X IN THE SHED

RANGE-TOPPING RUGGED X JOINS THE 4X4 SHED.

- TRISTAN TANCREDI

DATE ACQUIRED: JUNE 2021

PRICE (RRP): $69,990

KM SINCE LAST UPDATE: N/A AV

FUEL: 11.2L/100KM

NOT long after we were handed the keys to our long-term Rugged X – the top-of-the-line variant in the Hilux range – the suits at Vic Government HQ initiated Lockdown 4.0 and we were restricted somewhat in our travels. Thankfully, we’d managed to squeeze in an off-road play at the Werribee 4X4 Training & Proving Ground just before the latest round of restrictions came into play.

Priced at a smidge under $70,000 at $69,990, the Rugged X is around $10K more than the popular SR5 and SR5+ variants. For that extra coin though, punters are treated to a number of factory accessories that’ll come in handy when it’s time to tame hardcore off-road tracks.

Locally designed and engineered, the Rugged X gets a steel bar with an inbuilt LED light bar, rock rails running down each flank, a steel rear bar with a step for easy tub access, an intake snorkel, uprated springs, and rated recovery points fore and aft.