Owner Review: The outward appearance and size enhanced my “macho-ness”- My 2013 Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.5 MT

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Basic information

2013 Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.5 MT  

 Reasons why I bought this car

• I need to travel about 150KM almost every week between my workplace and hometown
• I am staying in Sarawak, the road condition between townships are quite “sad”
• Driving a pick-up truck anywhere on a daily basis is not uncommon in this part of the region.

Car selection process

• I had a budget of RM100,000
• Models that I have considered include: 

        Nissan Navara
        Isuzu D-Max
        Ford Ranger
        Mitsubishi Triton
        Toyota Fortuner (Used)
        Mitsubishi Pajero (Used)

• Reasons why I chose this car: 

I prefer a vehicle that can be taken care or fixed by most of the local workshops.

Testimonies from friends and relatives who were the current owners of Toyota Hilux. Even the other pick-up brand owners advised me to get a Hilux instead.

The outward appearance was my favourite among all other brands.

User experience

I have already done 96,500 km.

Generally, my driving experiences were slightly more than average because it has never yet failed to respond to my expectation (My on-road and off-road driving skills are just average, but good enough to arrive safely on time)

I would prefer not to drive it in the city because of the size. Some parking lots and streets are very limited for the mobility of a standard pick-up truck. (Some lazy drivers who did not park their vehicle properly gave me a hard time to pass through)

Very spacious in terms of sitting capacity and of course, the load behind.

This car is pretty durable (Maybe because I am the only driver)

Pros & Cons

Pros of my car: 

• Visibility is one of the excellent features of driving a vehicle with heights like this one
• I can send it to almost any local workshop
• Diesel price is not that expensive, even for the Euro 5 option
• Plenty of spaces, literally inside and outside (but sometimes this feature can be one of the cons as some people had taken advantage over me to “help” carry their excessive loads)
• Good resale value

6. Cons of my car: 

• Size can be too big sometimes, especially in the cities and some housing areas
• It is not the most comfortable vehicle, especially for the rear passenger
• The insurance premium was quite pricy as the insurers claim that a Toyota Hilux is prone for theft

Ratings

• Total Score: 4
• Performance: 4
• Quality & Features: 4
• Space: 5
• Ride Comfort: 3
• Fuel Economy: 4
• Price & Cost: 4

Summary

I bought my Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.5 MT in 2013 basically, due to the need for frequent long-distance travelling in my local settings. Apart from the outward appearance and size that enhanced my “macho-ness” (according to my wife), this vehicle is just fine. Good value for money? Yes, if you know where to send it for maintenance and service. With the condition of the roads in Sarawak, the need for long-journey travelling, and limited options (SUVs were not popular during that time), I think this Toyota Hilux was a safe choice. My ratings would be more than average because I have utilised the vehicle in the condition of how it supposed to run. Still, it did not get a full mark because there are much better ones out there.

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