The Toyota Tamaraw is more than just a truck named after an animal
Ever since I first saw the all-new Toyota Tamaraw in the metal as the Hilux Champ in Thailand, and later on at a media preview in Davao City last year, I’ve always wanted to get behind the wheel and experience it for myself.
That finally happened as Toyota Motor Philippines recently invited us along with colleagues from the motoring media beat to the first-ever Lakbay Tamaraw where we got to experience it on the island of Mindoro, known as home to the endemic and critically endangered Tamaraw buffalo.
We started our Tamaraw experience with a two-hour trip onboard a FastCat RORO vessel which already had the fleet of Tamaraws for this drive, both short and long wheelbase versions and in different configurations (including some modded), already loaded onto it.
Getting Acquainted with our Tamaraw
After roughly two hours of smooth sailing, we docked at the Port of Calapan in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. My assigned carmate for this drive, Sheng Banzon of TopGear Philippines, took driving duties for the first leg going to the Toyota Calapan City dealership.
Assigned to us was Tamaraw No. 9 which was completely stock like as if it just came out of the dealership, and in a dropside bodystyle with a manual transmission.
This variant means business when it comes to style and features with basic plastic pieces, halogen reflector headlights, 14-inch steel wheels wrapped in 195-width tires, and an interior that brings you back to a few decades ago with its 2DIN (non-touchscreen) audio head unit with two-speakers, old-school crank windows, and manually-adjustable side mirrors which you have to move with your fingers.
Nevertheless, the Tamaraw is still well thought-out with a basic but attractive design (moreso on the top-spec GL Dropside), high-quality plastics, and decent seats wrapped in a PVC material (bench type for the manual-equipped variants).
No complaints here.
The first challenge? Loading our stuff into the vehicle. With a completely exposed bed, we had to place our backpacks and smaller items into what storage we had inside the vehicle and while parked in the tight spaces onboard the RORO.
Thankfully, the Tamaraw offers several nooks and crannies such as behind the seats to make this possible. Also, our luggage was already forwarded to the resort where we will be staying that night making it less of a problem. Do note that the passenger bench on manual-equipped variants is not adjustable so you’ll have to load stuff all from the driver’s side
There’s no doubt that when it comes to hauling, the Tamaraw will shine as that is what it’s designed for. More on that later.
The Tamaraw in our configuration was full of surprises. Knowing its purpose and affordable price point of just Php 937,000, you’d expect a harsh ride and zero comfort. That wasn’t the case here as the its suspension was actually very compliant, and fares even better than some daily lifestyle-oriented midsize pickup trucks *cough* Toyota Hilux.
With almost zero noise insulation, engine noise will find itself coming into the cabin way more than most will like. That is understandable and you’ll still benefit from not much tire noise and that comfortable ride.
Easier than expected
The surprises are endless as the Tamaraw was actually quite engaging to drive. When it was my turn to go behind the wheel as we headed for our resort for the night (with a few stops), it failed to disappoint me in any way.
First things first, getting inside is trouble-free thanks to the low step-in height, and finding the right driving position for someone like me who stands at 5’7” was easy. Blindspots aren’t a thing too which made it easy to drive this truck around despite its size. This makes it easier to drive compared to your usual cab-over commercial vehicles.
The 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel (2GD-FTV) shared with the Hilux and Fortuner produces the same output of 150 horsepower, and 363Nm of torque for our five-speed manual transmission-equipped unit (400Nm for the A/T). This translates to performance that does not feel utilitarian at all, and one that will be enough for every situation.
The manual transmission’s clutch is easy to figure out and is very friendly thanks to the available diesel torque. First gear is merely a starting gear so you’ll do most low-speed starts from second, while third gear is very flexible especially when driving on twisty roads which we encountered.
And speaking of twisty roads, the Tamaraw felt very planted with minimal body roll thanks to the low center of gravity. The hydraulic power-assisted steering may not provide the best feedback, but it still offered a touch of confidence which you’ll definitely need when driving one of these. I still think of this drive even if it has been nearly a week.
But hey, this isn’t a sports car and the most important thing is that we know that it’s highly capable and surely what it was able to show us during our drive. In addition, it will be easy for anyone, including business owners who need to drive the vehicle themselves.
Oh and fuel economy, we didn’t get the chance to do any computations and the Tamaraw also lacks a fuel economy meter which could’ve given us an estimate. Just know that we left the Port of Calapan with a full tank of diesel, and ended our day with the fuel gauge needle still pointed at full after a little over 150km of driving.
Customizable for any purpose
One important aspect of the new Toyota Tamaraw is its customizability. Designed to be used for various purposes, Toyota had everything in mind during development.
Looking closely at it, I was able to notice a handful of places where you could do some modifications such as some sealed-off holes on the roof where you can screw in a pair of roof rails or cross bars which will be helpful in loading more items. The inside also has some spots to add some grab handles (which it lacks) that will be useful for easier entry and exit.
Toyota has even showcased various modified versions at the Tamaraw’s grand launch last year, and some on this drive with a raised suspension, different wheels, and sport seats.
READ: A closer look at the Toyota Tamaraw Racing Concept
Also who’s to forget the Tamaraw Racing Concept from the second leg of the 2025 Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup. The possibilities are endless with this platform.
More than just a drive
It’s very common for us to go out on these group drives with media colleagues to experience an automotive brand’s latest products. It is however rare and far in-between for these drives to be more than just about a product, and that’s what Toyota Motor Philippines had for us here.
On our second day, we loaded a number of Tamaraws with much-needed supplies to be donated to the Pagturian Mangyan School, a public elementary school in Puerto Galera. The supplies included classroom chairs, school supplies, hygiene kits, and raincoats all for the benefit of the school and its students.
Not only does this showcase the loading capability, ease of use, and main purpose of the Tamaraw as a cargo hauler, but it also gave us a glimpse of life in undeveloped rural areas of local provinces, and a chance to help the community.
Also together with us during the drive were the Bantay Tamaraw Rangers. While their name sounds more like a college basketball team or cheering squad, these guys are actually tasked in helping preserve the Tamaraw which as mentioned earlier is endemic to Mindoro and a critically endangered species.
READ: Toyota Motor PH gives Tamaraw protectors a Tamaraw to use
They don’t have the best equipment, the most budget, or the most support, which is why Toyota Motor Philippines donated a Tamaraw UV a few months back, along with Php 500,000 worth of needed equipment to help with the Tamaraw Conservation Program.
The Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation has even committed to providing a Php 3-million conservation fund to support key program initiatives for the program.
The Toyota Tamaraw is more than just a truck named after an animal
Yup, that’s what I believe and what I think people should be more aware of after experiencing the first-ever Lakbay Tamaraw.
Toyota has given us a truck that will help local businesses deliver, will provide truck enthusiasts with a toy to play around with, and more importantly is helping keep the local automotive manufacturing industry standing on its feet, all while keeping awareness on what the Tamaraw truly is. No, it’s not the iconic commercial vehicle our market has come to know and love, it’s Toyota’s commitment to the growth of our country as a whole.
The Toyota Tamaraw is a useful, purpose-built, easy-to-drive vehicle, named after a critically-endangered animal species, built on the foundation of a drive for better.
Photos by Julian Panlilio and Sam Surla
