What is Toyota Hilux called in America?
In the United States, the Hilux name is not used for any current Toyota pickup. The U.S. market uses the Toyota Tacoma as its mid-size pickup, and before 1995 the truck was marketed as the Toyota Pickup. Toyota does not sell the Hilux in the American market today.
The question explores how Toyota brands its pickups across different regions and why the Hilux badge never became a staple in North America, with the Tacoma serving as the mainstream American model instead.
Historical naming in the United States
Below is a concise look at how the U.S. has branded Toyota’s compact/mid-size pickups over time.
- The U.S. market previously used the Toyota Pickup name for its compact pickup offerings, a lineage that eventually evolved into the Tacoma line.
- In 1995, Toyota officially replaced the Toyota Pickup with the Toyota Tacoma in North America, establishing the modern mid-size Toyota truck for American buyers.
- The Hilux name continues to be used globally for Toyota’s pickup in most markets outside the United States and Canada.
In summary, the Hilux badge has not been used for sale in the American market since the mid-1990s, with Tacoma serving as the contemporary North American model.
The current U.S. lineup and naming
Here is a quick clarification of the current branding you’ll encounter in the United States regarding Toyota’s pickups.
- The modern mid-size Toyota pickup offered in the U.S. is the Toyota Tacoma, introduced in 1995 to supersede the Toyota Pickup name in North America.
- The Hilux name is reserved for most global markets outside North America and is not part of the U.S. lineup.
- In practice, if you’re shopping today in the U.S., you’ll find the Tacoma rather than anything called Hilux.
Conclusion: For American buyers, the Hilux label isn’t used; the relevant models are the Toyota Tacoma (current) and, historically, the Toyota Pickup preceding it.
Global context
Beyond North America, the Hilux remains a core global model for Toyota, spanning many generations and configurations—from work-ready pickups to passenger-oriented variants—while the United States maintains its Tacoma lineage.
Summary: The Toyota Hilux is not called or sold as such in America. The U.S. market uses the Toyota Tacoma today, with the earlier Toyota Pickup name having been retired in favor of Tacoma in 1995. Globally, however, the Hilux persists as the name for Toyota’s international pickup lineup.
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.
What is Toyota Hilux called in the USA?
The Toyota Hilux was sold in the U.S. as the Toyota Pickup until 1995, when it was replaced by the Toyota Tacoma. It was also known simply as the "Toyota Truck" after the early 1970s. There is no modern version of the global Hilux sold in the US, but a compact utility vehicle called the Hilux Champ is coming to the US market to fill a more affordable, no-frills niche, though it is not a direct replacement for the global Hilux.
- Past name: Before 1995, the Toyota pickup truck sold in the US was known as the Toyota Pickup, or simply "Toyota Truck".
- Current replacement: The Tacoma replaced the pickup/Hilux in the US market in 1995.
- New model: The new Toyota Hilux Champ is being released in the US as a compact, affordable, customizable chassis, different from the global Hilux and the Tacoma.
Are Toyota Tundra and Hilux the same?
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.
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.
