T&T OFFICIAL New Vehicle Prices & Discussion Thread

[Dizzy28]

Maybe those ADs used the Fond Poix Doux Road. Its less steep than through Maraval.

[agent007]

I made my descent through that side cause too much traffic coming up from the jeep stand route.

[timothymcdavid]

Thought of you guys in this forum when I saw this.



Savagegeese

[wing]

CX 50 is USDM only. The upcoming CX 60 and CX 80 will be JDM/euro

[SLVR1]

What would be nice in the local Mazda line up is the 2.5 turbo engines esp. in the CX-30 and CX-5. Sadly, due to taxes this will not be. Stupid politicians and their nonsensical ambitions.

[metalgear2095]

Good day. Between the Hilux, Frontier, Ranger and Sportero which do you guys recommend?
I like the look of the Sportero best but hear of Toyota's reliability and well I assume Nissan parts would be easier to come by

[agent007]

SLVR1, you’re spot on. My take is if SS brings down Mazdas with the 2.5 then those Mazdas would enter into Audi territory and brand snobbery is alive and well in this world so go figure. I’ll personally take a CX-30 over a Q3, a CX-5 over a Q5 and a CX-9 over the Q7 any day. Worse yet….I won’t even consider the great BMW X3 or MB GLC with the advent of the just released CX-60, but that’s just me!

Metalgear, I and the people that I depend on for advice myself can’t say for sure if that new Mitsubishi 2.4 is worth the hassle especially with our diesel quality. It appears the Hilux is more or less out of the woods with the 2.8 so that is reassuring (not surprised cause Toyota and reliability are an inseparable pair). The Frontier’s 2.5 is a safe choice. It can take abuse like a neglected step child. I don’t care for Ford nor it’s dinosaur Ranger so bleh on that one.

To me your choices should boil down to the Hilux, Frontier, Sportero or D-Max. The only thing that is truly encouraging with the Sportero is it appears to be the “Subaru” of the pickups with its safety features such as forward collision alert and crash mitigation etc. When last I checked, it’s dated headunit lacked smart phone integration through CarPlay and AndroidAuto but that is an easy fix. Up to you what your priorities are and of course budget. If it were me, I’ll lean more on the Frontier LE.

[metalgear2095]

SLVR1, you’re spot on. My take is if SS brings down Mazdas with the 2.5 then those Mazdas would enter into Audi territory and brand snobbery is alive and well in this world so go figure. I’ll personally take a CX-30 over a Q3, a CX-5 over a Q5 and a CX-9 over the Q7 any day. Worse yet….I won’t even consider the great BMW X3 or MB GLC with the advent of the just released CX-60, but that’s just me!

Metalgear, I and the people that I depend on for advice myself can’t say for sure if that new Mitsubishi 2.4 is worth the hassle especially with our diesel quality. It appears the Hilux is more or less out of the woods with the 2.8 so that is reassuring (not surprised cause Toyota and reliability are an inseparable pair). The Frontier’s 2.5 is a safe choice. It can take abuse like a neglected step child. I don’t care for Ford nor it’s dinosaur Ranger so bleh on that one.

To me your choices should boil down to the Hilux, Frontier, Sportero or D-Max. The only thing that is truly encouraging with the Sportero is it appears to be the “Subaru” of the pickups with its safety features such as forward collision alert and crash mitigation etc. When last I checked, it’s dated headunit lacked smart phone integration through CarPlay and AndroidAuto but that is an easy fix. Up to you what your priorities are and of course budget. If it were me, I’ll lean more on the Frontier LE.

Thank you. I'll have to test drive. Are those prices for the Hilux accurate? 2.8 for 332k sounds too good to be true. The extra power is attractive

[carluva]

Good day. Between the Hilux, Frontier, Ranger and Sportero which do you guys recommend?
I like the look of the Sportero best but hear of Toyota's reliability and well I assume Nissan parts would be easier to come by

Metalgear

I actually viewed both the Hilux and the Frontier yesterday. Not planning to look at the Mitsubishi or the Ford for personal reasons although, I have heard some pretty good things about the Sportero. The Ford Ranger is dated and a new model is being released in Australia this year, so it may be about a year or so until that model hits our shores. That notwithstanding, the Ranger had some transmission problems in the early phases of entry into our market. I believe this was addressed in subsequent models but will still not consider the Ranger as it is dated and requires a Heavy-T permit to drive.

