The Toyota Hilux Raider Single Cab is well-known to never shy away from a challenge. Recently, the New Era Publication Corporation added the 2.4 GD6 version to its fleet.
The single cab, manual version, retails locally for around N$623 000, while the automatic transmission starts at about N$650 000.
For its first official excursion outside the city, the single cab was put through a gruelling challenge when it was driven up to the Skeleton Coast, and into the Dorob National Park in the central Namib Desert. Anyone familiar with the area knows it takes a reliable vehicle to traverse this demanding landscape. The trustworthiness of a vehicle is a prerequisite when navigating this stretch of secluded wilderness in what some refer to as “the land God made in anger”.
Passing a number of popular fishing spots north of Henties Bay with unique names such as ‘Bennie se Rooi Lorrie’ and ‘Sarah se Gat’, the 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine on the GD6 purred like a lion ready to pounce.
In fact, Toyota’s single cab bakkies are available in a range of engine sizes, including 2.0-litre and 2.7-litre petrol engines, or the 2.4-litre and 2.8-litre diesel engines. Both the single and double cabs offer a choice of 4×2 or 4×4 transmissions.
Toyota bakkies have been a mainstay of Namibian culture for decades, and the 2024 version of the Raider makes commanding your own destiny a breeze. Bakkies are such a consistent feature on Namibian roads because they are so versatile. Bakkies can be used for all daily tasks, from going grocery shopping to performing hard labour on construction sites, to converting to a farming workhorse.
What sets the all-new Hilux Single Cab Raider apart from the crowd is its bold exterior and design power. The aggressive LED headlamps, chrome styling, retractable side mirrors and ultra-tough moulded front bumper make the Hilux Raider difficult to ignore.
Whether navigating tar roads or vast stretches of gravel roads in the Dorob National Park, the single cab is equipped with standard 17-inch steel wheels to keep the journey smooth. These are complemented by a specially-designed ultra-tough moulded black front bumper featuring standard halogen fog lamps.
The Toyota bakkie was given a few updates in 2021, such as an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system packing smartphone mirroring. The seats in the Toyota are well-padded for longer trips, and the vehicle produces a commanding view of the road ahead.
All in all, the Toyota Raider single cab range is a solid workhorse that performs well whenever called on. No matter the job or even the print deadline, Toyota’s toughness can truly be relied on.