What was a 1994 Toyota pickup called?
The 1994 Toyota pickup in the United States was marketed as the Toyota Pickup; internationally, it was sold under the Hilux name.
That branding split reflects Toyota’s regional marketing choices of the era. The model carried the Hilux lineage in most markets, while the U.S. market continued to use the Pickup badge until the Tacoma name surfaced in 1995, signaling a shift in branding and product strategy.
Naming by Market
The following section outlines how the truck was labeled in key regions during the 1994 model year.
- United States: Toyota Pickup (with trim variants such as SR5 appearing on some models)
- Most other markets: Toyota Hilux (the global name for Toyota’s light pickup)
These naming conventions illustrate the split between American branding and the global Hilux lineage that continued in many regions around the world.
Context and historical notes
Within North America, dealer literature and badges commonly displayed Toyota Pickup, while brochures in other regions consistently used Hilux. This dual branding persisted until the U.S. market introduced the Toyota Tacoma in 1995, effectively replacing the Pickup name there.
From Pickup to Tacoma
In 1995, Toyota launched the Tacoma in the United States, marking the end of the Toyota Pickup in that market. The Hilux designation remained the prevailing name in most other countries, continuing the global lineage of Toyota’s compact/ midsize pickup trucks.
Summary
The 1994 Toyota pickup was known as the Toyota Pickup in the United States and as the Hilux in most other markets. The U.S. branding shifted to Tacoma in 1995, while the Hilux name continued to be used globally for the same truck family.