Moving on, there is also the Isuzu Dmax and the Mazda BT50. These two vehicles are identical. Mazda used to partner with Ford for many years as the BT50 platform was identical to the Ranger's. Now, Mazda has broken that relationship with Ford and have now partnered with Isuzu. The new BT50 is a Mazda skin over Isuzu internals. Engine, Chassis, Drivetrain, Transmission are identical. The only difference is the body and the interior. Dash layout and infotainment is virtually identical save and except for a few minor changes.

Point to note: the BT50, Isuzu, Sportero and Hilux all use the same 6-speed transmission. The transmission is manufactured by Aisin which is owned by Toyota. So, all these vehicles carry a Toyota transmission.

Onto the Frontier and the Hilux which I viewed yesterday. Note, my comments are related to the Hi-Spec LE Frontier and the Hi-Spec Leather Hilux as those are the vehicles I viewed.

Frontier: you will not be able to test drive the Frontier because all are booked. Rather, you will be able to look inside the Frontier, play around with the infotainment, assess the practicality. As I was told, if I would like to get a test drive, I may be able to get one after April 12 which is the next incoming shipment. And the test drive is subject to availability of the vehicle if it is not already booked. Then, after that, I will have to wait 42 days from now for the same and then 73 days once again. You will not be able to road test the Frontier and your best bet to get a feel for ride quality is if you have access to a friend who can let you get a drive.

The Frontier is a coil sprung suspension at the back vs the Hilux's leaf spring. I have heard different reviews from owners and persons who have driven in a Frontier. Additionally, many YT reviews are mixed. So YMMV on how that vehicle drives as you may either like it or not.

The dashboard and instrument cluster on the Frontier LE is quite attractive. Features such as Android Auto, Apple Carplay, a Map (Not sure if its a full blown Navigation System but the head unit does display a map showing location of the vehicle), 360 degree camera, auto dimming mirror, heated leather seats, dual zone climatic control, a beautiful LED display in the instrument cluster which can be toggled to see an array of vehicle data and compass and can also be used to access some vehicle settings such as lane change indicator, and auto folding mirrors when vehicle is turned off/on all make for what I am sure will be a decent driver experience.

The seats in the rear are quite cramped. and the tray seems a bit small. Front driver's seat is powered. The tailgate does have a torsion bar so opening and closing this is effortless. Some addon struts would be even better. Steering only has Tilt adjustment.

The engine is the YD25DTi, 2.5l Turbo charged diesel. This is Nissan's equivalent of Toyota's 1KD-FTV. This engine has been in use for 10+ years in our country and has seen harsh conditions around the world. Mated to a 7-speed transmission, I am sure there is a high level of reliability built in.

Cost for LE Frontier: TT$345,000.

Hilux: Unlike Massy, Toyota Trinidad will let you demo and road test the Hi-spec leather model. Taking this vehicle on the road was quite enjoyable. Unlike the older generation of Hilux which came with the "battle-tested" 1KD-FTV 3.0l Turbo charged diesel, the new Hilux comes with the 1GD-FTV 2.8l Turbo charged diesel. The latter has been in our country for about 5+ years (with Hiluxes from grey market dealers) and about 3+ years with TTTL. The current Hilux model has a different tune to the previous model with the 1GD engine. In addition, the current engine comes equipped with an EGR system which was not present with the previous model carrying the 1GD engine. in the 1KD engines brought in by TTTL, there were no EGR systems so engine contamination was reduced but emissions would be greater. Only time will tell how the EGR in the current 1GD will fare, but given Toyota's tune, which is different to the Australian tune, I am confident that Toyota know what they have done.

I have a 2013 Toyota Fortuner with the 1KD engine. On my road test yesterday, let me tell you that the 1GD engine is truly amazing. While loud, as you would expect from any diesel engine, it is quieter than the 1KD, The engine is powerful and full of torque which you feel when you punch down on the throttle. As I said earlier, this is a 6-speed Automatic which felt smooth and was able to quickly downshift when power/speed was needed. I quite liked the drive. There is an ECO and POWER mode available with the former lowering throttle response for fuel conservation and the latter doing the opposite to be able to get the additional power if carrying load or towing.

Although being leaf sprung, the ride was amazing for a van and extremely smooth. Even wifey who sat in the back remarked how smooth the ride felt. Indeed, the ride was better than our Fortnuer.

The dash layout is good looking but the Frontier is much more pleasing. Its not as feature rich as the Frontier but does have Android Auto, Apple carplay, 360 camera. dual zone climatic control, a beautiful LED display in the instrument cluster. There are no heated seats or auto dimming mirrors. There are also limited settings available from the instrument cluster LED display but vehicle data is available. Nevertheless, I found the driver experience to also be quite enjoyable.

