Every Hilux review you see on the internet will have the words ‘indestructible’, ‘unbreakable’ and ‘reliable’. Rightly so. But, I will try my best to avoid these words (where’s the thesaurus) and tell you something different. Like how Starbucks resonates coffee, Hilux resonates the three words which I am forbidden to write. This vehicle has a personality. But first, a history lesson.
The Hilux was first conceived by Toyota but engineered by Hino Motors in Japan. It’s an oldie dating back to 1968. The Hilux was a purpose-built pick-up truck for commercial and military purposes. Little did they know that a few decades down the line, we would take the Hilux on a McDonalds drive-thru for some burgers and cheesy fries. Back in the day, TopGear tried breaking this truck and if those guys cannot break it, no one can. The Hilux has been a Dakar rally winner and this speaks volumes about its off-road capabilities and tough build-quality. Enough flattery. Let’s get to the bad part.
The Hilux is a difficult vehicle to live with. The ride is always busy thanks to the leaf springs at the rear and the body-on-frame chassis. The Hilux is the Hagrid of the car world. The dimensions are so humongous that you have to think a million times before any maneuvers. And just to make matters worse, there is no 360-degree camera. Parking becomes an event. The interior is hard-plastic and not visually appealing. The rear-seats are not the most comfortable and feel like a bench. The engine sounds rough on high rpms makes its presence known. But….
You forget all of this as soon as the road ends, which will most likely be the case in a city like Mumbai. Those uncomfy leaf-springs become worth it as soon as you hit a dirt road. The body-on-frame chassis helps you thrash the car around. The no-nonsense interior makes sure that there are no rattles inside the cabin. The 6-speed MT is approachable and the clutch is light even in city traffic. The high driving position gives you all the confidence in the world. The familiar and ever-reliable (oops) 2.8 litre diesel engine is robust and assures you with its 201 hp and 420 nm in the manual spec. This is a car built with only one thing in mind: toughness. And the ability to go anywhere. That’s two things.
The Hilux will be a part of many family portraits for years. She will run tirelessly through lakhs of kilometers with no drama whatsoever. And when the weathers’ not great, she will hold an umbrella for you. She will be your friend to share countless adventures with. Camping under the stars, exploring a long-lost trail or towing a stranded vehicle. Memories for a lifetime. Sounds like a love letter for the Hilux but you get what I’m saying, right?
Indestructible, unbreakable and reliable. The Hilux.
