Thairung Transformer II review: Quick drive

Sure, you can brag about owning a hybrid at dinner parties, but you can’t fool me – I know you’ve secretly dreamed about owning a squared-off quasi-military off-roader at some point. It’s okay, this is a safe space.

Hummers, Defenders,G-Wagens, and everything else in that niche segment have commanded loyal and cult-like followings, as owners buy into the idea of having a vehicle that could get them to the ends of the earth in style.

But there’s a good chance this is one you haven’t heard of before: the Thairung Transformer II.

It is, more or less, just a square SUV body on a Toyota HiLux platform, created with governments and military customers in mind – though they’ll happily sell one to a retail buyer, provided you’re within shouting distance of Thailand.

Thairung Union Car is a vehicle body builder in Thailand, but you have the company to thank for the likes of the Toyota Fortuner,Ford Everest,Isuzu MU-X, and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – as well as other forgotten models like the Holden Colorado 7.

You see, the company rose to prominence by taking dual-cab 4×4 utes and turning them into seven-seat SUVs in the 1990s. While ute-based SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner and HiLux Surf existed beforehand, they only came with five seats.

Thairung had the idea of using the longer wheelbases of utes to add a third row of seats, thus creating a new segment – and its popularity forced all the big automakers to follow.

However, the Transformer II is strictly created for Southeast Asia, which means you’re unlikely to ever see one in Australia. For the time being, anyway.

But given its uniqueness – and the fact it’s an interesting version of Australia’s second most popular model, the HiLux – we thought it would be a cool vehicle to check out.

As it turns out, we’re the first English-speaking media to be given the opportunity to review one.

How much does the Thairung Transformer II cost?

As the Transformer isn’t available in Australia, its price is a bit of a moot point – but for context, the vehicle starts at ฿1.6 million – or almost A$72,000.

That’s for the five-seat short-wheelbase model, with the 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from the Thai-market 2WD Toyota HiLux – which is no longer available in Australia.

Buyers can choose from five, seven, nine, or 11 seats, with the range-topping high-roof variant starting from around A$89,000.

Interestingly though, while the vehicles are available for locals to buy, executives revealed to CarExpert that the company was no longer actively marketing the vehicle to retail buyers, following the influx of cut-price off-road SUVs from China.

To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

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What is the Thairung Transformer II like on the inside?

It is, literally, a Toyota HiLux on the inside – though custom upholstery is available to buyers.

But with the new body, there are several noticeable changes, like the completely flat windscreen, the higher roof, painted metal pillar trims and, obviously, the rear cargo area.

Much of the original HiLux has been retained or reused, meaning things like exterior door handles and interior door trims are familiar Toyota fare.

We were given the chance to poke around several variants, but the one we drove was a motor show concept they called the Bumblebee – named after the iconic Autobot from the Transformer series, which is arguably best known for morphing into a Chevrolet Camaro.

That meant a new yellow and black paint job and an interior retrimmed in the same colours.

Together with the Hummer H3 silhouette and the Ironman-inspired headlights, the vehicle certainly attracted some attention on the outskirts of Bangkok.

The seven-seater offers a traditional 2+3+2 arrangement, whereas the 11-seater has a pair of three-pax bench seats facing each other, like in a Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series Troop Carrier.

A side-swing rear door and a spring-loaded rear step make for easy rear access, though the rear bench seats in the nine- and 11-seater would be better suited to shorter trips.

To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

It’s also just a Toyota HiLux under the bonnet, with a choice of 2.4-litre or 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engines, six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, and either rear- or four-wheel drive.

Outputs are 110kW of power and 400Nm of torque for the smaller four-cylinder, or 150kW and 500Nm from the bigger unit. However, as in the HiLux, the 2.8-litre sees torque capped at 420Nm when paired with a manual transmission.

To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Thairung Transformer II drive?

Brace yourselves – but it drives pretty much the same as a previous-generation HiLux.

