The Toyota Hilux is amongst the most renowned automobiles, but it’s not the same as the Tacoma pickup truck, which is also quite prevalent in the United States.
The Hilux now looks remarkably much like the Tacoma than what it did previously, thanks to a recent redesign that includes a new cabin and a more powerful diesel engine. So let’s put the luxury and heavy-duty trucks up against one other.
Key Takeaways
- The Tacoma is primarily marketed in North America, while the Hilux is sold in various global markets.
- The Tacoma has a larger body and more powerful engine options than the Hilux.
- The Hilux is known for its rugged durability and off-road capabilities, whereas the Tacoma focuses more on comfort and styling.
Toyota Tacoma vs Hilux
The Toyota Tacoma is a mid-sized pickup truck primarily designed for the North American market, renowned for its durability and off-road capabilities. The Toyota Hilux is a compact pickup truck marketed in other global markets, recognized for its robustness, reliability, and overall utility.
Since 1995, the Toyota Tacoma has been a station wagon made by Toyota, a Japanese vehicle manufacturer. The very first Tacoma was categorized as a midsize pickup truck from 1995 to 2004.
The second version, which was manufactured from 2005 to 2015, and the third generation, which has been produced since 2015, are categorized as mid-sized trucks and are manufactured in Mexico And the United States.
The Toyota Hilux, stylized as HiLux and formerly as Hi-Lux, is a line of light trucks manufactured and sold by Toyota, a Japanese automaker.
Even though they might be built in several body designs, the bulk among these vehicles is offered as trucks or cab chassis types.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Toyota Tacoma | Hilux |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date | The first Toyota Tacoma was launched in the year 1995. | The Hilux was launched in 1968. This pick-up truck has been around for more than 5 decades. Till present, it has sold over 20 million units in 180 nations. |
| Horsepower | The Tacoma is a capable heavy duty pickup truck with 278 horsepower. | The Hilux has a net horsepower of 177hp. |
| Size | Toyota Tacoma is wider than the Hilux providing extra space in the cabin. | The Hilux is compact and a bit smaller than Tacoma. The Hilux resembles the Highlander SUV. |
| Mileage | The mileage of Toyota Tacoma is 19 mpg city/24 mpg on highways. | The mileage of Hilux is 12 mpg city and 20mpg on highways. |
| Market | The Tacoma has been marketed and sold only in the USA. | The Hilux has been marketed in the international market. |
What is Toyota Tacoma?
Toyota Tacoma was released in the United States in February 1995 (commercial debut in March 1995) as a successor for the Hilux, which had been previously sold in the United States as the Toyota Pickup.
When contrasted to the Hilux, the Tacoma places a higher value on driving dynamics, agility, comfort, as well as safety above durability and cargo capacity.
The layout is designed to better meet the demands of the trucks market in the United States as well as Canada, wherein pickup trucks, especially light, and midsized versions, are frequently utilized as personal vehicles rather than just for industrial, farming, and off-road purposes.
The insides of the Tacoma are blockier and much more blatantly trucky in aspect, just like the outside.
Toyota redesigned the truck for the 2020 model year in the United States, introducing a customary 7.0-inch screen with Carplay, Android Auto, and Alexa Voice connectivity.
The New Toyota Sense package of active-safety systems, which includes cruise control, carriageway warning, and automatic braking, is now included across the range.
Tacoma customers have fewer powertrain options, either with a 159-hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine or a 278-hp 3.5-liter V-6.
Just the TRD Off-Road as well as TRD Pro equipment levels, as well as certain body variants, have a manual gearbox; and everything has a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The robust cabin of the 2019 Tacoma matches its rough performance.
Although the cabin of many of its contemporaries in the United States is a touch more upmarket, the Tacoma offers a good enough cabin with just some wonderful optional amenities like leather upholstery, a sunroof, JBL premium sound, as well as a built-in GoPro attachment.
What is Toyota Hilux?
In war-torn places, parts of the Middle East, the Hilux is the preferred vehicle of terrorists. We’ve all seen the dusty photos of Hilux pickup trucks filled with armed officers and branded with “Toyota” at the tailgate parties.
The Hilux bears a stronger similarity to the Highlanders SUV.
In most areas, the pickup truck was marketed as a HiLux, although in North America, the Hilux brand was dropped in 1976 in favor of Truck, Utility Vehicle, or Small Truck.
The renowned option bundle, the SR5 was utilized as a reference model for something like the truck in North America, despite the fact that the options bundle was also offered on other Toyota vehicles.
The new Toyota Hilux will be available in a variety of regions at different periods. It will be released in July in Eastern Europe, early September in Australia, and November in West Europe. It’ll never come to the United States.
Not in its present configuration, at least. In the United States, those looking for a midsize Toyota truck have only one option: the Tacoma, which begins at $25,445 and sits towards the center of its class.
The Hilux is Australia’s best-selling car, which is intriguing. Top Gear has indeed picked Hilux for a variety of other tasks that the show considers appropriate. In every case, it outperforms expectations, enhancing its attractiveness.
Main Differences Between Toyota Tacoma and Hilux
- Toyota Tacoma is mostly available in the USA whereas the Hilux is targeted throughout Toyota’s international market.
- Toyota Tacoma has a rugged pickup truck look whereas the Hilux resembles a Highlander SUV.
- Toyota Tacoma is slightly wider and more spacious than the Hilux.
- Toyota Tacoma has a 3.5-liter V6; 278 hp, 265 lb-ft of torque engine whereas the Hilux has a 2.8-liter turbodiesel inline-four; 177 hp engine.
- Mileage of Toyota Tacoma is 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway whereas the mileage of Hilux is 12 mpg city and 20mpg in highways.
- https://indianexpress.com/article/business/companies/toyota-hilux-india-pick-up-launch-price-features-specs-mileage-details-7732871/#:~:text=Speaking%20at%20the%20virtual%20launch,across%20180%20countries%20to%20date.
- https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