The seats in the rear are quite spacious, more so that the Frontier. The front drivers seat is powered as well. Plus, the tray seems larger than the Frontier. The tailgate does not have a torsion bar but this can be added on along with some struts. Steering has both Tilt and Telescopic adjustment.

Cost for Leather Hilux: TT$395,000.

Comparison: From my experience yesterday, my personal pick would be the Hilux. IMO. the Hilux looks better on the road, felt great and has more road presence that the Frontier. Even my wife wanted to hurry up and leave Massy because after two minutes she just wrote off the Frontier (we saw the Hilux first). She did not care for all the interior features of the Frontier and personally I have to agree. The Hilux is, well basic, but a sort of refined basic. Both vehicles have good 4WD systems with rear diff lockers. The frontier has HSA as does the Hilux. The Frontier has a separate button for Hill Descent Control but the Hilux didn't. I was told that the Hilux has it but will have to consult the manual or more persons to confirm. However, that is not a deal breaker as those are features I rarely use if at all.

Have a demo of them both and lets hear your thoughts. If I were to buy, my money would be on the Hilux even though the cost is more. While Nissan parts are cheap, and not meaning to sound like a broken record, Toyota reliability and longevity cannot be beat. I have personal experiences with Toyota and they are very impressive pieces of engineering.

[agent007]

I felt like I was reading a Paul Maric review if not better. Well done!

[randolphinshan]

Great review Car. No doubt both the Frontier and Hilux at those trim levels are great vans. At 50 K more which is a lot the Hilux must have some reason to influence your choice.

Agent between the 1.6 Suburu XV at 289 k and the BT 50 1.9 4x2 what will be your pick ? Is the XV really that lethargic to the point of almost a chore to drive as some You Tube reviews say? Tried to book a test drive but there is a 2 week wait period for whatever reason.

[nick639v2]

Great review Car. No doubt both the Frontier and Hilux at those trim levels are great vans. At 50 K more which is a lot the Hilux must have some reason to influence your choice.

Agent between the 1.6 Suburu XV at 289 k and the BT 50 1.9 4x2 what will be your pick ? Is the XV really that lethargic to the point of almost a chore to drive as some You Tube reviews say? Tried to book a test drive but there is a 2 week wait period for whatever reason.

As someone who’s in the suv/crossover market right now and test driving everything over the last month. I can safely tell you it is not lethargic but It’s no speed demon..in no way feels like the car is in its own way like you’re missing it. To me the XV is balanced, it’s not a fast car, but it’s not a lazy drag, acceleration is pretty good across the range and rpms sit low in that 90-110 sweet spot, no screaming on overtaking, lady young easy as pie. If awd isn’t a must and you like that style, I’d tell you give the cx30 a look at.

[agent007]

Great review Car. No doubt both the Frontier and Hilux at those trim levels are great vans. At 50 K more which is a lot the Hilux must have some reason to influence your choice.

Agent between the 1.6 Suburu XV at 289 k and the BT 50 1.9 4x2 what will be your pick ? Is the XV really that lethargic to the point of almost a chore to drive as some You Tube reviews say? Tried to book a test drive but there is a 2 week wait period for whatever reason.

Randolph, I will admit the XV 1.6 is no rocket ship. There is only so much 113hp and 150Nm of torque can do whilst toting around 3300lbs and continuously powering all 4 wheels. We have to remember that the S-AWD system does not engage the back wheels when wheel slip is detected. With the XV, all four wheels are being powered the moment the transmission is placed on ‘D’.

It will take you where you need to go, whether it’s Tyrico or up Paramin and at least it’s not as pathetic as the Impreza 1.6TS from years ago. I would say the XV’s performance is similar to that of a Wingroad 1.5 Y12 and some of the older 1.5 cars we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. So pathetic it is not. Lethargic? It may seem so but if you’re an older kinda guy that toned down a lot over the years with less road aggression, I would say it’s pretty okay. The reassurance of having that AWD system and best in class ground clearance makes up for its power shortfall.

Massy does offer the 2.0L version in the $400k range which is a lot more sprightly if that would appeal to you. Remember higher elevations hurt naturally aspirated engines a lot but fortunately for us in T&T, our daily commute is pretty close to sea level so that’s a plus. I mentioned this because in some of the foreign reviews of the 2.0, I think they were being too harsh and spoilt for power in their criticism of said 2.0. Subaru “fixed” this by offering a 2.5 and like even that version is not getting the appreciation it deserves. The best way to understand a vehicle and it’s capabilities is to go test drive it yourself and form your own opinion.

