What were the old Toyota pickups called?
They were known by several names: globally the Hilux, in the United States the model carried the Toyota Pickup designation until the mid-1990s, and in Japan an early light-truck carried the Stout name; later, North America adopted the Tacoma.
This article traces how those names appeared across generations, what the Hilux signified in global markets, and how the U.S. lineup evolved into the Tacoma.
Names of Toyota's early pickups
Key names used for Toyota's compact and light-duty trucks before the modern Tacoma era.
- Hilux — global designation for Toyota's compact pickup series, introduced in the late 1960s and used in most markets around the world.
- Toyota Pickup — the designation applied to the U.S.-market light-duty pickup during much of the 1960s through the mid-1990s.
- Stout — an early Japanese-market light truck that preceded and influenced later Hilux designs.
These labels reflect regional marketing choices and the evolution of Toyota's small-truck lineup across decades.
From Hilux and Stout to Tacoma
The North American market adopted the Tacoma name in the mid-1990s, replacing the American-market "Pickup" lineage while Hilux continued to be used in most other regions. The shift signaled a broader, more modern approach to Toyota's light-truck design and naming.
Regional branding contrasts
In Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the Hilux remains the standard name for the compact pickup. In the United States, the Tacoma has served as Toyota's mid-size pickup since its introduction, while the older "Pickup" branding faded.
Summary
In short, Toyota's earliest pickups wore multiple names: Hilux in most markets, Toyota Pickup in the U.S., and Stout in Japan, with Tacoma eventually taking over the U.S. lineup in the mid-1990s. The naming reflects regional strategies rather than a single model identity across all markets.
