2016 Toyota Hilux vs the sand dunes of Namibia

Known as practically unbreakable, go-anywhere tool will suffice for most of the vehicles in the automotive world.

The new Toyota Hilux, though, trying to have your cake and eat it by not only remaining tough as they come, but also appeals to a wider audience by adding a more comfortable ride, more SUV-like driving experience, a higher-quality and more gadget-laden interior and a more economical engine.

It was quite brief - one with a significant dose of ambition, with Toyota aims to develop a vehicle that you can enjoy and get the most out of without having a game reserve in Namibia.

Ah, Namibia. The southern African country is the second most populous on earth (after fans Mongolia, actually) and, as such, is home to some extreme, driving isolated location and condition. You can go days could count other users gravel road without using all your fingers and toes, and you almost can not go past your thumb if you count the number of houses you pass at the same time

Easy, Namibia is our place to see if the Hilux not only as crushed as usual, but also more useful, perhaps even enough to tempt you out of the three current industry favorite letter: S, U and V.

Namibia is one of the 172 countries where the Hilux sold and one of the 110 states that the chief engineer Hiroki Nakajima had visited to find out how the 18 million Hilux buyers over the past 50 years or older to use their vehicles and what else do they want from them.

Extra usability is the answer, perhaps because buyers realize that they can combine their work with one vehicle for personal use if it made better and more useful.

This explains why, in recent years, we have seen so many new generation of more sophisticated pickup, such as Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi L200, Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok, and why people like Renault, Mercedes-Benz and Group PSA keen to get in on the action, with the new model due in the coming months.

In the UK in particular, the pick-up makes a very attractive option where the relevant company car tax: £ 105 per month for the taxpayer 40%, with an additional £ 50 for fuel use personal above. Make no mistake: this vehicle is no longer just a raw and nimble yet become a serious alternative and attractive to set established.

Hilux has long been known as the king of the breed, but its competitors have now surpassed the existing model, sold since 2004, in all areas regardless of toughness.

The suspension - double wishbones front and leaf springs at the rear - has also been revamped to wheel travel 20% larger, which is said to enhance driving comfort and off-road performance.

All other important pick-up has been addressed: the larger, reinforced cargo deck to carry the load of 1055kg, the ability to attract up to 3.2 tons (up to 3.5 tonnes at the end of the year) and a lot of different blankets locked to keep the load or perhaps goods safe from prying eyes.

Two seats Single Cab, Extra Cab four seats (they are a pair of narrow from the back seat, mind) and the five-seat Double Cab body of the most popular offered.

As for the engines more economical, it is a 148bhp 2.4-liter diesel, which replaces the 2.5 and 3.0 diesel engines found in the Hilux out. It has more torque than the old 3.0 (£ 295 ft versus 253lb ft) and a better economy (41.5mpg in its cleanest) than either of the previous engine.

There is a choice of six-speed manual or automatic gearbox and the ability to switch between two- and four-wheel drive, depending on the conditions, and the low-range mode in the second.

This machine makes the first impression as we journey begins in the small coastal town of Swakopmund. These diesel units, as we will soon find out, turned out to be like most aspects of commercial vehicles Hilux.

It's quite noisy on start-up, and although responsive - especially in the mid-range, thanks to a healthy spread of torque - it does not have a smooth silent you will find in modern diesel vehicles the most. It was good, but not quite as convincing as an alternative SUV, despite the increased suppression of unwanted noise, vibration and harshness.

As for driving in the city, Hilux vehicle did not feel too big to place, not only because of the high driving position and good visibility, helped by chunky mirror. Controls both the weighted and the clutch pedal is light and easy to use.

Urban streets paved of Swakopmund soon give way to a gravel road, which prompt the turn of a dial on the steering wheel of the rear wheel to four-wheel drive, and soon the adventure really begins with a trip in a few dunes.

Obviously, this is not something that most buyers Hilux will ever do, but after a few first impressions are generally positive about how the new model doing in town, this is the first opportunity to see whether the new Hilux is as tough as ever.

Before driving in the hills, we let the air out of their tires all weathers for about 75sec to increase their surface area to drive on the sand. Further changes that call once again right to switch the transmission of high-range four-wheel drive for the low-range four-wheel drive.

