New Toyota bakkies and SUVs coming to South Africa in 2024

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New Toyota bakkies and SUVs coming to South Africa in 2024

January 29, 2024

Toyota recently held its annual State of the Motoring Industry address, where it revealed that it has a lot in store in terms of vehicle introductions for South Africa over the course of 2024.

The next 12 months will see the arrival of mild-hybrid variants of the Hilux and Fortuner, the aggressive Hilux GR-Sport III, the new Land Cruiser 70 Series, and perhaps what everyone’s the most excited for, the next-generation Prado.

Furthermore, the manufacturer’s first electric vehicle, the bZ4X is finally confirmed for a domestic debut, but this will only happen in 2025, and the same counts for the electric Lexus RZ.

The commercial vehicle category is also set to be shaken up with a new emission-friendly model from Toyota sub-brand Hino, which will be bringing limited quantities of the Hino 300 Hybrid truck to customers in the final months of 2024.

Hitting the ground running

Up first for Toyota will be the new Land Cruiser 70 Series that will reach the market in February in single cab, double cab, and station wagon styles.

The venerable off-roader sees a retro redesign with “classic” LED headlights and a mesh grille, in addition to a refined cabin with a new infotainment system.

It will be available with the automaker’s trusty 2.8-litre, turbo-diesel (GD-6) engine as well as with a 4.5-litre, V8 petrol – though the latter will be phased out within the next year or two, said Leon Theron, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

The reason for the V8’s demise is that Toyota can’t find a suitable automatic transmission to work with the motor, and it has simultaneously been able to improve its smaller power units to be much more efficient and powerful than the old mill, said Theron.

In March, the sought-after Hilux and Fortuner will welcome their first electrified variants.

These models will feature the same 2.8GD-6 plant as the current vehicles partnered with a 48-volt, mild-hybrid system that affords an additional 12kW and 65Nm of boost during acceleration, 5% improved fuel consumption, brake energy regeneration, and an advanced Start/Stop system; while also reducing idle speed to 600rpm.

The partially-electric powertrains will be available in the Hilux Raider and Legend 2.8GD-6, as well as in the Fortuner 2.8GD-6 trims.

Another Hilux in the pipeline for March is the GR-Sport III.

We currently have the GR-Sport I on sale in the country with the GR-Sport II earmarked for regions including the UK and Australia, but Theron confirmed that South Africa will be getting the even sportier GR-Sport III in three short months.

Its key selling points are a Toyota Tundra-inspired front fascia, Dakar-bred styling with wide wheel arches to accommodate the wider tread, off-road tyres and wheels, and a GR-specific interior.

Power output for the 2.8GD-6 driveline in the athletic Hilux is pegged at 165kW and 550Nm, the same as in the current GR-Sport I.

Probably the biggest launch for the year will then be the next-gen Prado in April 2024.

The new SUV now sits on the same platform as the larger Land Cruiser 300 with “radically refined suspension” ensuring much-improved performance and ride comfort, it sports a “back to roots” square silhouette with a modular design that simplifies parts replacement, and it will be driven by, you guessed it, the 2.8GD-6 motor paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Prado will hit showrooms in TX and VX-R specification grades and there will also be a handful of “First Edition” derivatives available in South Africa with distinctive headlights – though Theron didn’t divulge how many of these Toyota plans to bring in.

Theron issued a warning, however, stating that stock levels of the new Prado will likely be constrained during the first few months after its arrival.

The final launch for 2024, at the moment, is the Hino 300 Hybrid which will only be handed over to “key fleet customers” in November, said Theron.

It incorporates a 4.0-litre, turbo-diesel engine and electric motor coupled directly to its six-speed automatic transmission for a combined system output of 110kW and 470Nm.

The configuration provides regenerative braking abilities in addition to an advanced Start/Stop system.

The eco-friendly Hino gets a few advanced driver assistance systems, too, including pre-collision assist, lane departure assist, and cruise control.

Onto 2025, the first month of the year holds the premiere of the Lexus RZ, the brand’s first bespoke battery-electric vehicle.

The SUV comes with a 150kW motor between the front wheels and an 80kW one at the rear, and provides a range of between 375-450km.

It also debuts Lexus’ new steer-by-wire system which it claims is the “most advanced” of its kind to reach the market.

At some point during 2025, Toyota will follow its sister company’s lead and bring its first electric car to South Africa as well, this being the bZ4X.

However, Theron said that the particular model on the way to our shores will be the second-generation bZ4X and not the first-generation variant that is currently on sale in other markets.

As such, there are few available details about the upcoming SUV. It remains to be confirmed whether it will have front-wheel or all-wheel drive, but Theron did give away that it will have approximately 400km of driving range and will be undeniably “fun to drive.”

New Toyotas for South Africa in 2024

The new Toyota, Lexus, and Hino models confirmed for South Africa in 2024 and 2025 are detailed below, according to their launch dates.