Last year, Toyota introduced the Hilux Champ, a versatile and budget-friendly pickup designed for the Asian market. Known also as the Rangga or Tamaraw depending on the region, this chassis-cab truck was built for customization. Now, an intriguing development has emerged: a rear cabin conversion, transforming the Hilux Champ into a seven-seat SUV. This new configuration, initially destined for Indonesia as the Hilux Rangga SUV, raises a question for American auto enthusiasts: could a vehicle like this ever find its place in the USA?
This unique SUV variant, showcased at the Indonesia International Auto Show earlier this year, is the work of New Armada, an Indonesian company with extensive experience in bus manufacturing. Their conversion of the Hilux Champ goes beyond simply adding seats. The rear shell is carefully crafted to mirror the robust and boxy design of the Toyota cab, creating a seamless and integrated appearance that looks factory-made. The extended roofline further contributes to this cohesive design, ensuring it doesn’t appear as an aftermarket addition.
Inside this transformed Toyota Hilux Champ SUV, the seating arrangement accommodates up to seven passengers across three rows. The middle row fits three, while the back row is designed for two. While detailed specifications on interior space are still pending, initial impressions suggest that space in the middle and rear rows might be somewhat limited. This is not entirely surprising, considering the Hilux Rangga’s compact dimensions, roughly the same length as a Ford Maverick in its long-wheelbase form. For the US market, where compact SUVs and trucks are gaining popularity, this size could be both an advantage and a challenge.
Under the hood, the Hilux Rangga SUV offers a choice of gasoline or diesel engines, with the diesel variant delivering a respectable 148 horsepower. Power is delivered to the rear wheels, and for driving purists, a five-speed manual transmission is available. A six-speed automatic transmission is also an option. Given the vehicle’s boxy shape and smaller wheels, performance is likely geared towards practicality rather than sporty driving dynamics. For the US market, engine options and performance characteristics would be key factors in its potential reception.
While New Armada handles the SUV conversion, Toyota will distribute the Hilux Rangga SUV through its established dealership network in Indonesia, with sales expected to begin in 2025. For the American market, the Toyota Hilux Champ Usa, in its SUV form, presents an interesting proposition. Its customizable nature and potential affordability, key features of the original Hilux Champ concept, could resonate with US buyers seeking a practical and versatile vehicle. Whether Toyota considers bringing a similar model to the USA remains to be seen, but the Hilux Rangga SUV certainly sparks the imagination about the possibilities for compact, customizable SUVs in the American automotive landscape.
