The all-new Toyota Hilux has taken its first major off-road outing in the region, tackling the demanding white dunes of the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve during the 2026 Toyota Atlantis 4×4 Fun Day in the Western Cape.
The event, held on Saturday, October 3, brought together close to 100 four-wheel-drive crews for a full day of sand, wind and challenging off-road tasks, providing the latest Hilux with an ideal setting to show what it can do away from the tar.
Atlantis Fun Day 2026
The Toyota Atlantis 4×4 Fun Day has become a regular fixture on the Western Cape’s off-road calendar, taking place on the first weekend of October and attracting enthusiasts from across the region. Organised by the Four-Wheel Drive Club of Southern Africa, Western Cape, and supported by Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) as the main sponsor, this year’s event featured eight different tasks spread across the white dunes. While the morning started cool and cloudy, conditions soon turned sunny and mild. However, a strong wind remained throughout the day, adding another challenge for competitors navigating the dunes.
Toyota vehicles dominated the field, making up more than half of the entries. The line-up stretched across generations, with everything from a 1983 Hilux to modern Toyota 4×4 models taking part.
The event also highlighted the strong involvement of Toyota dealers, with Rola Toyota, Bidvest McCarthy, NMI Toyota Kuilsrivier and CFAO Toyota Cape Town each supporting one of the day’s tasks.
Atlantis newbie
Among the biggest attractions was the all-new Hilux, which made its Atlantis debut in Legend 4×4 guise.
Toyota gave members of the motoring media an opportunity to put the new bakkie through its paces, with four media crews completing all eight tasks alongside the regular competitors.
The Hilux models used were stock standard apart from Dunlop Grandtrek A/T tyres, selected for their performance in off-road conditions.
Brendon Staniforth of Maroela Media, Justin Ford of Wheels24, Chad Luckhoff of AutoTrader and Oliver Keohane of CAR Magazine took on the challenge. Staniforth, partnered by his wife Leonora, emerged as the best placed of the four media crews.
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