In terms of your reference to the BT-50, yes I am a Mazda fanboy no doubt but unless you’re purchasing that particular grade of BT-50 for commercial/business use, I won’t be caught in that as a family oriented ride at all. It all depends on what your requirements are. To me if you’re going full commercial and need a van, just get the dmax version which I would imagine may be cheaper. If you really want a van but need it to be a family hauler as well then refer to our friend carluva’s review above.

If when you drive the XV you feel like the power is not good enough, then I would encourage you to check out the 2022 Eclipse Cross Dynamic+ for $329k. Those are coming standard S-AWC, 1.5 MIVEC turbo with 8-speed paddle shift and panoramic roof etc.

[Rory Phoulorie]

How exactly are heated seats in our climate a “feature” in our market? I see reviews on vehicles in this thread quoting that as a feature.

I would think that we need the cooled seats in our climate, not heated seats.

[carluva]

Agreed... Just letting you know the features it comes with. Some are useless (heated seats) while others are useful (rear diff locker or 360 camera).

[wing]

How exactly are heated seats in our climate a “feature” in our market? I see reviews on vehicles in this thread quoting that as a feature.

I would think that we need the cooled seats in our climate, not heated seats.

Would say the same for the sunroof.

[nick639v2]

How exactly are heated seats in our climate a “feature” in our market? I see reviews on vehicles in this thread quoting that as a feature.

I would think that we need the cooled seats in our climate, not heated seats.

Would say the same for the sunroof.

You shut your whore mouth. I’m 30 and never had a car with a sunroof I still want one and it’s a major factor in my forester purchase lol. Let me live!!!

[wing]

How exactly are heated seats in our climate a “feature” in our market? I see reviews on vehicles in this thread quoting that as a feature.

I would think that we need the cooled seats in our climate, not heated seats.

Would say the same for the sunroof.

You shut your whore mouth. I’m 30 and never had a car with a sunroof I still want one and it’s a major factor in my forester purchase lol. Let me live!!!

I am, and shall always remain, a sufferer. Sunroof to the world.

[j.o.e]

Sunroof is one of my favorite features even though it’s admittedly not really important. But would always select it if available.

[ProtonPowder]

How exactly are heated seats in our climate a “feature” in our market? I see reviews on vehicles in this thread quoting that as a feature.

I would think that we need the cooled seats in our climate, not heated seats.

Just to be devils advocate, I see this feature being a hit with women who leave home for work before sunrise.

Not much else, too niche.

[metalgear2095]

Only time the sunroof in my Jetta opens is when the car is parked and the kids are playing with it. AC is life

[metalgear2095]

Good day. Between the Hilux, Frontier, Ranger and Sportero which do you guys recommend?
I like the look of the Sportero best but hear of Toyota's reliability and well I assume Nissan parts would be easier to come by

Metalgear

I actually viewed both the Hilux and the Frontier yesterday. Not planning to look at the Mitsubishi or the Ford for personal reasons although, I have heard some pretty good things about the Sportero. The Ford Ranger is dated and a new model is being released in Australia this year, so it may be about a year or so until that model hits our shores. That notwithstanding, the Ranger had some transmission problems in the early phases of entry into our market. I believe this was addressed in subsequent models but will still not consider the Ranger as it is dated and requires a Heavy-T permit to drive.

Moving on, there is also the Isuzu Dmax and the Mazda BT50. These two vehicles are identical. Mazda used to partner with Ford for many years as the BT50 platform was identical to the Ranger's. Now, Mazda has broken that relationship with Ford and have now partnered with Isuzu. The new BT50 is a Mazda skin over Isuzu internals. Engine, Chassis, Drivetrain, Transmission are identical. The only difference is the body and the interior. Dash layout and infotainment is virtually identical save and except for a few minor changes.

Point to note: the BT50, Isuzu, Sportero and Hilux all use the same 6-speed transmission. The transmission is manufactured by Aisin which is owned by Toyota. So, all these vehicles carry a Toyota transmission.

Onto the Frontier and the Hilux which I viewed yesterday. Note, my comments are related to the Hi-Spec LE Frontier and the Hi-Spec Leather Hilux as those are the vehicles I viewed.

Frontier: you will not be able to test drive the Frontier because all are booked. Rather, you will be able to look inside the Frontier, play around with the infotainment, assess the practicality. As I was told, if I would like to get a test drive, I may be able to get one after April 12 which is the next incoming shipment. And the test drive is subject to availability of the vehicle if it is not already booked. Then, after that, I will have to wait 42 days from now for the same and then 73 days once again. You will not be able to road test the Frontier and your best bet to get a feel for ride quality is if you have access to a friend who can let you get a drive.

