Toyota Hilux

2k, 3k, 5k, 7k are legendary Toyota no frills engine. The little engine was known as simple basic push rod design that lends itself to be one of the most reliable power plant that helps brand such as Corolla to be the second popular car after VW Beetle worldwide.

This is an era where most Japanese cars gain its popularity as being frugal, reliable and yet bland thin metal driving character. This is the era before MR1, Integra, Accord and Lexus were even not on the design board yet.  3K was the power plant for 1973 legendary Corolla. Basic 1200 cc engine was used for Corolla up to 1983.

Its sibling the 1500 cc 5K engine was introduced to Indonesia as the power plant for minibus dominating market share from 1982 up to 1993. From 1994 to 1997 the larger 7K with 1800cc was produced. Engine highlights are amongst other very smooth running, high torque at low rpm and boringly reliable. From 1997 the 7K was constantly improved albeit with the addition of pointless contact and so CDI or automatic capacitive discharge. With the advent of ECU open loop system and fuel injection, whilst most European brand has been equipped with by mid 1985, Toyota has just began in late 1990s. Oh, I am referring to market share leader of minibus "Kijang".

The year 1997 saw a significant progress as Toyota fitting a Mc Pherson suspension up front.  Even after the introduction of the new rounded body (It is so rounded that it gets the nickname Capsule) and closed loop ECU the 7K was still in production up to 2004.  All these on rigid separate chassis, where the body sits upon it.

Great simplicity is gradually disappeared as Toyota going upmarket due to stronger Yen and fierce competition from other part of the world including Korea. 2004 was the turning point for market dominant Kijang with the introduction of monocoque body Avanza. The next generation of Kijang was based on Hilux with sophisticated suspension on its four corner, was subsequently introduced a year later. No more K series engine.

Kijang's siblings are known also through out other part of Asia up to South Africa with the name tags : Unser, Zace, Tamaraw, Revo, Qualis and Condor. Sales in Indonesia alone has reached 1,050,155 units, it is amazingly popular that the biggest local car club is none other than Kijang club.

Don't bother to ask K series engine performance, you will be yawning all the way. But the truth is that Toyota Kijang has attained its reliability record  by using simple engine, simple suspension and simple truck like chassis, sounds like the big 3 Detroit's recipe on maintaining their truck market leadership? Don't they score big time on profit by selling old technology for a decade long?

Keep the old technology as long as possible on lower class car model for nice fat margin, yet over the years it is evident that cost cutting measures has resulted poorer driving comforts. Try to drive a 1997 and 2003 Kijang Capsule (Kapsul), you will notice immediately its degrading NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) qualities.

Oh what a feeling..! This is the popular tagline by Toyota marketing ads in 1990s. I rest my case. I drive other brand than Toyota for brand new car choices, where as my classic car preference is the legendary brick wall 960 turbo Volvo. While a Volvo is not nearly exciting as a classic Ford  RS500 Cosworth, it has a simple yet proven  reliable  B series engine power plant much similar to Toyota's own K series. That's another story!