A year ago, Toyota introduced the Hilux Champ - a small, inexpensive and customizable pick-up for the Asian market. Depending on the country, it is called Rangga or Tamaraw. But it's always the same chassis with cab, waiting for any number of attachments to be placed behind the front seats.
The special feature: The Hilux Champ costs the equivalent of only a good 12,000 euros in the normal version. It was only a matter of time before someone would develop a rear cabin with more seats, and that's exactly what we have here. Intended for Indonesia (where it is called Hilux Rangga), this somewhat awkward-looking SUV has two rows of seats behind the driver's cab and thus offers seven seats.
Unveiled at the Indonesia International Auto Show earlier this year, the people carrier is built by a company called New Armada. The company has considerable experience with buses, but the conversion goes beyond adding seats and carpets. The rear body is designed to mimic the body lines of the boxy cab. The roof even protrudes beyond the top, giving it a uniform shape that doesn't look like a retrofit.
Inside, there is room for three passengers in the middle row and two more in the rear. We don't have any information about the space, but it looks a bit cramped for both the middle and rear rows of seats. That's to be expected, considering the long-wheelbase Hilux Rangga is just 4.88 metres long. For comparison, this is about the length of a Ford Maverick.
The small SUV is powered by either a gasoline or a diesel engine, the latter being the most powerful with 148 hp. It only drives the rear wheels, but enthusiasts can rejoice—a five-speed manual transmission is available. Given the boxy proportions and the comically small wheels, we suspect that the handling is not exactly inspiring. You can also opt for the six-speed automatic.
New Armada is installing the SUV conversion, but Toyota will sell the Hilux Rangga SUV through its dealer network in Indonesia. It will go on sale there in 2025.