A year back, Toyota rolled out something they called the Hilux Champ. It’s a small truck, made for the Asian market, cheap and customizable. Depending on where you’re standing on the map, it might have a different name—like Rangga, or maybe Tamaraw. But the truck itself? Same deal every time: a chassis-cab design, ready for whatever you feel like attaching behind the front seats. Sooner or later, someone was bound to slap a rear cabin on it and squeeze in more seats, and now that’s exactly what we’re looking at.
This quirky-looking SUV, destined specifically for Indonesia where they’re calling it the Hilux Rangga, adds two extra rows of seats in the back. That bumps it up to a seven-seater. The design was actually teased earlier this year during the Indonesia International Auto Show. The rear end—built by New Armada, a company known for its work with buses—isn’t just about tossing in a few seats and calling it a day. They’ve gone further, crafting a rear shell that tries to match Toyota’s original boxy, robust style. The roof stretches over the entire length of the vehicle, so the result doesn’t scream “aftermarket hack job.”
Step inside, and you’ll notice three seats in the middle row and two more crammed into the far-back area. Spacious? Not really. Both rows seem tight, especially since the Hilux Rangga measures barely 16 feet long in its stretched version. For perspective, that’s about as long as a Ford Maverick—not exactly roomy.
Under the hood, there are two engine options. One runs on gasoline, the other on diesel. The diesel maxes out at 148 horsepower—not exactly thrilling. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and for enthusiasts, there’s a five-speed manual option. But let’s face it, the odd proportions and tiny wheels make “enthusiastic driving” unlikely. You might prefer the six-speed automatic instead.
Toyota, working with New Armada, will sell this converted SUV through dealerships in Indonesia starting in 2025.
Source and Images: Motor1