Let’s begin with an assumption. You aren’t a thumb-twiddler who stays home listening to podcasts. You like being out there, in the wild, wild world. You have a knack for sniffing out trails, aren’t emotionally dependent on traction and have a reputation for returning home with soiled adventure clothing. You drink out of tubes or hardy steel mugs and your idea of an ideal weekend getaway is one that ends in you looking like you’ve been rescued from under a pile of debris. In other words, you’re exactly what Toyota and KTM had in mind, when they came up with the Hilux and the 390 Enduro R. One has established itself as the last word in reliability while the other, as a seriously fun tool that can go beyond where most dare. We’re taking sides, of course. You’d do well to, as well.
RD: Last word in reliability? Understatement! The Toyota Hilux is bulletproof! No wonder it’s the most popular car in Botswana, Iraq, Thailand and Australia — and 11 other countries. Some questionable entries in there, I agree, but hey, it’s not for us to judge.
MM: True — the Hilux is indeed built like a cockroach wearing kevlar. But what’s really the point of being indestructible if you can’t squeeze through life’s tight spots with a grin, right? The 390 Enduro R doesn’t need a reputation built in war zones… it builds stories, and really wild ones. And unlike the Hilux, it doesn’t require a parking space the size of a helipad.
RD: War zones? You? Your bike is so orange, you wouldn’t last a minute on a battlefield. Look at the Hilux! It may be football-field sized but it’s still so stealthy. What a timeless design, too! It’s the quintessential twin-cab pick-up truck, and you know what gets mounted on its roof in some countries, right?
MM: Yes, I do — but I’ll stick to mounting a GPS and a GoPro, thank you very much. You call that stealthy? The Hilux looks like it’s permanently on a covert mission to buy cement. The Enduro, though? Yes, it is loud, but it looks and feels unapologetically alive — like a war cry on two wheels. Sure, it won’t blend in… but why should freedom ever be subtle?
RD: Funny you talk about freedom. The Hilux has liberated more countries than any other vehicle in history (ahem!) and, you should know, freedom is a long game — what matters is longevity and endurance. The Hilux can go 700 km on a tankful of diesel. Yours?
MM: Wow! 700 km on a tank? But that sounds like a commitment more than freedom. I am not trying to annex a small nation; I am trying to have fun. The Enduro does about 180 km, yes — because after that, I need a break from laughing inside my helmet. Besides, who would want to be stuck in the same seat for 700 km straight? Sounds less like liberation and more like imprisonment with air-conditioning.
RD: Dude, I’ve got 50.9 kgm of torque and 201 bhp — that’s no laughing matter. Plus, there’s electronic 4×4, all the essential off-road driver assists (including a locking-diff) and a 2.8-litre engine that, on average, can do a few lakh kilometres between services. Why do I remember your radiator fan going off after we went through that tiny puddle on the outskirts of Pune?
MM: Yes, that fan was applauding after I splashed through the puddle. Sure, you have 50.9 kgm and 201 bhp — impressive if you are hauling livestock or even liberating an entire postal code. But the Enduro’s a 172- kg rally-bred machine with fully-adjustable WP suspension having over 200 mm of travel at either ends and a 21/18-inch wheel setup. I’d rather waltz past obstacles than flatten them into geological history. Oh, and I don’t have to fiddle around with knobs and dials — one button to switch off the ABS, and needless to say, the Enduro always stays in Off-road mode.
RD: Did you just say ‘172 kg’ and ‘rally-bred’ in the same sentence? Come on, man! KTM’s real rally bikes weigh half that. Well, almost! Even I know that. In any case, don’t forget who stayed dry the whole day — in an air-conditioned cabin and with an automatic gearbox, all while listening to Love Me Harder by Ariana Grande. Fun doesn’t have to be difficult, you know? Also, I see you measure travel in millimetres. The big boys? We measure it in distances. Got a comeback?
MM: Yes, 172 kg. And that includes 43 horses of fury, 3.7 kgm, and a lightweight trellis frame that’s built for punishment. But I’ll admit that you are right — KTM’s real rally bike weigh less. But they are meant for 20-minute bursts and aren’t even street-legal. Try strapping fuel, tools, and a stubborn ego onto one and riding 200 km of mixed terrain. But the 390 Enduro R? It is the people’s rally machine — it scrapes, it bleeds, swears even… but it keeps going. No pop song required.
And sure, you stayed dry in your air-conditioned cocoon, shifting softly to Ariana while the truck did the thinking. But out there, freedom isn’t found in cruise control or cupholders. It’s found standing on the ’pegs, dodging rocks and branches with 253 mm of ground clearance. Freedom here is earned millimetre by millimetre. You measure distances. I measure stories.