The Frontier is a coil sprung suspension at the back vs the Hilux's leaf spring. I have heard different reviews from owners and persons who have driven in a Frontier. Additionally, many YT reviews are mixed. So YMMV on how that vehicle drives as you may either like it or not.

The dashboard and instrument cluster on the Frontier LE is quite attractive. Features such as Android Auto, Apple Carplay, a Map (Not sure if its a full blown Navigation System but the head unit does display a map showing location of the vehicle), 360 degree camera, auto dimming mirror, heated leather seats, dual zone climatic control, a beautiful LED display in the instrument cluster which can be toggled to see an array of vehicle data and compass and can also be used to access some vehicle settings such as lane change indicator, and auto folding mirrors when vehicle is turned off/on all make for what I am sure will be a decent driver experience.

The seats in the rear are quite cramped. and the tray seems a bit small. Front driver's seat is powered. The tailgate does have a torsion bar so opening and closing this is effortless. Some addon struts would be even better. Steering only has Tilt adjustment.

The engine is the YD25DTi, 2.5l Turbo charged diesel. This is Nissan's equivalent of Toyota's 1KD-FTV. This engine has been in use for 10+ years in our country and has seen harsh conditions around the world. Mated to a 7-speed transmission, I am sure there is a high level of reliability built in.

Cost for LE Frontier: TT$345,000.

Hilux: Unlike Massy, Toyota Trinidad will let you demo and road test the Hi-spec leather model. Taking this vehicle on the road was quite enjoyable. Unlike the older generation of Hilux which came with the "battle-tested" 1KD-FTV 3.0l Turbo charged diesel, the new Hilux comes with the 1GD-FTV 2.8l Turbo charged diesel. The latter has been in our country for about 5+ years (with Hiluxes from grey market dealers) and about 3+ years with TTTL. The current Hilux model has a different tune to the previous model with the 1GD engine. In addition, the current engine comes equipped with an EGR system which was not present with the previous model carrying the 1GD engine. in the 1KD engines brought in by TTTL, there were no EGR systems so engine contamination was reduced but emissions would be greater. Only time will tell how the EGR in the current 1GD will fare, but given Toyota's tune, which is different to the Australian tune, I am confident that Toyota know what they have done.

I have a 2013 Toyota Fortuner with the 1KD engine. On my road test yesterday, let me tell you that the 1GD engine is truly amazing. While loud, as you would expect from any diesel engine, it is quieter than the 1KD, The engine is powerful and full of torque which you feel when you punch down on the throttle. As I said earlier, this is a 6-speed Automatic which felt smooth and was able to quickly downshift when power/speed was needed. I quite liked the drive. There is an ECO and POWER mode available with the former lowering throttle response for fuel conservation and the latter doing the opposite to be able to get the additional power if carrying load or towing.

Although being leaf sprung, the ride was amazing for a van and extremely smooth. Even wifey who sat in the back remarked how smooth the ride felt. Indeed, the ride was better than our Fortnuer.

The dash layout is good looking but the Frontier is much more pleasing. Its not as feature rich as the Frontier but does have Android Auto, Apple carplay, 360 camera. dual zone climatic control, a beautiful LED display in the instrument cluster. There are no heated seats or auto dimming mirrors. There are also limited settings available from the instrument cluster LED display but vehicle data is available. Nevertheless, I found the driver experience to also be quite enjoyable.

The seats in the rear are quite spacious, more so that the Frontier. The front drivers seat is powered as well. Plus, the tray seems larger than the Frontier. The tailgate does not have a torsion bar but this can be added on along with some struts. Steering has both Tilt and Telescopic adjustment.

Cost for Leather Hilux: TT$395,000.

Comparison: From my experience yesterday, my personal pick would be the Hilux. IMO. the Hilux looks better on the road, felt great and has more road presence that the Frontier. Even my wife wanted to hurry up and leave Massy because after two minutes she just wrote off the Frontier (we saw the Hilux first). She did not care for all the interior features of the Frontier and personally I have to agree. The Hilux is, well basic, but a sort of refined basic. Both vehicles have good 4WD systems with rear diff lockers. The frontier has HSA as does the Hilux. The Frontier has a separate button for Hill Descent Control but the Hilux didn't. I was told that the Hilux has it but will have to consult the manual or more persons to confirm. However, that is not a deal breaker as those are features I rarely use if at all.

