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Toyota has enjoyed fierce customer loyalty for decades in South Africa, so it's really no surprise that the Hilux continues to be the country's most sold vehicle; a whopping 26 581 bakkies have found new owners in 2018.
The Japanese automaker boasts a huge range of vehicles and continues to produce healthy sales figures for most of its models. The new Hilux range has 36 derivatives to choose from in its stable, with four body styles and four engines in the range. The four grades are S, SR, SRX and the Raider.
Favourites such as the Etios, Yaris and Fortuner find favour with thousands each month. What about the 86? The sports car found 17 new owners since January 2018.
For the love of Toyota
The new Rush has been in the local market for less than three months but has already garnered nearly 800 sales for Toyota. It's quite a feat considering its market and price.
READ: SA car sales - Hilux leads Toyota's charge in SA
The Hilux rules as SA's bakkie king and overall best-selling vehicle with only Volkswagen's popular Polo coming close to its sales figures with 48 units fewer during August 2018. It will be interesting to see if sales will take a knock in October when the fuel hike hits once again at the end of September will record-high hikes.
Janine van der Post said: "The automaker knows it has a winning recipe with the Hilux, yet it's astonishing that the bakkie continues to be a success despite stiff competition from Ford and Nissan. I have always thought that the Hilux was a proper reliable workhorse, and it's looks were not always on the fairer side. It was the epitome of tough bakkies, a vehicle well-suited to getting the job done.
"Now, Toyota has managed to tweak its styling and I have had to change my tune in terms of its looks. The Hilux has evolved into a darn good-looking bakkie while still retaining its rugged personality."
New changes include a new front design on the SRX and Raider versions while the latter also now includes a black interior design and sat navigation.
The SRX now has touchscreen audio and a reverse camera added to its specification.
There's an all-new chassis for the Cab variants while an expanded utility range has been added to the S and SR grades.
The workhorse models receive an increased safety specification and there are additional automatic transmission variants added to the range.
Customers have the choice of a 2.4 GD-6 with 110kW/400Nm or 2.7 VVTi petrol engine delivering 122kW/245Nm. GD-6 versions are mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox while the 2.7 receives a 5-speed cog swapper.
The SR double-cab offerings have been expanded to include a 4x2 ‘Raised Body’ model and also adopt the J-deck layout and black bumper exterior design, says Toyota.
In the middle of the double-cab range is a new ‘Raised Body’ (4x2) variant of the popular 2.4 GD-6 SRX Auto. The previously offered petrol 2.7 VVTi SRX has been discontinued in lieu of the 2.7 VVTi S.
