2016 Toyota Hilux vs the sand dunes of Namibia

The suspension – double wishbones up front and leaf springs at the rear – has also been overhauled for 20% greater wheel travel, which is said to boost ride comfort and off-road performance.

All the other pick-up essentials have been addressed: a larger, reinforced cargo deck to carry 1055kg loads, the ability to tow up to 3.2 tonnes (rising to 3.5 tonnes by the end of the year) and plenty of different lockable covers to keep your load or luggage safe from prying eyes.

Two-seat Single Cab, four-seat Extra Cab (they’re a cramped pair of rear seats, mind) and the most popular five-seat Double Cab bodies are offered.

As for that more economical engine, it is a 148bhp 2.4-litre diesel, which replaces the 2.5 and 3.0 diesel engines found in the outgoing Hilux. It has more torque than the old 3.0 (295lb ft versus 253lb ft) and better economy (41.5mpg at its cleanest) than either of the previous engines.

There’s a choice of six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes and the ability to switch between two and four-wheel drive, depending on the conditions, and a low-range mode in both.

It’s the engine that makes the first impression as our journey starts in the small coastal city of Swakopmund. This diesel unit, as we will soon find out, turns out to be the most commercial vehicle-like aspect of the Hilux.

It’s quite noisy at start-up, and although it is responsive – particularly in the mid-range, thanks to a healthy spread of torque – it lacks the hushed smoothness you’ll find in most large modern diesel vehicles. It’s good, but not quite as convincing as an SUV alternative, despite the improved suppression of unwanted noise, vibration and harshness.

As for driving in the city, the Hilux doesn’t feel an overly big vehicle to place, not least because of a high driving position and good visibility, aided by chunky mirrors. The controls are nicely weighted and the clutch pedal is light and easy to use.

The paved urban streets of Swakopmund soon give way to gravel roads, which prompt a turn of the dial next to the steering wheel from rear-wheel drive to four-wheel drive, and soon the adventure really starts with a trip across some sand dunes.

Clearly, this is not something that most Hilux buyers will ever do, but after some generally positive first impressions of how the new model performs in town, this is the first chance to see if the new Hilux is as tough as ever.

Before driving on the dunes, we let the air come out of each of the all-weather tyres for around 75sec to increase their surface area for driving on the sand. Next up is turning that dial once more to the right to switch the transmission from high-range four-wheel drive to low-range four-wheel drive.

It looks like it will be easy to conquer the first steepish ascent on the dunes, but as I slide back down the hill for the third time, it is clear that this is not your typical off-road drive.

A workman should not blame his tools. Quite quickly, it’s clear that you need a run-up and some momentum to conquer any steep sand dune ascent. You set off in second gear and then switch quickly into third before giving it plenty of revs to get up to the top.

Even if you can only see sky as you reach the crest, don’t panic and slam on the brakes; you’ll only end up losing the momentum to conquer the climb. Yours truly is speaking from experience here. Instead, ease off the throttle but keep the momentum so that you crest the summit calmly enough to shift into first gear to start your steep downward trajectory, using the Hilux’s hill descent control if you don’t trust your right foot on the brake pedal.

What fun, and what an impressive display from the Hilux. We tackled the dune in a Double Cab model with the standard six-speed manual gearbox, and it offers a slick, precise gearchange that is in no way van-like.

Between our dune and our overnight stay inland in Namibgrens, there is a 200 mile drive through the barren Namib-Naukluft national park and a crossing the Tropic of Capricorn line at one point. The roads here are all gravel and sometimes quite rutted, so any cruising impressions are largely superfluous for those who drive in Europe.

What can still be enjoyed in these conditions is the cabin. It’s a neat compromise of workmanlike functionality and everyday usability. The leather seats are comfy and offer good support. Certainly, you don’t feel like you’re sitting in a van.

The interior features pleasingly tactile controls and an infotainment system that wouldn’t look out of place in any mainstream family Toyota, and the harder-wearing plastics on the dashboard and the door skins remind you that this is still a working vehicle.

As if a further reminder were needed, the Hilux is put to work again the next morning in an extreme 26-mile off-road course. We switch to an automatic model, which makes life even easier than with the manual on the dunes.

The Hilux is easy to control off-road and inspires confidence. The increased wheel travel allows for greater dips and lopsided pathways to be tackled, and with calm control of the pedals, the electronic gizmos can bring out the explorer in you. You also feel yourself rocking around less in the cabin due to the impressive body control.

Another 150 miles or so of gravel roads follow as we work our way to the Namibian capital, Windhoek, and at last there’s a decent run of asphalt roads, where we get the best chance to feel how car-like the ride is.

Although the ride is bumpy at lower speeds, it’s smooth and composed at higher speeds. It’s not the last word in sophistication, but it certainly doesn’t feel like that of a commercial vehicle. The steering also has plenty of weight, even if it has an artificial feel to it, but, again, it’s enough to almost convince you that you’re not in pick-up.

We never get much of a chance to see how it handles, because the roads are almost universally straight, but the Hilux seems to turn in keenly enough on corners with gravel, and if you fancy a giggle with nothing loaded over the rear axle, there’s a chance of a wiggle from the tail.

Destination reached in one piece, the journey has revealed the Hilux to be the best model in its class to drive, both on and off road. Whether you’d ever swap your SUV for one is another matter.

Clearly, the Hilux is a pick-up, so it will never offer the SUV buyer the full security of a luggage compartment built into the main vehicle, but many more may well now be tempted to make that compromise, given how much vehicle you can get for your money.