Have a demo of them both and lets hear your thoughts. If I were to buy, my money would be on the Hilux even though the cost is more. While Nissan parts are cheap, and not meaning to sound like a broken record, Toyota reliability and longevity cannot be beat. I have personal experiences with Toyota and they are very impressive pieces of engineering.

Thanks for the indepth overview. Really appreciate it.

[agent007]

How exactly are heated seats in our climate a “feature” in our market? I see reviews on vehicles in this thread quoting that as a feature.

I would think that we need the cooled seats in our climate, not heated seats.

Some seat heaters come with a minimum of 2 heat settings ie. 'High' or 'low'. For someone who has survived a couple major accidents and now suffer the occasional back pain as a result, I've come to appreciate the "low" setting for some form of therapeutic heat treatment to the lower back.

And as for a sunroof, it's a really nice feature to have if you want that added fresh air into the cabin on mornings and evenings. In fact, for those of us who don't have covered parking whilst at work and your car is baking in the hot sun, I've found that by simply opening the sunroof together with your windows, it's like the heat soaked cabin is cooled faster when vehicle is in motion as the cool air enters via the windows and the hot air is sucked out of the sunroof.

If we continue with this attitude that some modern features and conveniences are simply not needed then we should be contented with drum brakes all around as opposed to discs, manual seats, key-in-ignition start, fabric seats, no steering controls, no airbags, no auto dimming mirror, no crash warning, mitigation or lane assist features, a basic sound system without smart phone integration, wireless charging or even Bluetooth. Some of alluh rhetoric might be electronic parking brake, digital automatic AC, LED lights, automatic transmission, power steering and fuel injection are also not important.

If I described you, then your dream car is a Nissan Sunny DX 1.5 (B11) or a Nissan Sentra SGX 1.5 or LX 1.3 (B12).

Unnecessary opulence is stargazing LED lights on your headliner, crystals housed in your gear shift lever, power retractable running boards and your vehicle's brand logo projected onto the ground from the bottom of your doors to name a few.

[Rory Phoulorie]

While I understand your need for heated seats, in my opinion, it isn’t a feature worth mentioning.

Power retractable running boards are not an unnecessary opulence if you actually take your pickup truck/SUV off-road, which I do. They are one less obstacle to get hooked up when going through bush and heavy mud.

The projection of a car’s logo on the ground is just the manufacturer advertising its product as this is no different to the puddle lamps that some cars come with already. With the lamp projection by the trunk area, this is just to identify where to swipe your foot to automatically open the trunk. Whether it is just a spot of light or the projection of the manufacturer’s logo, I wouldn’t consider that to be opulent.

My car came with a sunroof based on the trim level. If I had a choice, I would not have selected it as I find it is a waste of time. In my car, when I open it in addition to the side windows to cool the car after parking it in the Sun, it just causes more air to be turbulent in the car and just causes light things I have on the seats to move around and end up on the floor. I open and close it at home occasionally just to ensure it works and to keep the tracks lubricated. As such, I don’t use it at all and as long as it is an option, I would not select it when purchasing a car.

The above are just my opinions and are to be construed as nothing else.

[mitch1980]

Good day. Between the Hilux, Frontier, Ranger and Sportero which do you guys recommend?
I like the look of the Sportero best but hear of Toyota's reliability and well I assume Nissan parts would be easier to come by

Metalgear

I actually viewed both the Hilux and the Frontier yesterday. Not planning to look at the Mitsubishi or the Ford for personal reasons although, I have heard some pretty good things about the Sportero. The Ford Ranger is dated and a new model is being released in Australia this year, so it may be about a year or so until that model hits our shores. That notwithstanding, the Ranger had some transmission problems in the early phases of entry into our market. I believe this was addressed in subsequent models but will still not consider the Ranger as it is dated and requires a Heavy-T permit to drive.

Moving on, there is also the Isuzu Dmax and the Mazda BT50. These two vehicles are identical. Mazda used to partner with Ford for many years as the BT50 platform was identical to the Ranger's. Now, Mazda has broken that relationship with Ford and have now partnered with Isuzu. The new BT50 is a Mazda skin over Isuzu internals. Engine, Chassis, Drivetrain, Transmission are identical. The only difference is the body and the interior. Dash layout and infotainment is virtually identical save and except for a few minor changes.

Point to note: the BT50, Isuzu, Sportero and Hilux all use the same 6-speed transmission. The transmission is manufactured by Aisin which is owned by Toyota. So, all these vehicles carry a Toyota transmission.

Onto the Frontier and the Hilux which I viewed yesterday. Note, my comments are related to the Hi-Spec LE Frontier and the Hi-Spec Leather Hilux as those are the vehicles I viewed.