It seems like it would be easy to conquer the first steepish climbing in the hills, but as I drove back down the hill for the third time, it is clear that this is not a typical off-road trip you.

A workman should not blame his tools. Quite quickly, it is clear that you need a run-up, and some momentum to conquer any steep climbing sand dune. You set off in second gear and then quickly switch to third before giving plenty of revs to get up to the top.

Even if you can only see the sky as you reach the top, do not panic and slam on the brakes; You will only end up losing momentum to conquer the climb. You really speak from experience here. Instead, ease off the throttle but keep up the momentum so you crest the summit pretty quiet shifting into first gear you began to decline sharply steep, hill descent control Hilux use this if you do not believe your right foot on the brake pedal.

What fun, and what an impressive display of the Hilux. We handled the bumps in the Double Cab model with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, and offers smooth, precise gearchange totally van-like.

Between mound and we stay inland at Namibgrens, there are 200 miles through the Namib-Naukluft national park across the barren and the Tropic of Capricorn line at one point. The streets here are all pebbles and sometimes quite rutted, so every impression cruising largely redundant for those who drive in Europe.

What can still be enjoyed in this condition is a cabin. It's a neat compromise the function of deft and everyday usability. Leather seats are comfortable and offer good support. Of course, you do not feel like you're sitting in a van.

The interior features a pleasingly tactile control and infotainment system that would not look out of place in any major Toyota family, and harder-wearing plastic on the dashboard and door skin remind you that this is still a work vehicle.

As if further reminder is needed, Hilux put to work again the next day in a 26 mile course off-road extreme. We switched to the automatic model, which makes life easier than the manual on the hills.

Hilux easy to control off-road and inspires confidence. allows increased wheel travel for a larger dips and oblique lines should be treated, and with the calm control pedal, electronic gizmos can bring out the explorer in you. You also find yourself rocking around less in the cabin because of the impressive body control.

150 miles or more of gravel road to follow as we work our way to the capital of Namibia, Windhoek, and finally there was a decent run asphalt road, where we get the best opportunity to feel how the car-like on this trip.

Although the trip was bumpy at low speeds, it is smooth and composed at higher speeds. This is not the last word in sophistication, but it certainly does not feel like it was from a commercial vehicle. The steering wheel also has a lot of weight, even if it has artificial shades to it, but, again, it was enough to almost assure you that you are not in the pick-up.

We never get much chance to see how it handles, because the roads are almost universally straight, but Hilux seems to cede fairly sharp in the corners with gravel, and if you like to laugh with nothing loaded on the rear axle, there is a chance of the motion of the tail.

Destination reached in one piece, the journey has been revealed Hilux be the best model in its class to drive, both on and off road. Do you ever swap your SUV for one is another matter.

Obviously, are the Hilux pick-up, so it was never going to offer buyers security SUV full of luggage is built into the main vehicle, but many more may now be tempted to make a compromise, considering how many vehicles you can get your money.

More still are using the pick-up to work and know how they work will consolidate their work and family vehicle into a Hilux vehicle shape, thanks to the progress that has been made to appeal and everyday usability.

There is one interesting subplot to consider Hilux before we left Namibia, and that awaited replacement for the Land Rover Defender. The new short voice Defender pretty much identical to the Hilux: be unbeatable off-road, but with the everyday appeal wider.

Hilux and other Toyota Land Cruiser off-roader like so popular in places like Namibia not only because it is their ability to go-anywhere, but also because of their dependence. A flat tire is usually as bad as reliability problems getting (and the only problem that we see in one Hiluxes on the whole trip), and when you run a five-hectare farm in the middle of nowhere, it is welcome news. A trip to a local dealer just is not going to happen.

And if any? Everyone knows they are not wrong, but if they do, everyone here has one and parts are cheap and easy to obtain.

And that's what the new Defender compete. We've no doubt that it will be a peach off-road. But it can be relied upon? Will it be easy to fix? How easy part is coming in?

We'll find out soon but, for now, the Hilux governments around the world continue, and more people than ever before will be able to enjoy it.

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