Rented a diesel HiLux 4x4 recently in Nicaragua

Had the opportunity to rent a 4cyl diesel HiLux 4x4 (base model) while on a surf excursion to Nicaragua. I'd absolutely love to have these available here in the States, better yet a 70-series LandCruiser diesel would be even better. Here's the video from the experience.

https://youtu.be/T18EwW9KTYE

 

A few pics from the trip

 

How was the ride and handling compared to the Tacoma? I wish we could get those here!

 

Actually the same as a DCSB minus the TRD Bilsteins since this one was a base model. The suspension is identical

 

That’s interesting.

 

Dude! Same! Was in Nicaragua over new years and after bombing around in a 5 speed hilux I found myself at the dealership testing a 6 speed manual tacoma. The 5 foot bed was unfortunately a deal breaker for me but ended up with a 6 foot bed and an auto transmission but would kill to have a diesel 6 speed hilux

 

What engine was in that 70? Looks like a newer model but doesn't have the hood scope so assuming it isn't a 1vd. I bought a hzj75 recently and waiting for it to get to Washington.

 

It's fugly compared to the Taco. Now that LandCruiser is a beaut!

 

I'm sure they're great trucks but both fugly as sin

 

The hilux looks like a Honda ridgeline. I heard they are great but you better have some grandkids in that truck. That's not a bad thing. The tacoma just looks way better. Hilux looks like a nissian frontier as far as similarities. I would drive the hilux before frontier because I love toyota fan boy.

 

I was just looking at an almost new white four door Hilux in Cozumel Mexico last week. It was a government truck and I was talking to the driver. He let me look it over. The interior was spartan,plastic, with some control similarities to the Tacoma. Seats were firm but ok. It had the 4 cylinder diesel and six speed manual. Rear axle housing was similar in size to my '13 trd off road locker but the springs were much thicker, three heavier leaves plus overload. The rear black factory shocks were mounted inside the frame, not outside like a Tacoma. Pickup box was all steel, heavy , not tinny like a Frontier (looked at that recently too). The driver said it was very good on fuel, powerful , and he liked the ride well enough. It had painted steel rims with some kind of "AT" tire.That back country area was all washboard roads. The whole back window was covered with white coral dust. That forms the road base there. No need for over sized shocks, remote reservoirs, air bags and all that. The overall impression was that the Hilux is more "massive" than the Tacoma. Same overall size but a lot more steel in it. They really use these trucks in these parts of the world. I keep an eye out for them, in action, whenever we travel.

 

Thanks for sharing! The hilux is a true work truck, for rough work and terrain, rugged but basic. I really like the details you were able to point out. I think a lot of people don’t understand just how different the Tacoma and hilux really are.

 

Thanks for the feedback Riding Dirty and you are right. They have no idea just how different a Hilux is. I like my Tacoma. I have some rural property and it functions well in the "F -100 half- ton pickup" role. The Hilux is made for the underdeveloped world. I asked my boss ( Japanese), when he was in Japan last year, to bring back Hilux brochures from a Toyota dealer near our factory. He went and asked. Would you believe that the Hilux is not sold in Japan? At least on the main island anyway. At the dealer they said it was made for the export market only. I remember seeing the four door smaller pickups in Japan in the early nineties and thinking how great they would be here in the US. They were Mitsubishi and Isuzu if I recall. I have seen Hilux all over the Caribbean and boy do they get used there. Most of them have "headache" racks, front brush guards , and carry and tow all types of construction and agricultural equipment. In fact, I saw about six brand new ones at a tiny dealer in Belize. That is the land of The Camel Trophy Land Rover event (1995) if you are familiar with that, some of the toughest terrain in the world.