What is Toyotas small truck called?
In the United States, Toyota's small pickup is the Tacoma; globally, the equivalent compact pickup is the Hilux (often styled as HiLux in branding). This article explains how the nameplates differ by market and what buyers should know.
The U.S. market: the Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma has long anchored Toyota’s entry in the North American midsize pickup segment. It sits below the full-size Tundra and has evolved through multiple generations, expanding in comfort, technology, and off-road capability with models such as the TRD Pro.
Key generations and milestones in the U.S. market:
- First generation (1995–2004): Introduced as a compact/midsize pickup with Xtracab and Access Cab configurations.
- Second generation (2005–2015): Larger cabin, improved aerodynamics, and updated powertrains.
- Third generation (2016–present): Modern platform with enhanced safety tech, V6 power, and expanded off-road trims.
In summary, the Tacoma remains Toyota’s staple small pickup for North American buyers, known for a blend of practicality and rugged capability.
Global counterpart: Hilux and HiLux
Beyond North America, Toyota’s compact pickup is the Hilux, often branded as HiLux in certain markets. The Hilux has a longer, broader global footprint and is widely used as a workhorse across diverse climates and terrains.
Markets and branding variations to know:
- Hilux/HiLux is the standard name for Toyota’s global compact pickup in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and many other regions.
- The Tacoma is rarely sold in most of these markets, making the Hilux the more common designation outside the U.S. and Canada.
- Branding nuances exist by market, with HiLux appearing in certain advertising and dealer literature as a stylized variant of Hilux.
Overall, the Hilux serves as the global counterpart to the Tacoma, emphasizing durability and practicality across a wide range of configurations and drivetrains.
Historical context
The Hilux lineage dates back to the late 1960s, establishing Toyota’s presence in the global pickup segment long before the Tacoma appeared in the U.S. market in 1995. Over the decades, both trucks have evolved separately to meet regional needs—one focused on North American tastes and regulations, the other on global reliability and versatility.
- 1968: The Hilux debuts in Japan and enters global markets, laying the groundwork for Toyota’s global pickup strategy.
- 1995: The Tacoma arrives in the United States as Toyota’s answer to a growing demand for a smaller, more efficient pickup than full-size trucks.
- 2016–present: Modern generations of both vehicles emphasize safety, connectivity, and off-road capability, while maintaining core reliability.
Conclusion: Toyota maintains two distinct but related offerings—the Tacoma for North America and the Hilux/HiLux for the rest of the world—each tailored to regional preferences while inheriting Toyota’s reputation for durability.
Summary
Toyota’s small pickup branding varies by market: Tacoma in the United States (and Canada) and Hilux/HiLux in most other regions. The Tacoma reflects North American design and technology priorities, while the Hilux embodies Toyota’s global focus on rugged, reliable performance across diverse environments. Together, they represent Toyota’s approach to a compact pickup segment that spans continents.
Are Toyota Hilux sold in the US?
No, the Toyota Hilux is not sold in the US, and it was replaced by the Tacoma in the American market in 1995. Reasons include safety and emissions standards, the "chicken tax" on imported trucks, and a desire to sell a model designed specifically for the US market. The Hilux is available in most other countries and older models (over 25 years old) can be imported into the US.
Reasons for unavailability
- Safety and emissions standards: The Hilux must meet specific US safety and emissions regulations, which would require significant and costly re-engineering.
- The "Chicken Tax": A 25% tariff on light trucks imported into the US makes it more expensive to sell the Hilux directly from overseas.
- Market strategy: Toyota chose to sell the Tacoma in the US, a model designed for the North American market with more creature comforts and a different design.
- Competition: Selling the Hilux in the US could cannibalize sales of the Tacoma, a model that is already established in the market.
What you can do
- Buy a Tacoma: The Tacoma is the US equivalent of the Hilux and is the mid-size truck available from Toyota in North America.
- Import an older model: It is possible to import a Hilux into the US if the vehicle is at least 25 years old, as it would be exempt from current US regulations.
What's the smallest truck that Toyota makes?
The smallest current Toyota truck is the Toyota Tacoma, but a new, even smaller compact truck is planned to arrive in the future. While the Tacoma is the smallest available option, it is considered a mid-size truck, and Toyota is developing a new entry-level compact model to compete with trucks like the Ford Maverick. This upcoming truck may be called the Toyota Stout and is expected to be smaller than the Tacoma.
This video discusses the upcoming compact truck from Toyota: 57sThe Fast Lane TruckYouTube · Sep 4, 2025
Current smallest truck
- Toyota Tacoma: The current smallest model available from Toyota in the US market. It is considered a mid-size truck, a step up from a compact pickup.
Upcoming small truck
- Expected name: Possibly the "Stout," a historical Toyota name, or another name.
- Market position: It will be Toyota's entry-level pickup, slotting below the Tacoma.
- Competition: It is being developed to compete directly with compact trucks like the Ford Maverick.
- Expected timeline: Expected to debut around 2027.
- Platform: Likely to be built on the unibody TNGA platform.
This video discusses the potential launch of the new Toyota Stout truck: 40sKirk KreifelsYouTube · May 29, 2025
Is Toyota coming out with a small truck in 2025?
Confirmed: A New Toyota Compact Truck Is in the Works
In a May 2025 interview with MotorTrend, Cooper Ericksen—Toyota North America's head of planning and strategy—made it official: a new compact pickup is on the way. “It's not a matter of 'if' at this point,” Ericksen said.
How much will the 2025 Toyota Stout cost?
With sales beginning in early 2026. Keep an eye out for official announcements as Toyota gears up to shake up the midsize pickup. Market.