But despite retaining the leaf-sprung rear-end from the ute, the extra weight over the rear axle means it actually drives a fair bit nicer on the road than the HiLux.

The pre-loaded rear springs, coupled with shocks that seem tuned more for comfort, make for a reasonably pleasant ride. The vehicle feels settled over bumps, but naturally doesn’t offer the kind of sophistication found in ute-based seven-seaters from major car companies.

Our (very) limited time with the Transformer meant we didn’t get to blast the vehicle across the Thanon Thong Chai mountain range, but handling was more utilitarian than anything – though the higher centre of gravity meant the weight of the body was more noticeable than with a HiLux or Fortuner.

The Bumblebee used the 2.4-litre engine and auto, which I was expecting to be underpowered, but that wasn’t the case at all. There was still plenty of perk to get the Transformer up to speed, even with three people on board.

Again, we weren’t able to test its off-road abilities first-hand, but we were shown footage of the vehicle in action. Given its HiLux underpinnings, it’s no surprise that it seems pretty capable when the going gets tough.

To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

Given the Transformer II is based on the previous-generation HiLux, the list of features depends on which variant of the Thai-market Toyota ute is specified.

Transformers are underpinned by either the 2.4-litre or 2.8-litre versions of the HiLux Revo Rocco Double Cab – roughly the equivalent of the Toyota HiLux Workmate Hi-Rider 4×2 or HiLux SR 4×4 dual-cab utes previously offered in Australia.

2026 Toyota HiLux Workmate equipment highlights:

• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Two-speaker sound system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic headlights
• Air-conditioning
• Power windows
• Vinyl floors
• Reversing camera
• 17-inch wheels

The SR adds:

• Multi-Terrain Select with six selectable modes
• Hill descent control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Six-speaker sound system
• Front air-conditioned cooler box

To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Thairung Transformer II safe?

While the Transformer itself hasn’t been independently safety tested, the HiLux received five stars from ASEAN NCAP in 2020.

Safety features of the Toyota HiLux Revo Rocco:

• 7 airbags
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Accidental acceleration suppression system

To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Thairung Transformer II cost to run?

Continuing the theme, warranty and maintenance are both conducted under the Toyota banner.

Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), which is a lower mileage cap than most other diesel-powered light commercial vehicles in the segment.

Despite the exotic looks, the Transformer II isn’t any more difficult to maintain than a standard HiLux – and has all the advantages that come with owning a HiLux, such as dealership accessibility, parts availability, and reliability.

To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Thairung Transformer II

Thairung might not be about to take the place of the now-defunct Toyota Fortuner in Australia, but the Transformer II is an interesting insight into what can be achieved when there is enough market demand – along with a sprinkling of creativity and ambition.

While perhaps a little crude in spots, like the plastic add-ons and low-res decals, the body itself is reasonably well built – in some areas even to a higher level of quality than some from car manufacturers, given it has been designed for military and specialty uses.

However, in other areas, the bodywork does lack some of the refinement found in modern mass-produced passenger cars – but again, the masses aren’t the target market here.

Besides the looks from passers-by, the Transformer doesn’t feel particularly special or different from behind the wheel. But being able to transport up to 11 people in a vehicle with the same footprint as a dual-cab ute would certainly have its applications.

Ultimately though, the nature of it being based on a previous-generation ute means it doesn’t offer the kind of tech or comfort that Australians would be more accustomed to from an off-road SUV, particularly at those prices. However, sometimes you have to pay to stand out from the crowd.

The Transformer feels very much like it exists in an alternate reality, one in which militaries like the Australian Defence Force commissioned a versatile box body on reliable HiLux architecture – rather than going with the Perentie, which used a Land Rover Defender body with an Isuzu powertrain.

Still, it was admittedly fun to experience Thailand’s homegrown Hummer first-hand, and it will be interesting to watch how the Thairung Transformer II evolves – and whether it, or future generations, ever reach Australian shores.

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MORE: Explore the Toyota HiLux showroom

*Conversion from BHT to AUD correct at time of writing.