Frontier: you will not be able to test drive the Frontier because all are booked. Rather, you will be able to look inside the Frontier, play around with the infotainment, assess the practicality. As I was told, if I would like to get a test drive, I may be able to get one after April 12 which is the next incoming shipment. And the test drive is subject to availability of the vehicle if it is not already booked. Then, after that, I will have to wait 42 days from now for the same and then 73 days once again. You will not be able to road test the Frontier and your best bet to get a feel for ride quality is if you have access to a friend who can let you get a drive.

The Frontier is a coil sprung suspension at the back vs the Hilux's leaf spring. I have heard different reviews from owners and persons who have driven in a Frontier. Additionally, many YT reviews are mixed. So YMMV on how that vehicle drives as you may either like it or not.

The dashboard and instrument cluster on the Frontier LE is quite attractive. Features such as Android Auto, Apple Carplay, a Map (Not sure if its a full blown Navigation System but the head unit does display a map showing location of the vehicle), 360 degree camera, auto dimming mirror, heated leather seats, dual zone climatic control, a beautiful LED display in the instrument cluster which can be toggled to see an array of vehicle data and compass and can also be used to access some vehicle settings such as lane change indicator, and auto folding mirrors when vehicle is turned off/on all make for what I am sure will be a decent driver experience.

The seats in the rear are quite cramped. and the tray seems a bit small. Front driver's seat is powered. The tailgate does have a torsion bar so opening and closing this is effortless. Some addon struts would be even better. Steering only has Tilt adjustment.

The engine is the YD25DTi, 2.5l Turbo charged diesel. This is Nissan's equivalent of Toyota's 1KD-FTV. This engine has been in use for 10+ years in our country and has seen harsh conditions around the world. Mated to a 7-speed transmission, I am sure there is a high level of reliability built in.

Cost for LE Frontier: TT$345,000.

Hilux: Unlike Massy, Toyota Trinidad will let you demo and road test the Hi-spec leather model. Taking this vehicle on the road was quite enjoyable. Unlike the older generation of Hilux which came with the "battle-tested" 1KD-FTV 3.0l Turbo charged diesel, the new Hilux comes with the 1GD-FTV 2.8l Turbo charged diesel. The latter has been in our country for about 5+ years (with Hiluxes from grey market dealers) and about 3+ years with TTTL. The current Hilux model has a different tune to the previous model with the 1GD engine. In addition, the current engine comes equipped with an EGR system which was not present with the previous model carrying the 1GD engine. in the 1KD engines brought in by TTTL, there were no EGR systems so engine contamination was reduced but emissions would be greater. Only time will tell how the EGR in the current 1GD will fare, but given Toyota's tune, which is different to the Australian tune, I am confident that Toyota know what they have done.

I have a 2013 Toyota Fortuner with the 1KD engine. On my road test yesterday, let me tell you that the 1GD engine is truly amazing. While loud, as you would expect from any diesel engine, it is quieter than the 1KD, The engine is powerful and full of torque which you feel when you punch down on the throttle. As I said earlier, this is a 6-speed Automatic which felt smooth and was able to quickly downshift when power/speed was needed. I quite liked the drive. There is an ECO and POWER mode available with the former lowering throttle response for fuel conservation and the latter doing the opposite to be able to get the additional power if carrying load or towing.

Although being leaf sprung, the ride was amazing for a van and extremely smooth. Even wifey who sat in the back remarked how smooth the ride felt. Indeed, the ride was better than our Fortnuer.

The dash layout is good looking but the Frontier is much more pleasing. Its not as feature rich as the Frontier but does have Android Auto, Apple carplay, 360 camera. dual zone climatic control, a beautiful LED display in the instrument cluster. There are no heated seats or auto dimming mirrors. There are also limited settings available from the instrument cluster LED display but vehicle data is available. Nevertheless, I found the driver experience to also be quite enjoyable.

The seats in the rear are quite spacious, more so that the Frontier. The front drivers seat is powered as well. Plus, the tray seems larger than the Frontier. The tailgate does not have a torsion bar but this can be added on along with some struts. Steering has both Tilt and Telescopic adjustment.

Cost for Leather Hilux: TT$395,000.

