Experiencing the All-New Toyota Tamaraw in Mindoro

There's a lot to like about the all-new Toyota Tamaraw.

- By SAM SURLA

Proudly built in the Philippines, a proper workhorse truck that's affordable across a wide price range, and a modular platform that's extremely adaptable to any needs. You have something that could sell itself, but Toyota Motor Philippines decided to go above and beyond in giving the media an unforgettable first experience with the all-new truck by kicking off the first-ever Lakbay Tamaraw in the home of the actual Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), in the island of Mindoro.

With fellow PhilSTAR Wheels writer Mica De los Reyes, we were assigned to the 2.4 GL Dropside DSL AT. This retails for Php 1,075,000, and is the current top-of-the-line variant.

Among the rest of the Tamaraws in the ferry, this one is the most understated due to its black paint and all-terrain tires with 17-inch Black Rhino off-road wheels to match. This top-of-the-line variant receives projector LED headlamps, a unique grille with a silver-finished Toyota emblem, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The boxy retro-futuristic look of the Tamaraw has a secret weapon in its modularity. Multiple mounting points and the design of the bumpers allow for countless modifications, and make the truck very easy to repair in terms of accessibility and cheaper parts. Workhorse trucks like these will need to be easily fixed to minimize downtime.

Stepping inside, the utilitarian interior has a certain charm. The designers have done their best to make the interior aesthetically pleasing amidst the use of hard-wearing plastics, with relatively comfortable PVC (plastic leather) upholstery, cupholders, and a center armrest storage area. This specific variant also has an adjustable passenger-side seat, meaning we could put some of our bags behind the seats.