HITS THE SPOT

While there is ongoing chatter about a new Hilux being in the works, which has us subscribed to the excitement, it’s not to say that the current eighth-generation Hilux has outlived its welcome. If anything, the bakkie is still as popular as ever, boasting 50 years as South Africa’s top-selling bakkie at the end of 2023. To help keep the Hilux fresh amidst the latest offerings from the competition, Toyota recently rolled out the limited-run new Raider X, which we recently had the opportunity to test.

The new Raider X comes as a limited edition model, and there are some visual cues to help with that. Eagle-eyed observers will note the latest stylish 17” dual-tone alloys nestled underneath flared matte black wheel arch extensions with contrasting red inserts. The Raider X also has a massive model-specific grille, a louvred rear styling bar, and a leather tonneau cover concealing a rubberised load box. 

It takes a trained eye to tell the Raider X apart from a regular Raider, but those in the know and to whom Toyota has addressed this letter would appreciate the little details that make the new bakkie that much more appealing.

CONSERVATIVE INTERIOR

Unfortunately, the interior did not get any notable additions to highlight that the model is a limited-run edition. You get standard fare Hilux interior, which is a solid deal in its own right. In our experience, these Hilux interiors are solid and are unencumbered by rattles and squeaks. The bakkie still rocks traditional dials in its instrument cluster, flanking a TFT display. While that may sound old school, they feel like they are in the right place with the rest of the well-laid-out cabin. On the tech front, you can make do with a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.

ANYTHING NEW UNDER THE HOOD?

The Raider X is a cosmetic package with no mechanical enhancements. Instead, we get the tried and tested 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel unit, which is good for 110 kW and 400 Nm. Purists will be glad to hear that the bakkie can be had either with a manual or an automatic transmission. 

LIVING WITH THE RAIDER X

Living with a Hilux is a lovely affair. Besides the fact that there are seemingly too many Hiluxs on the road, I still got decent engagement from people, especially the Praetorians, over how nice it looks. There is an undeniably deep-rooted respect in Mzansi for these bakkies. The other lovely bit is the ease of living with the bakkie. As a Toyota, you know the Hilux is ready to go anytime, and you never have to worry about any warning lights. The performance was also ideal for daily city drives, considering that the Raider X targets the lifestyle segment and will likely spend more time in the urban jungle than it would out on dusty off-road trails. The high driving position also made city driving easy since it is easy to look over most traffic.

It was not all roses, though. As a family man with five kids, the rear bench lacks practicality for my needs – a typical double cab bakkie shortcoming. Another point worth keeping in mind is that despite the manufacturer’s claimed fuel consumption of 7.7 l/100 km, realistically, we found ourselves experiencing just shy of 9.5 l/100 km during everyday driving.

LAST WORD

One should not approach the Raider X expecting a thoroughbred custom off-roader. The Raider X is a cosmetic upgrade over the standard Raider GD-6 and is quite conservative. However, it injects freshness into an ageing model while the market waits for the ninth-generation offering. That said, one could always go right with a Hilux purchase, as they are capable machines with world-renowned reliability. The Raider X takes that winning formula and adds a bit of exclusivity to boot.

Report by BRYAN KAYAVHU | Images © TOYOTA SOUTH AFRICA