Toyota Hilux

The Toyota Hilux is the rugged double-cab pickup that built its reputation on going anywhere and surviving everything. In India it sits as a lifestyle-cum-workhorse choice, sharing its tough ladder-frame underpinnings with the Fortuner. Powered by a single 2.8-litre diesel and offered with proper four-wheel drive, it targets buyers who want genuine off-road ability, a large load bed, and Toyota's well-known reliability rather than urban refinement or car-like manners.

On the road, the Hilux feels exactly like what it is: a body-on-frame pickup engineered for durability first. The 2.8-litre diesel is the same unit that does duty in the Fortuner, and in automatic form it puts out a healthy 201 bhp and 500 Nm. There's strong mid-range pull for highway cruising and effortless overtaking, while the manual variant is tuned slightly differently with 420 Nm. Refinement is good for the class, though the diesel clatter is audible at idle and the unladen rear can feel bouncy over broken surfaces.

Where the Hilux earns its money is away from tarmac. Standard four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case, a rear differential lock on higher trims, and serious ground clearance mean it tackles slush, rock and water crossings with confidence. The long wheelbase and large turning circle make it cumbersome in tight city lanes and crowded parking lots, so this is not a vehicle you buy for daily urban convenience.

Inside, the cabin is functional and durable rather than plush. You get a touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, and a commanding driving position, but plastics are hard-wearing instead of premium and the feature list trails modern SUVs at this price. The load bed is the real party trick, swallowing luggage, gear or cargo that no SUV can match.

Reliability and resale are the Hilux's trump cards. Toyota's reputation for bulletproof mechanicals, combined with a wide service network and low running costs relative to its capability, makes it a sensible long-term ownership proposition for those who genuinely need a pickup. For everyone else, a similarly priced SUV will be more comfortable and better equipped.