' Sinkplaat ' smoothing suspension
Enhancing the new Hilux ' s formidable reputation as a bakkie range that can journey for years on Southern Africa ' s most demanding corrugated dirt roads are strategic chassis and suspension upgrades, including lower-friction bushings.
The front section of the steel ladder frame chassis is strengthened, and hydraulic engine mounts have significantly reduced the transmission of engine vibration into the cabin. Toyota ' s Hilux engineering team has also selected a new coil specification for the front suspension, increasing steering authority and reducing terraininduced bump shocks transmitted into the cabin.
At the rear axle, there ' s a reconfigured damper with enhanced rebound control. This rear damper upgrade gives the new Hilux much better bump absorption when not heavily laden and journeying across badly corrugated dirt roads. The spring rates also have sufficient sensitivity and rebound speed to smooth out the brutal ' sinkplaat ' corrugations that Southern African dirt roads are notorious for.
Why does the unladen ride quality matter so much? Because very few double cab bakkies operate at the maximum payload capacity for which their suspension is designed. The default configuration for most Hilux double cabs, when owners take their vehicle on family road trips, is about a third of the payload capacity.
A woman ' s touch
The regional lead engineer for Hilux is Thailand ' s Anyarat Sutthibenjakul. Despite overseeing a team of hundreds of engineers in Asia, she has deep insights into the South African bakkie market.
The switch to electric power steering was one of Anyarat ' s boldest decisions with the new Hilux. This technical upgrade makes the new Hilux much easier to control and position, especially at low speeds. Electric power steering, standard on mid- and higher-grade models, will enhance the driving experience for female drivers, who are an increasingly important owner demographic for the Hilux double cab as a versatile South African all-terrain family car.
Anyarat has spent extensive time with local Hilux customers over the last 15 years, conducting first-person research in South Africa and learning what owners need from their bakkies. Her insights and understanding are evident in how confidently the ninth-generation Hilux performs in urban driving and on demanding rural dirt roads.
JUNE 2026 17 WORDS IN ACTION