Whether it’s for work, play, or the family, the practical applications for the Toyota Hilux is almost infinite. You have the base variants for utility, the mid models blending the best of both worlds, and the high-spec GR Sport for lifestyle.
For off-roaders, they are spoiled for choices when it comes to choosing a 4x4 Hilux. But there is one variant in Brazil that might just be the perfect blank canvas for those who go where the word pavement doesn’t exist.
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It’s called the Toyota Hilux STD Power Pack, and on paper, the specs don’t look too impressive. It’s the most basic version of the popular pickup, complete with unpainted mirrors, trims, and door handles, as well as steel wheels. But what makes it interesting is the powertrain.
Instead of a 2.4-liter turbodiesel, the Power Pack comes out swinging with the juicer 2.8-liter mill. That means this basic Hilux has a meaty 201hp and 500Nm of torque. Oh, and four-wheel drive plus a rear differential lock are standard. Yes please.
Okay, it’s not totally basic. You do get a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto, along with seven airbags, stability control, hill descent control, and hill-start assist. You could say it has the essentials and nothing more. Just the variant for off-roaders who want just that.
There’s also a version called the STD that has the same equipment as the one with the Power Pack. The difference is, it has a six-speed manual instead of a six-speed automatic. The engine is the same 2.8-liter turbodiesel.
The closest equivalent we have in the Philippines is the J 4x4. While it still has off-road goodies, it’s saddled by a 2.4-liter instead of a 2.8-liter. It seems unlikely Toyota will ever release something like the STD and STD Power Pack, but one can dream, right?
