What is the US version of Hilux?
The simple answer: Toyota’s US-market counterpart to the Hilux is the Toyota Tacoma. There is no Hilux sold under that badge in the United States.
The US counterpart and global lineage
Globally, the Hilux name covers Toyota’s range of rugged pickup trucks. In the United States, Toyota has offered a midsize pickup under the name Tacoma since the mid-1990s, effectively serving as the American-facing version of the Hilux’s broader family. Since then, the Hilux badge has remained a global nameplate outside the U.S., while the Tacoma has been the go-to choice for North American buyers.
Here are the key facts that connect the Tacoma to the Hilux lineage and explain why the US market uses Tacoma instead of Hilux:
- Branding and market: US buyers see the Tacoma, not a Hilux, in Toyota’s midsize pickup lineup.
- Segment and purpose: Both models target the same midsize pickup market, emphasizing reliability, practicality, and off-road capability.
- Engineering heritage: Earlier generations shared common platform concepts and engineering roots, while modern versions have distinct market-specific tuning and features.
- Availability: The Hilux remains a global model used in many regions, whereas the Tacoma is Toyota’s dedicated US-market alternative in this segment.
In essence, the Toyota Tacoma is the US version of the Hilux in spirit and purpose, tailored to meet American buyers’ preferences and regulatory standards.
History and market context
Understanding the timeline helps explain the naming and regional strategy. The Hilux name has long been associated with Toyota’s global pickup family. In the United States, Toyota stopped using the Hilux badge for its midsize pickups and introduced the Tacoma in the mid-1990s as the American-market counterpart. As of 2025, there is no official US sale of a vehicle branded Hilux; the Hilux remains a global model outside the United States, while the Tacoma continues to anchor Toyota’s US midsize pickup lineup.
Here is a brief historical overview of how the US version evolved:
- Globally, Hilux has been Toyota’s flagship for rugged pickups for decades.
- In the US, the midsize pickup was marketed as the Toyota Pickup and later rebranded as the Tacoma in the mid-1990s to better align with American consumer markets.
- Today, the Hilux is sold in many other countries, while the Tacoma remains the sole Toyota midsize pickup available in the United States.
Current market realities emphasize that buyers in the United States looking for a Toyota midsize pickup should choose the Tacoma, while the Hilux continues to thrive in other regions around the world.
Summary
The US version of Hilux is the Toyota Tacoma. There is no Hilux badge sold in the United States, where Toyota’s midsize pickup lineup is headlined by the Tacoma. Globally, the Hilux name remains popular outside the US, preserving the broader family’s rugged reputation while the Tacoma serves American customers with market-specific tuning and features.
Is a Hilux just a Tacoma?
The main difference between Hilux and Tacoma lies in their market focus and availability. The Hilux is a global workhorse designed for commercial use with diesel engine options, superior towing capacity (3,500kg), and utilitarian design. It's available worldwide except in the US.
Is a Toyota Revo a Hilux?
The Hilux Revo is powered by a 2.8 L or 2.4 L diesel engine that is optimally tuned to realise superb power and excellent fuel efficiency.
Is the Toyota Tundra the same as a Hilux?
Not surprisingly, the Tundra trumps the HiLux with its superior towing capability – 4.3 versus the HiLux's 2.5 tonne. The American pick-up also comes equipped with a tow pack, as well as Trailer Sway Control and a Tow transmission mode.
What is Hilux called in the USA?
The Toyota Hilux is not sold in the USA under that name; its place was taken by the Toyota Tacoma starting in 1995, which was engineered specifically for the American market. Before the Tacoma, the truck was sold in the US as the "Toyota Pickup," with the "Hilux" name being phased out of North American advertising by 1973.
- Current replacement: The Toyota Tacoma is the modern equivalent to the Hilux in the US, though it is a different vehicle designed for the North American market.
- Pre-Tacoma name: Before 1995, the truck was sold in the US simply as the Toyota Pickup.
- Historical context: The "Hilux" name was used in North America in the early years, but was dropped from official branding and advertising in the early 1970s in favor of "Pickup".