Comparison: From my experience yesterday, my personal pick would be the Hilux. IMO. the Hilux looks better on the road, felt great and has more road presence that the Frontier. Even my wife wanted to hurry up and leave Massy because after two minutes she just wrote off the Frontier (we saw the Hilux first). She did not care for all the interior features of the Frontier and personally I have to agree. The Hilux is, well basic, but a sort of refined basic. Both vehicles have good 4WD systems with rear diff lockers. The frontier has HSA as does the Hilux. The Frontier has a separate button for Hill Descent Control but the Hilux didn't. I was told that the Hilux has it but will have to consult the manual or more persons to confirm. However, that is not a deal breaker as those are features I rarely use if at all.

Have a demo of them both and lets hear your thoughts. If I were to buy, my money would be on the Hilux even though the cost is more. While Nissan parts are cheap, and not meaning to sound like a broken record, Toyota reliability and longevity cannot be beat. I have personal experiences with Toyota and they are very impressive pieces of engineering.

Once again thank you for a really through professional review.

I had a very similar experience 2 years ago.
I had paid down on a Nissan Frontier LE even though at the time i has a 2010 Hilux 3.0. all because of the Coil > Leaf for comfort in my opinion.
Once my wife saw it and looked inside our showroom visit and scheduled test drive was cut short and cancelled.
she said hilux or nothing.

as for Ford my experience with the 2014 -2016 models problematic. i even verified that with company report.

Ended up up 2.8 L Hilux.
it works well 700km avg per tank of diesel
and i feel more power in it vs the previous 3.0L i had owned for 9 years.

however i cannot agree with the 345k upwards for the 2.8.... damnnnnnnn

[agent007]

One can also argue that the Frontier LE seems over priced when you can get the Dmax and BT50 fully loaded twins for $320k and $327k respectively. What value proposition does said Frontier truly bring to the table for that extra $18-25k? Worse yet if we throw in the juvenile “Pro 4X” grade which is an additional $14k over the LE.

Then when we compare the Dmax directly to the pickup king Hilux at $395k, can we safely say that when it’s time to sell, would the disparity in resale value between the Hilux and Dmax remain at $75k or more? If the answer to that question is yes (which more than likely it may) then an almost 400k Hilux may be high up front in acquisition cost but will give you back unparalleled ROI especially in resale value.

[nick639v2]

Ppl I think don’t know you can negotiate with higher up than the salesman.. my 2020 LE np300 I got 20k off!!! At that price and this timing with vehicles I safe like Selassie briefcase.

In my unbiased opinion and ownership I still prefer it, the feel of this pickup as a driver opposed to the competitions’ body roll and response , it suits my fancy on the windy roads and countryside runs. Tho the new hilux feels smooth as butter and that braking is second to none

We still have the 2016 hilux, 2018 bt and had previous gen dmax and to this day the np is the one most of us home jump in. My detailed reviews and comparison is floating around in the van thread and in here pages back.

I’m gonna sound like a broken record but TEST DRIVE EVERYTHING!!!


Update the forester is the choice over CX5 and CRV for the upcoming suv purchase. Crv is more peppy but that’s about it, cx5 has the looks and feel, southern sales plainly are the main fault in the ownership. the forester won for the lovely suspension,driving feel and safety for the intended user.

[agent007]

A friend of mine argued with me till the end insisting that the $490k tag for the Forester EyeSight was for the 2.5 engine. When Mr man call the sales rep he became so disappointed and therein lies my major beef with Massy and their Forester pricing. You all remember the previous gen XT with the turbo engine? That went for $419k. How in God's green earth can this newer less powerful model jump in price by $71k?

To special order the Outback, will set you back around $600k but yet a 2.5 RAV4 is over $700k. I think as bad Massy is, no one can beat back Toyota with their insane pricing strategy.

A $360k CX-5 all of a sudden becomes quite a great deal and I won't bother about SS and their lack of after sale support cause this ain't no garbage Kia Sportage. I'm pretty confident the CX5 would be problem free long past the warranty or loan period. Even if you stretch for the CRV awd for $430k, that is still not a bad choice but Toyota again has priced the rav4 at $455k and you still get 2wd and manual folding wing mirrors.

Great job TTTL, you managed to increase the price of a RAV4 by $120k in 6 years which equates to $20k a year!

[eliteauto]

Hey guys, I'm compiling a list of available (new/roro) vehicles that must meet the following requirements, must be 2L or less( gas, diesel, hybrid, electric) must be mid or large-sized with adequate leg and headroom and cargo capacity to accommodate at least 3-4 pieces of luggage. Vehicles would be used as hotel/executive taxis. Any input and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[agent007]

That's easy.....you're limited to the Hyundai Staria, Toyota Esquire or Nissan Serena. If it were me, I'll consider ordering an Esquire or Serena directly from Japan. You can message user A172 for more info.