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Toyota Hilux vs. Nissan Navara Drag Race Concludes in a Dead Heat

Introduced in 1968, the long-running Hilux is Toyota’s main workhorse outside of the United States. The latest generation launched in 2015, and over in South Africa where the featured video is filmed, the good ol’ Hilux outsells every competitor, including the increasingly popular Ford Ranger.
Toyota Hilux vs. Nissan Navara drag race 6 photos
Photo: CAR Buyers Guide on YouTube
Toyota Hilux vs. Nissan Navara drag raceToyota Hilux vs. Nissan Navara drag raceToyota Hilux vs. Nissan Navara drag raceNissan NavaraToyota Hilux
This drag race doesn’t concern the Ranger, though, but a mid-size pickup that’s been discontinued in Europe due to shrinking demand. Navara is how the global sibling of the Frontier is called, and this particular truck is the range-topping 2.5 DDTi PRO-4X with four-wheel drive and the seven-speed automatic transmission. It’s a pricey truck as well at 749,900 rands.

In other words, that sum converts to $49,910 at current exchange rates. The off-road trim level is nicely equipped with the likes of blind spot warning, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, the Intelligent Around View Monitor, and black-painted alloy wheels. The force-fed motor is rated at 140 kW (make that 188 horsepower) and 450 Nm (332 pound-feet) at 2k rotations per minute.

As for the Hilux, our friends at CAR Magazine have tested the 2.4 GD-6 Raider with four-wheel drive and the six-speed automatic transmission. As the name implies, we’re dealing with a 2.4-liter motor that’s officially rated at 110 kW (148 horsepower) and 400 Nm (295 pound-feet) of torque between 1,600 and 2,000 rotations per minute. Based on the specs alone, you’d expect the Navara to win although the race concludes in a dead heat.

Regardless of which is the quicker machine over the quarter mile, a mid-size pickup truck has to be capable in terms of hauling and towing. Both of them feature payload ratings in excess of 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds) while maximum towing sits at 3,500 kilograms (7,716 pounds).

In the Navara’s case, Nissan is expected to launch the ground-up redesign in 2024 unless the chip shortage and health crisis have other plans. The Hilux, on the other hand, will receive the TNGA-F truck platform in 2023.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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