The Indonesian Toyota Kijang May Be The Most Awkward Car In The World, But It’s An Absolute Tank

I’m currently sitting in Bali, Indonesia, preparing to fly home to LA after attending my brother’s wedding (and honeymoon — yeah, I know that sounds weird). The cars here are incredible, but one stands above all the rest just because it looks so awkward.  It’s the Toyota Kijang, and I’m obsessed with it. Here’s why you should be, too.

The Kijang isn’t the ugliest car in the world; that title belongs to the SssangYong Actyon Sports:

Or just the regular Actyon SUV — it’s a draw in my eyes:

But to be the most awkward car in the world has more to do with proportions than outright styling, and on the out-of-whack-proportion front, it’s hard to beat this:

It’s Indonesia’s own Toyota Kijang, a strange SUVish, van-ish thing with the nose of a small sedan. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure how to categorize this thing; the wheels and nose look like they come from an economy car, and yet the body is so long and ridiculously tall — the whole thing like the anteater of automobiles.

I managed to find this incredible video about the Kijang, and though I can’t understand Indonesian, there’s still some gold to be mined from this:

Check out what are apparently the third-gen Kijang’s early design drawings. Oftentimes, a car ends up awkward because a designer’s early sketches get watered down by purchasing and engineering-related realities (read the story of the Pontiac Aztek), but it appears that the Toyota Kijang’s designers actually wanted the vehicle to look this awkward:

The video above also includes this amazing body-in-white image. Notice how the rear door is offset to the right side (part of me wonders if this is somehow using the same stamping as the rear side doors, which have a cutout for the rear wheel openings):

This awkward machine is actually the third-generation of the Kijang, with the first-gen looking like this:

Here’s’s a bit of info on the vehicle known as the “Kijang Buaya” (Buaya means crocodile; it’s how the vehicle looks with the giant hood open) via Indonesian news site iNews:

The launch of the first generation Toyota Kijang (production code KF10) was carried out at the Jakarta Fair (PTJ) in 1975, witnessed by the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto, and the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin. The first generation Toyota Kijang implemented a pick-up concept with a basic box shape. This model is often nicknamed “Kijang Buaya”; because the engine hood can be opened to the side. This first generation Kijang was produced in the period June 1977 to June 1981.

And here are a few technical details via Indonesian automotive marketplace Moladin:

The first generation of Toyota Kijang was equipped with a petrol engine with a capacity of 1,200 cc. The engine is channeled through a 4-speed manual transmission.

As charming as the original Kijang is, the second-gen is even more lovable in my view. I mean, just look at this thing!:

And the SUV is even more adorable. Hot damn this thing is incredible:

Toyota describes the second-gen Kijang thusly:

The second generation of Toyota’s Kijang was launched in 1981.
While retaining the pick-up concept and box design, this generation
saw improved performance to support commercial needs.

iNews gets into a bit more detail on the second-gen Kijang, writing:

The second generation Toyota Kijang (production code KF20) went on sale in June 1981. The shape and model are not much different from the previous generation. Some of the changes include increasing the engine cylinder capacity to 1,300 cc (up 100 cc). This capacity was then increased again to 1,500 cc (up 200 cc). This generation of car is also known as Kijang Doyok. Doors are cuter by being equipped with glass with hinges no longer similar to house door hinges and equipped with locks. This car uses a….engine with a capacity of 1,300 cc, the transmission is still 4 speed. The suspension is still double wishbone with leaf springs at the front and under axle leaf springs (under the axle) at the rear of the car.

The third-generation that I saw, though, was the real game-changer, achieving huge sales and cementing the model as a mainstay in Indonesia, with iNews writing:

At the end of 1986, the third generation Toyota Kijang model was launched on the market. This generation of Kijang has a more curved shape so it looks more modern. This model is still widely used on Indonesian roads even though it is no longer produced.

In this generation, the concept of the Kijang as a transport vehicle began to shift as a passenger vehicle even though many previous generations of Kijang were also modified as passenger vehicles. In this generation, there is also a pick-up variant, although it is no longer the main concept of the Toyota Kijang like the previous generation.

This period can be said to be the generation of the Kijang’s glory as a passenger car, especially before many imported built-up passenger cars enlivened the vehicle market in Indonesia, as well as the peak of Toyota’s dominance over powerful models such as the Mitsubishi Colt L300 and other bonnetless minibuses, such as the Suzuki Carry and Daihatsu. Zebra.

Toyota says this generation was even exported from Indonesia. From the brand:

The Toyota Kijang third generation was launched in 1986
to the automotive market. The improved shape
saw more giving it a modern look, and the localization rate
of parts and components on this model reached 44%.

This generation of Kijang was the first to be exported
abroad by Toyota Indonesia.

So as bizarre as it may look, the fact is: It’s been out of production since 1996, and it’s still on the roads today, offering lots of interior space, excellent visibility, and a tough suspension (but only rear-wheel drive!) to handle treacherous roads. And don’t think the one above is the only one I saw — these things are everywhere.

Carrying families, sometimes being used to haul heavy loads, awkwardly trying to maneuver their strangely large bodies through the tight streets of Bali. I’m amazed that the little 1.5 and 1.8-liter inline-four engines mated to four and five-speed manuals somehow haul this giant SUV-ish thing around while remaining extremely reliable. Diesels sold in other countries (where the vehicle goes by other names like Tamaraw FX) are also known to be bulletproof.

So you can expect one of the most awkward cars on earth to continue making folks feel uncomfortable for many years to come.

UPDATE from a reader named Joe:

Anyways, “kijang” means “deer” in English, but it’s also an abbreviation for “Kerjasama Indonesia JepANG” which literally translates to “cooperation between Indonesia and Japan”

At that time the Indonesian government wants to creatie domestically produced commercial vehicles at affordable prices so that many people can buy them as a means of transportation and distribution of goods.

That’s where Toyota comes in and provides the technology and experience, that’s also why the president of Indonesia attended the car’s launch.