RD: And you know what comes to your rescue every single time you’ve managed to entangle yourself in a bush? Repeat after me — a H-I-LU-X. Look, I get that your Enduro R is democratic and inclusive but that also makes it sound a bit… woke? My Hilux is a proper old-school beast. It just chugs along without a care in the world, even just in two-wheel drive. As for telling stories, can yours tell one in under 700mm of water? That’s how much water wading depth the Hilux has. Throw you a life jacket, bud?
MM: Okay, I’ll repeat after you — H-I-L-U-X — the Uber for stranded motorcycles. Isn’t it funny how this one always shows up after the action is over? Almost like a war reporter in cargo shorts. You say ‘old-school beast’ like it’s a compliment. Your Hilux is basically a retired colonel — tough and respected, but still believes wireless CarPlay is a witchcraft.
Yes, the 700 mm of water-wading depth is indeed impressive, but only if you are planning to relocate fish. I don’t need to wade through water that deep — I pick my line, pop the front wheel and glide over trouble. Maybe that’s the difference between steering a boat and riding a blade.
And come on, let’s be honest, Ruman — if the Enduro R is ‘woke’, it is only because it woke you up to what riding truly feels like. I am happy being the underdog — as long as I am the one out front.
RD: Didn’t see you pop the wheel (I hope you meant the one on the front) on that soggy day. Heh. The truth is, the Hilux can swallow your Enduro — and your pride — in its loading bay, and still raid the Himalayas. It has a reputation for being hardy, like one of those Caterpillar boots, if you will.
Also, unlike you, I can go around and explore the world (plus, I’ll blend in anywhere) with friends and some kind of dog. I can’t see enough room there for a pillion, or even a decent sized bag. Might get cold and lonely in a blizzard, won’t you?
MM: Oh don’t worry, I did mean the front wheel. But I get it, you might have missed it while fiddling with your demister and playlist. And as for swallowing the Enduro and my pride — careful what you wish for. That’s a lot of flavour packed into one loading bay, isn’t it? Who knows, you might just develop a taste for freedom.
Agreed, the Hilux is hardy — like those Caterpillar boots — heavy, tough and not exactly what you’d choose for dancing. Meanwhile, the Enduro is like a trail-running shoe dipped in jet fuel — it’s lean, sharp and meant to move, not cruise. And yes, I get it — the Hilux is beloved across continents. But you know what else is globally popular? Instant noodles. Doesn’t mean I want to live on them.
I don’t need room for friends, a dog or some picnic hamper. I just need enough space for tools, change of gloves, and of course, the guts to chase the next adventure — solo, if that’s what it takes.
Cold? Sure. Lonely? Maybe. But that’s the tax you pay for freedom.
RD: Is it just me or are we going nowhere with this? Look, I had fun sploshing around in that field and, I must say, it’s quite impressive, what your Enduro R can do. But the truth is, the Hilux lets you get out there and really explore — no limits. It’s the world’s most rugged 2BHK and, in the eventuality of the apocalypse, it’ll even tow Earth out of danger. That’s some serious trail cred, right there.
Your Enduro (didn’t it fill the Internet with rage over its name or some such?) sure looks rally-ready, but are those even proper knobbies? Also, are you seriously going to lust after it, say, three years from now? My Hilux? It’s been in fashion since 1968. ‘Nuff said.
MM: Fair enough. Your Hilux is the overlanding royalty — a 2BHK with torque, traction and the apocalypse on speed dial. If the world ever decides to roll itself off a cliff, I know which tailgate I’ll be sitting on, sipping on instant coffee.
You can preach all you want about the air-conditioning or the torque but I’ve seen what happens when nobody’s looking. You go down to your parking, see the Enduro staring back… and suddenly the Hilux doesn’t exist. So sure, save me a seat in the Hilux if I am ever stranded. But don’t act surprised when you find out it was your bike that got me there.
RD: Ha! Saved that one for the very end, eh? What flavour of freedom is truer? I think we’ll never find out. The KTM sure sounds like more fun but the Hilux compensates with its tough-as-nails personality. You’ve got to admit, these two do make a good pair; I’ve bought the Enduro, so why don’t you buy the Hilux and we call it even?
MM: Ah, there it is — the trap card. You bought the Enduro, and now want me to balance the equation with a Hilux? Tempting…
Look, we started this arguing about freedom. You measure it in fuel range and cabin space, I measure it in suspension travel and near-death experiences. And maybe we’ll never agree on what freedom truly is — but at least we know what it definitely isn’t: staying home.
So let’s keep it this way — you tow, I tear. You haul, I hop. And when we meet at the end of the trail, soaked, sunburnt and slightly broken… we’ll both know: freedom sounds a lot like bad decisions made with great machines.
