North America is the land where you can find the best pickup trucks, right? Well, yes and no. Essentially, this is a wonderland for workhorses and a place where most of them are made and sold, but it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing interesting overseas.
On the contrary, we’ve just seen a pickup truck that can outmatch most of the U.S. bound models, yet it’s going to be available in South Africa only. You may not agree with us, but the recently introduced 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Namib is an awesome machine capable to outmatch and outlast today’s midsize trucks.
How come? Well, the Japanese car manufacturer didn’t make the sensational new truck from the ground up. Instead, they’ve used some already proven and reliable parts for which we know that they last practically forever. More precisely, the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Namib uses an outstanding body-on-frame platform borrowed from the J70. The automaker hasn’t stopped there. Instead, they coupled the pickup with the tilt-and-telescoping steering and anti-theft systems, as well as power socket and power steering. The model rides on standard alloy wheels which come paired with special Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx tires (265/75 by 16 inches). Also, the truck uses high-quality heavy-duty equipment made in cooperation with a respectable off-road suspension expert.
From the outside, the Namib shows a mesh grille and quite impressive steel-made front bumper, as well as LED spotlights. Inside of the cabin, the pickup hosts additional cooling ducts, which are quite useful for desert road trips that are pretty usual for the continent where the truck is going to be sold. Another useful convenience involves a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and satellite navigation.
The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Namib is a sweet oil-burner. Yes, the pickup truck uses a brand new 4.5-liter turbo diesel V8 capable of delivering 202 horsepower (151 kW) and 317 pound-feet of torque (430 Nm) from 1,200 to 3,200 rpm. The mighty mill is fitted with a manual gearbox, while all four corners get anti-lock brakes.
Toyota claims a three-year/100,000-kilometer warranty and that sounds really good. However, even though the Namib seems like a far better option than the similar-sized Ford Ranger, but it’s not. How come? Well, it’s quite simple since the truck costs $61,130.