Lately, my wife and I have been having enjoyable conversations as to what our next car should be. It’s quite a wide spectrum. Of course, basic sports cars such as the Toyota GR86, the Subaru BRZ and the Mazda MX-5 are omitted from the short list. However, performance is still very much in mind with me, at least. That said, I’m swooning over the Subaru WRX Wagon. I simply love fast wagons—performance and practicality in one car. Alas, it’s not easy to justify at P2.7 million.

Then, there are the usual suspects: crossovers. The Corolla Cross is a top pick. The wife’s family has always had a Corolla, and I think it would be a nice tribute to carry on with the nameplate, in a more practical package. She does like the Suzuki Jimny, but sensibility always kicks in. We can talk about this car or that, but there’s no denying the pickup truck. It’s just so useful. With manufacturers trying to outdo each other, competition is tight among the players.

High on our list are the Mitsubishi Strada, the Nissan Navara, and the Mazda BT-50 for a compliant ride and overall package. Hard to refuse the Toyota Hilux, though. The name is simply too strong, and car enthusiasts like me appreciate its value—from playing with my Tomica miniature to that famous video proving its indestructibility staying in my memory. How can you not want one, really?

I last drove the Hilux in 2019. Before that, I had tried it out in 2015, when the current generation was unveiled. Both times, I found the ride harsh. But since it’s a name that sticks in your head, I thought I’d get reacquainted with it, considering that I’ve been sampling the other pickups recently. I still find the ride to be firm, but this time around, it’s tolerable.

Perhaps I’m not denying the overall value of the Hilux. I keep thinking this is a good truck to have, especially since I’m the type to keep cars for a long time. And you know what they say about Toyota—parts available everywhere.

What I have here is a 2020 Hilux Conquest 4×4 (the later version features a 360° camera). Pickups with macho trims have been quite the attention-grabbers. The Conquest actually started in 2018. It had bold “CONQUEST” lettering on the tailgate and a sports bar on the bed.

Now, it has a more eye-catching grille and scuff plate, wheel-arch cladding, roof ornament, a fancy sports bar, and Conquest badging on the sides. If anything, I do like the wheel design. This tester is finished in Emotional Red, which costs an additional P20,000. It does look good, and my wife likes red for a truck.

Inside, it’s the current-gen Hilux as we know it. Dark gray with blue dials and blue mood lighting. Thankfully, there’s no tacky “Conquest” embroidery.

Pickups with a rugged-appearance package (which is not to everyone’s liking, including me) are a way of upselling the most expensive trim. Moneymakers, basically. I have the same sentiment with the Navara—I prefer the simpler VL over the Pro-4X. Even the Strada GLS is offered in manual transmission only, and one would be compelled to go with the Strada Athlete if he or she wants an automatic.

The Hilux’s 4×4 G variant was the sweet spot for me. No cladding and none of those fancy bits. Just a straightforward pickup. Too bad it was axed two years ago. If you want a 4×4, you’ll have to go with the Conquest, which costs P1.919 million for the AT and P1.844 million for the MT.

These macho trims are the direction now. A simpler-looking Hilux, however, is not a lost cause. I’d have the sports bar and the “Conquest” badging taken off. That way, it looks cleaner. Less is more.