The Toyota Hilux is South Africa’s best-selling bakkie for a reason: it’s tough, it’s everywhere, and parts and service are never far away. Put a B6 armoured build on that same platform and you get a vehicle that still does everything a Hilux is meant to do, while carrying real protection against high-calibre rifle fire, including AK-47 rounds. Here’s what that build actually involves, who it suits, and what to expect on price.
We currently have a Hilux Legend 55 going through a full B6 build in our own Boksburg workshop, alongside a Toyota Land Cruiser 300. You can follow the build as it progresses on our new builds in progress page, it’s a useful way to see exactly what a B6 conversion looks like from the inside out before you commit to one yourself.
Not every vehicle makes sense to armour. The Hilux does, because the qualities that make it South Africa’s default workhorse bakkie, a strong ladder-frame chassis, dependable running gear, and a service network in every town, are exactly what a heavier, armoured vehicle needs underneath it. The added weight of ballistic glass and steel panelling asks more of the suspension and drivetrain than a standard car, and the Hilux is built with the margin to handle it.
It’s also a familiar drive. Once armoured, a Hilux still handles like a Hilux, not like a specialist vehicle you need to relearn, which matters if you’re putting it into daily use on farm roads, site visits, or long-distance travel.
Every Hilux we armour is built to B6, our standard specification, not an upgrade tier. That build includes:
An armoured Hilux tends to earn its keep in a few specific situations:
Protection teams and response vehicles benefit from a platform that’s rugged, familiar to drivers, and easy to keep serviced across a fleet, without needing specialist training to operate day to day.
Businesses running multiple vehicles can standardise on a bakkie that’s already the most common commercial vehicle in the country, with protection built in and parts availability that keeps downtime low.
For long distances on isolated roads, the combination of Hilux reliability and B6 protection covers both the mechanical and the personal-safety side of the trip, particularly where help is hours rather than minutes away.
Because the Hilux sits at a lower base price than larger platforms like the Fortuner or Land Cruiser, an armoured Hilux typically comes in below those vehicles for an equivalent B6 specification, the base vehicle is one of the biggest factors in the final number. Finance is available across our range from roughly R20,905 a month, depending on the vehicle and deposit, and we can give you an exact figure once we know the spec you’re after.
Beyond the base vehicle, the same two factors that affect any B6 build apply here too: the ballistic glass and armour materials themselves, and how much build complexity is involved, a straightforward conversion on a stock-standard Hilux costs less than a heavily customised build with additional spec beyond the standard armouring.
Current stock on our floor changes regularly, so the fastest way to see live pricing on whatever’s available right now is to browse our current stock. For a Hilux specifically, since availability varies, get in touch and we’ll talk you through build timelines and an exact quote for your spec.
Most armoured Hilux builds are done to order, we take your own vehicle or source one to spec and build it to B6 in our Boksburg workshop, as we’re currently doing with the Hilux Legend 55 on our new-builds floor. Second-hand armoured Hilux stock does come up from time to time as well, though less predictably than new builds. Either way, every vehicle, new or second-hand, carries the same B6 specification and 2-year warranty, so there’s no protection trade-off in choosing whichever route fits your timeline.
Because the Hilux is serviced at dealerships and independent workshops across the country, an armoured Hilux also fits into ordinary maintenance routines far more easily than a rarer or imported platform would, the mechanical side of the vehicle stays standard, it’s only the armouring that’s specialist work handled by our own team.
Whether you’re speccing a new build, outfitting a fleet, or checking what’s currently in stock, our Boksburg team can walk you through it and get you an exact quote.
See it built: A Toyota Hilux Legend 55 is currently going through a full B6 build in our Boksburg workshop alongside a Land Cruiser 300. Follow progress on our new builds in progress page, or view the full armoured Toyota range.
It depends on the base vehicle spec, the glass and materials used, and whether you’re building new or buying second-hand, but a Hilux typically prices below larger platforms like the Fortuner for an equivalent B6 build. Finance is available from roughly R20,905 a month across our range. Get in touch for an exact quote on your spec, since availability and build timelines vary.
Yes. The Hilux’s low running costs and wide service network make it a practical choice for standardising a fleet, and we can talk through build timelines and pricing for multiple vehicles, including staggering delivery across a build schedule if you need several at once.
Both are B6 builds with identical protection, so it comes down to what you need day to day. The Hilux suits fleets, farm work and load-carrying, while the Fortuner suits family or executive use where cabin space and comfort matter more. Either way, the armouring specification, the glass, the doors, the warranty, doesn’t change between them.
Pricing figures referenced above reflect M5 Armour’s finance offers at time of publishing and are subject to change. Contact our team for a current, vehicle-specific quote.