Hiluxes than any other new vehicle in South Africa, every month, every year, every decade.

For a 4x4, the Legend 50 is smooth on the road with decent road holding and fine handling qualities, while steering feel is positive, quick and responsive and its off-road and 4x4 credentials are pretty well impeccable. 

So, there you have it, fifty years down the line, the Toyota Hilux remains the Boss of Bakkies and that is hardly likely to change any time soon. For many other good reason reasons, well beyond just the bakkie it is too. – Michele Lupini.  

SPECIAL TEST: Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 DC 4x4 Legend 50 auto

Engine: 130kW 420Nm 2755cc turbodiesel I4 

Drive: 6-speed manual 4x4

Payload:         850kg

Max Towing: 3500kg

ROAD TESTED:

0-60km/h: 4.11 sec

0-100km/h: 10.19 sec

0-120km/h: 14.85 sec

400m: 17.1 sec @ 130km/h

80-120km/h:          7.83 sec

CLAIMED:       

VMax: 180km/h 

Fuel: 8.5 l/100km

CO2: 224 g/km

Warranty/Service 3-year 100K/9-service 90Kkm

LIST PRICE: R675K

RATED:                    7