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More than a million units of South Africa’s best-loved bakkie have been sold and Melinda Ferguson got to test the Toyota Hilux Legend 50, to celebrate five decades in the country, zipping through four countries in three days.
Toyota Hilux Legend 50
Single Cab
2.8 GD-6 4x2 manual R472 000
Toyota Hilux GR-Sport
2.8 GD-6 4x4 automatic
R707 400
....-
I recently received a rather cryptic invitation to the launch of the Toyota Hilux Legend 50, to celebrate five decades as South Africa’s most loved bakkie, which simply said: “Bring your passport, destination to be revealed ... ”
Being a gung-ho adventure kind of girl, I packed my Tims, my camo jeans and stopped at the pharmacy to stock up on mosquito repellant. Just in case.
Our “unknown destination” turned out to be a four-country, three-day trip through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia – courtesy of Mzansi’s most successful car maker.
But my bush adventure was far from roughing it. First up after landing at Kasane in Botswana, we headed off in a fleet of tough new Legend 50s for an overnighter at the three-star Safari Lodge in the legendary Chobe National Park up north.
Close to the Okavango Swamps, Chobe is renowned for its wealth of elephants and buffaloes.
It is regarded as one of the world’s best wildlife destinations. As we set off on a sunset boat trip on the Chobe River, the river bank was teeming with crocodiles and game.
Sipping on cocktails and chomping canapés, I had to constantly remind myself we were there to test-drive a bakkie.
The following day we crossed into Zimbabwe where I finally got to feel out the two derivatives on launch – the Hilux Legend 50 2.8 GD-6 4x4 manual double cab and the much-anticipated limited edition Hilux GR-Sport. (GR stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsports muscle.)
Although the GR-Sport is a truly limited edition – only 600 units have been built – there’s plenty to choose from in the Legend 50 package which has been applied to all Raider models in the way of Single, Xtra and Double cab.
I favoured the limited edition 2.8 GD-6 turbo diesel GR-Sport, impressed with its six-speed automatic gearbox, facilitating 130Kw of power and a very respectable 450Nm of torque.
The GR Sport lapped up some pretty rough gravel and pot-holed roads, with ease.
The DNA of the Hilux GR’s upgrades centre on the bespoke Gazoo Racing suspension and some pretty cool cosmetic enhancements.
According to the techies, improved suspension is due to the spring rates at the front being increased with revised damping, which facilitates a much sportier ride.
Looks-wise, the GR-Sport stands out with its black bonnet and roof and in-your-face Gazoo Racing branding plus red, white and black decals.
The front grille is big and beefy, with a gloss black finish, brandishing the GR badge. The 17-inch alloys, shod with 265/65 all-terrain tyres, add to its overall tough off-road vibes.
Inside, forget about the bare old bakkie vibes. Premium leather seats, complemented by red stitching make it a comfy ride, with plenty of legroom for both front and back passengers.
Next stop was the sprawling five-star Victoria Falls Hotel, perched on the edge of the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, with dramatic views of mist rising from the spectacular Victoria Falls.
Built by the British in 1904 to accommodate workers carving out the Cape-to-Cairo railway line, the hotel in all its Edwardian grandeur is a throwback to those tainted days of colonialism.
Portraits of a frowning Queen Victoria and a preening Cecil John Rhodes were aplenty.
In the late afternoon we crossed into Zambia and settled into a train for a five-course dinner as we marvelled at the views of the spectacular falls.
My camo jeans and mosquito repellent stayed packed away in my suitcase.
At the end of the second day, I realised I’d had breakfast in Botswana, lunch in Zimbabwe and dinner in Zambia. Extremely hard work.
- Ferguson was a guest of Toyota
- For more info: Chobe Safari Lodge: chobe-safari-lodge.net
Victoria Falls Hotel: www.victoriafallshotel.com
