55 Years of South Africa’s most trusted bakkie.
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55 Years of South Africa’s most trusted bakkie.
Through countless shapes and sizes, the Hilux story has morphed into a culture within South Africa. Back in 1969, Toyota saw our harsh and unforgiving terrain as the perfect environment to test its bold new idea. That idea was the Hilux. Since then, it has proven to be a dependable workhorse that many South Africans have trusted with their businesses, farms, and families. To celebrate its local heritage, Toyota introduced the Legend 55, a vehicle that is no ordinary Hilux.
Explaining what a Hilux means to so many South Africans is like attempting to explain rugby to someone who’s never watched a Test match. It’s ingrained in who South Africans are. It’s a way of life… It’s something we can understand, sometimes on a deep, emotional level. But above all, the Hilux is known for its reliability.
Visually, the Legend 55’s exterior builds on the Raider’s styling but adds plenty of sophistication. And no, it’s not a GR-Sport either, instead bringing a more mature and refined air. You’ll notice the black arch cladding, a branded sports bar, a protective front bashplate, a lockable rolling shutter and striking 18-inch alloy wheels that look good both in the city and on the rocky trails.
Behind the wheel, you do get a sense that the Hilux is a well-thought-out vehicle with a driving feel that is intuitive and predictable, an aspect that’s clearly been honed over five and a half decades. At the heart of the Legend 55 lives the familiar and formidable 2.8-litre GD-6 turbodiesel engine, trusted for its dependable performance and durability, with its bulletproof 6-speed transmission. Although it looks more mature, it still loves rough terrain. A low-range gearbox and a rear locking diff sit underneath, as you might expect, and it happily climbs over obstacles.
The only feature that plagues the Hilux is its firm ride at the rear. If used to load items, the firm rear end offers a smooth quality when loaded, but if we’re honest, most South Africans buy a Hilux for its dependable reputation, which is fantastic if you farm or regularly transport loads, but the reality is that many owners primarily use it for school runs and daily outings. Yes, the Legend 55 does slightly soften the rear shocks, improving on-road stability and comfort, but it’s nonetheless firm.
Step inside, and the Hilux’s updated character shows in a few places. The updated 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system offers ease of use and connectivity while remaining true to what Hilux owners love. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are built in, with audio played through a crisp nine-speaker JBL sound system. Since the Legend 55 is a limited edition, its sports seats naturally have the appropriate Legend 55 embroidery. And while offering refinement, the cabin space is designed with long-term durability and future resale value in mind, and is built using high-quality, hard-wearing materials that won’t be prone to wear and tear.
There does, however, remain a sense of age to the interior, especially around the reversing camera quality and the gear selector. It works fine, but it’s still behind the competition. Yes, there is an argument that it’s built to be a mature rough-and-tumble vehicle, so modernised touches aren’t needed, but the standard has changed, and making the cabin a touch more modern and “pretty” can’t do it any harm. But I guess we can wait for the new generation that’s fast approaching.
When it comes to the Hilux Legend 55’s price of R945,300, it seems like a hefty bill to foot, especially considering the Ford Ranger Tremor’s R1m price tag. Then again, there’s that formidable resale value that comes standard with a Hilux…
Also, not many Hilux owners will replace their Hilux with a Ford Ranger or Isuzu D-Max but rather upgrade from a Raider to a Legend 55, GR Sport, or Land Cruiser. So it is priced well. They will sell. It also provides the Hilux range with a more refined offering while retaining the characteristic Hilux DNA.
The Legend 55 is a tribute to the Hilux story. It’s South African, built to endure our environments and demands with exclusive touches that honour its local journey. It’s a bakkie with impressive build quality and proven technology that oozes self-assurance on and off the road. It’s rugged and dependable, with a substantial price tag, but at the end of the day, it’s an ode to 55 years of this legend, and some would even say, “It’s not just a bakkie… It’s a Hilux.”
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