Toyota's Hilux has been the best-selling one-ton bakkie in South Africa for more years than I can remember. It has also take more years than I can remember to get a Hilux for testing purposes, so I was quite delighted when the opportunity finally arrived a few weeks ago

– especially so because it was the newest member of the Hilux family, the XTra Cab. But with the excitement also came a slight bit of trepidation: after all, the Hilux is a living legend. Would it live up to its reputation and impress me as much as it has its thousands of owners? Or will it leave me wondering what the fuss is about?

The answer to this question came soon enough when my standard-issue white Hilux arrived – nothing special or extraordinary to it, as expected. Personally I find it very difficult to get excited about its looks, but there is value in so much familiarity. Despite a comprehensively facelifted model being released in a few weeks' time, the Hilux is still largely attractive, with especially the XTra Cab looking fresher because of its shorter time on the market.

Cosmetically, the XTra Cab features chrome trim on the grille, side mirrors and rear bumper step and is complimented with alloy wheels and aluminium side steps, which is included in the price. The wheels aren't particularly sporty or masculine, but serve its purpose in rounding off an otherwise attractive package. Other benefits include an LED high-level stop lamp, double skinned load box, added plate protection for the gearbox, engine, fuel tank and, in this 4×4 version, for the transfer box. The Xtra Cab is also fitted with a large 80-litre fuel tank with remote fuel cap opener.

Where the XTra Cab scores more points is with its practicality – I can definitely see how someone with a business or even a sporting enthusiast would benefit from this model over the double- or single-cab models. Featuring 500mm more cabin space than the single cab Hilux, easily accessible thanks to tilt and slide front seats, the XTra Cab allows you to store several items inside the cabin instead of in the load box and eliminates the need for an unsightly canopy. Speaking of the load box, it's 1805 mm long, compared to 2315 mm on the single cab and 1520 mm on the double cab.

Inside, my test model was finished in Toyota's infamous grey colour scheme. Kitted to Raider specification levels and mirroring that of the double-cab, the XTra Cab features a radio/CD player with MP3 functionality, Optitron instrumentation, height adjustable power steering with leather trim on steering wheel, cruise control, electric windows and tinted windows all round. Vehicle safety is well taken care of with the fitment of ABS, dual airbags and side impact protection, while remote central locking and an immobiliser is also standard.

Powering the XTra Cab is Toyota's well-known and trusted 3.0 D-4D turbodiesel engine, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The engine offers 120kW at 3 400 r/min and 343Nm of torque in a linear band between 1 400 and 3 200 r/min. The 3.0 D-4D is also no stranger to arduous towing tasks thanks to its turbo charger and, more importantly, its intercooler. Also standard is a locking rear differential and an automatically locking front differential. With 212 mm of ground clearance, the Hilux should be a treat off the beaten track, but due to time constraints I didn't get the opportunity to put it's through its paces.

Retailing for R341 700, the price includes a 5-year/ 90 000km service plan and a 3-year/ 100 000km warranty and roadside assistance plan. Competitors include the Ford Ranger Supercab 3.0 TDCI XLT 4X4 (R348 340), the Isuzu KB300 D-TEQ LX Extended Cab (R347 000) and the Mitsubishi Triton 3.2 DI-D Clubcab 4X4 (R339 400). Neither the Mazda BT-50 Freestyle nor the Nissan Navara Kingcab are available with four-wheel drive and no similar version of the Amarok has been mentioned...yet. Ford's Ranger is about to be replaced with a great-looking new model, while the Triton is still struggling to find mainstream acceptance.

Choosing the best out of this bunch is therefore not an easy task. The Isuzu is the oldest-looking of the bunch, while the Ranger has the most responsive engine. That said, the new Ranger has a new 3.2-litre Duratorq engine and there's no pertinent mention of a Supercab version either. The Hilux is certainly an accomplished player but, while I can certainly understand its popularity, it doesn't do anything significantly better or worse than its competitors. If you wouldn't mind driving the "old" Ranger for a few years while the new Supercab makes it way, it would be my first choice in this group, purely because of its brilliant engine. Eliminating the Ranger from the equation, the Hilux is up next purely because of its pending facelift and the fact that a new KB only arrives next year.