Built to last: Two Hilux Surfs and a love for four-wheel drives

The Toyota Hilux Surf has never been about chasing trends. It isn't the fastest platform, nor the most luxurious, or packed with the latest technology. Yet, after more than 40 years since it first appeared, it remains one of the most respected 4x4s ever built. From the American freeways to the mountains of Japan, and from African deserts to the roads of Bangladesh, the Hilux and Hilux Surf models have earned a reputation for doing one thing exceptionally well: getting you where you need to go. 

In Bangladesh, where road conditions can change more frequently than the state of July skies, each journey can take you from smooth highways to broken roads and muddy tracks. These are exactly the conditions where people would appreciate a Toyota Hilux. 

Thus, today's feature includes the story of two Hilux Surfs, a 1994 second-generation model and a 2000 third-generation model, owned by a father and son whose love for four-wheel drives goes back generations. 

Their story didn't begin with the Hilux Surf. The family's connection with four-wheel drives started in the 1950s. Their great-grandfather, grandfather, and other ancestors in the family have passed down the stories of traveling across Bangladesh on hunting trips in Jeep Willys models. At one point, the family owned around ten Willys MBs and CJ5s. Today, they still have a Willys MB and a CJ5, both reminders of where it all began.

Raihan Ahmed with his original 1989 Hilux that sparked his enduring love for four-wheelers. PHOTO: Collected

Toyota became part of the story in 1992. At just 23 years old, the father, Raihan Ahmed, bought a red 1989 Toyota Hilux double-cab pickup with a manual gearbox. It became his daily driver and took him all over Bangladesh with friends. Those trips made him fall in love with the Hilux. It wasn't flashy, but it was dependable, comfortable enough for long drives, and ready for almost anything.

He sold it in 1997, but he never stopped wanting another one. 25 years later, that chance finally came. In 2022, his son, Rayan Ahmed, found a 2000 third-generation Hilux Surf. It wasn't a perfect example, but that didn't matter. Bringing another Hilux back into the family meant more than finding a spotless SUV.

Then, earlier this year, they found something even more special. A red 1994 second-generation Hilux Surf showing only around 28,000 kilometres. It still wore its original factory paint, had its original red interior, came with a manual gearbox, and proper four-wheel drive. Finding one in this condition is rare anywhere, especially in Bangladesh.

The original paint and red interior of the 1994 Hilux remain remarkably well-preserved. PHOTO: Nafirul Haq

The 1994 Surf belongs to the N130 generation. It has the classic boxy shape that many enthusiasts still prefer. The upright windscreen, large windows, and simple dashboard give it excellent visibility, while the body-on-frame chassis reminds you that this was built as a proper off-roader first and an SUV second.

Drive it, and it feels exactly as an old-school Japanese 4x4 should. The steering has weight, the manual gearbox keeps you involved, and the four-wheel-drive system is always there when the road gets rough. Every gear change and every input reminds you that you're driving a machine built before touchscreens and driving modes became the norm.

The newer 2000 Surf tells a different story. By then, Toyota had made the Surf quieter, smoother, and easier to live with. The rounded body, improved suspension, and more refined cabin made it a much better long-distance cruiser without losing the toughness that made the Surf so popular.

In 2022, Rayan Ahmed found a 2000 third-generation Hilux Surf which was later perfected to ensure it lasts a lifetime. PHOTO: Nafirul Haq

Their 2000 model is powered by a 2.7-litre petrol engine paired with an automatic transmission. It's rear-wheel drive rather than four-wheel drive, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming the family's everyday SUV. In Dhaka's traffic, the automatic gearbox makes life much easier, and on the highway it settles into an easy, comfortable rhythm.

Interestingly, despite the newer model being the easier vehicle to drive, the father still reaches for the keys to the older Surf. The manual gearbox and four-wheel drive remind him of the red Hilux pickup he owned in the early '90s. It demands a little more from the driver, but that's exactly why he enjoys it. Each Surf offers something the other doesn't.

The 2000 is the practical tourer. Comfortable, refined, and happy to cover long distances without complaint.

The 1994 is the one that makes you slow down and enjoy the drive. It has the character, the involvement, and the simplicity that many modern SUVs have left behind.

The 2000 Surf wasn't perfect when it came into the family. Its previous owner had converted it to LPG, but the engine never felt quite right. After buying it, the family removed the LPG system and switched it back to octane. The engine improved, but it still lacked the performance they expected.

Rather than living with it, they rebuilt the engine completely. Since then, it has been how a Hilux should run.

Two generations, two designs, but both retain unmistakable Hilux character. PHOTO: Nafirul Haq

It has taken them to Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Teknaf, Sylhet, Gazipur, and many other parts of the country without a single major issue, as expected from these vehicles. Those trips have only strengthened their belief that the Surf deserves its reputation as one of Toyota's most dependable vehicles.

Toyota got the basics right. A strong ladder-frame chassis, dependable engines, simple mechanicals, and suspension that can handle rough roads day after day. It is tough enough for bad roads, comfortable enough for family trips, and simple enough to keep running for decades — especially here in Bangladesh.

Our roads aren't perfect. Potholes, broken surfaces, floodwater, and long highway journeys are all part of everyday driving. The Surf takes it all in stride. It feels planted on the highway, comfortable in the city, and completely at home once the pavement ends.

Whether it's the older manual 4WD or the newer automatic, both give the same feeling behind the wheel. They feel solid and dependable. They make you feel like driving.

For this father and son duo, though, these vehicles mean far more than reliability.

The 1994 factory red Hilux Surf still wore its original factory paint, had its original red interior, came with a manual gearbox, and proper four-wheel drive. PHOTO: Nafirul Haq

Working on them together, taking them on road trips, and keeping them in good condition has become something they genuinely enjoy. One recent drive to Gazipur stands out. The father drove the red 1994 Surf while his son followed in the 2000 model. It was the son's first time driving on the highway, making the trip one they'll both remember.

Ask them whether they'd recommend a Hilux Surf today, and the answer comes without hesitation.

Their only advice is to buy the best-maintained example you can find. These vehicles are now more than two decades old, so condition matters far more than the badge or the model year. A well-looked-after Surf will reward you with years of dependable service.

That's why the Hilux Surf has stood the test of time. It wasn't built to impress people in a showroom. It was built to work, to travel, and to last. 30 years later, these two Surfs are still doing exactly that on the roads of Bangladesh. Few vehicles earn that kind of reputation. The Hilux Surf did, and it continues to prove why it remains one of the world's most respected 4x4s.