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Jules Vasquez reporting
The 2016 Toyota Hilux has long been the standard in third world pickups - but this year it's been re-designed.

Ryan Marin, Sales - Belize Diesel and Equipment Company
"This is the all-new 2016 Hilux. So, we have changes to the engine, new body style, it's a wider, longer wheel-base, new chassis, new suspension, new interior, new features inside."

Indeed, the Hilux has the heft and feel of a first world pickup or a full size SUV - still it's surprisingly quiet inside and the ride comfort is comparable to an SUV. The redesigned grille and other touches, give it a more aero-dynamic look, but still, for better or worse, has that unmistakable third world profile.

Ryan Marin
"The Hilux for this generation has been redesign with a more family oriented person in mind as opposed to just a work truck."

More comfort features inside including this very modern multimedia interface - but does the Hilux still excel at what matters most?

Ryan Marin
"Toyota actually redesign this model to be a lot tougher, so the body is uni-body construction, so there is no fender flares that can be torn off. Its solid style. There is now a rear locking differential lock and electronic 4 wheel drive with low range in there. Also, it comes with downhill and uphill assist control. So for the 4-wheel enthusiast, there is a lot of out of the box ready features for everybody to enjoy."

Truth is in this market, the Hilux is trying to regain its market dominance and knock out the competition - and they're doing it with price, a model like this is 94 thousand dollars complete with all the bells and whistles.

Ryan Marin
"So we are keeping the Hilux under $100,000 so that its more accessible to the market and for everybody to appreciate because we really want everybody in Belize to experience this new Hilux and we don't want to put it too far out of reach to everybody, so we are subsidizing some of the cost so that everybody can appreciate this Hilux."

Jules Vasquez
"Two criticisms against the Hilux historically, 1: is that its prone to turn over, its prone to flip, that it has a high center of gravity and that makes it easy to flip on the road. How do you respond to that?"

Ryan Marin
"The new suspension dampens some of the harder riding qualities of the previous Gen Hilux as well as the aero dynamics have been improved on this new generation Hilux with more down force."

We put that to the test, kinda - by doing some donuts and kicking up a windstorm.

Jules Vasquez
"The second criticism it's prone to theft. A) its prone to theft because it's the most popular vehicle in Central America and B) obviously somebody crack the code or somebody was working from the inside and was having a stolen car ring for the Hilux. Has that been addressed?"

Ryan Marin
"Well yes. Now the new security system on the Hilux integrates a immobilizer key that has a serial number and has to be programmed as well as a laser cut key and laser cut key is not very commonly used especially here in Belize and so that's adds another security element to the key."

And with all that Belize Diesel hopes it can move a few hundred unites of these in the next few months.

Currently, the new 2016 Hilux is back ordered at Belize Diesel.