Why Don’t Toyota Sell The Hilux In The Us?

The so-called “Chicken Tax” is to blame for the lack of Toyota Hiluxes in the United States. This tax refers to a 25% tariff that the U.S. government levies on imported goods like brandy, potato starch, and dextrin as well as light trucks like the Hilux. If the Toyota Hilux were produced in the United States, it could be sold for a reasonable price and not be subject to the Chicken Tax.

Toyota must produce a truck in the United States in order to avoid paying this tax. The Tacoma is essentially Toyota’s answer to the Chicken Tax.

Therefore, Chicken Tax prevents the Hilux from competing in the American pickup truck market since this tariff drives up the price of the vehicle. On the other hand, you are free to import a Toyota Hilux from someplace else in the world. There are no legal restrictions on purchasing a Toyota Hilux in the United States.

The Hilux won’t Toyota ever sell in the US?

As previously said, the Toyota Hilux got off to a solid start and kept becoming stronger. The Toyota Pickup, which is another name for the Hilux, was a well-liked option for business fleets in the 1990s. Owners adored their vehicles since they were not only functional but also comfortable to drive and had a hint of luxury inside.

In 1995, the Toyota Hilux vanished from the North American market despite all of this. Emission and safety regulations may be a factor in Toyota’s decision to discontinue the Hilux in North America. Toyota stopped producing the Hilux in the US and instead introduced the Toyota Tacoma as a new model for American consumers.

Although it costs a lot, it is technically still possible to import a Toyota Hilux into the United States today. A 25% tariff is necessary to import a light vehicle made outside of the US due to the Chicken Tax, a tax policy the US government has enacted. The Hilux is now too expensive to compete with other compact pickup trucks on the US market thanks to this 25% price increase.

The consumers would no longer be compelled to pay the additional 25% levy if Toyota produced the Hilux in the US.

Why aren’t Toyota diesel vehicles marketed in the US?

It is true that Toyota sold the Hilux in America until 1995, when the Tacoma took its place.

Since there used to be a fair number of them on the highways, the Hilux was frequently referred to North America as just the “Toyota Pickup.”

Why then did Toyota switch to the Tacoma if they had been selling the Hilux up to that point despite the Chicken Tax? Why alter a positive trend?

The United States implemented rules in the 1980s that made it more difficult to import cars into the US market (you can learn more about this in our article on why the Nissan Skyline is illegal in America).

Short version: These legislative amendments added to the difficulties already caused by the feared Chicken Tax, making it more difficult and expensive for Toyota to sell the Hilux in America.

This confluence of elements gave Toyota the inspiration to create a light vehicle that was better suited for the American and Canadian markets.

The Tacoma had a better ride and more comfortable ride than the Hilux, along with better on-road performance and safety features, at the sacrifice of durability and payload capacity.

The Hilux is regarded as the ideal vehicle for off-roading, construction work, and agricultural use in many markets. As a result, Hiluxes were frequently marketed to companies (particularly farmers) who valued toughness, cargo capacity, and off-road performance over creature amenities. The Hilux is still one of the most popular business/commercial vehicles in New Zealand, where we are situated, despite the fact that other trucks (or “utes” as they are called here) offer greater driving dynamics and conveniences.

However, “light trucks (i.e., smaller utility vehicles) are less frequently used as strictly commercial vehicles in the North American market.”

The preference of North American consumers to buy larger trucks for use as agricultural vehicles, “tradesman trucks,” etc.

For the American market, the Hilux had a strange market niche. It was too tiny to serve as a proper commercial or agricultural vehicle, and the majority of domestic purchasers were starting to favor SUVs like the Hilux-based 4Runner.

This is made worse by the fact that the Hilux performs best with diesel engines yet that the American market prefers bigger gasoline engines (at least when it comes to vehicles used for personal transportationwhereas in countries like Australia and New Zealand it is not unusual at all for a family to purchase a diesel car for everyday use).

Our investigation indicates that Toyota does not currently provide any diesel-powered automobiles for sale in the United States due to consumer preferences and requirements for emissions management. The greatest diesel engine options for these trucks, as any Hilux lover will tell you, are another factor working against the Hilux in the American market.

How does the Tacoma compare to the Hilux?

Everything in America is bigger than you would imagine, and the Tacoma is no exception. The Hilux and Tacoma’s differences, however, are not particularly significant.

According to Driving Line, the double cab Tacoma is only marginally wider than a Hilux in its class. Given that American roadways are a bit wider than those in many other nations, these measurements are appropriate for the Tacoma.

In terms of the trapezoidal shape, the most recent Hilux resembles the Tacoma, but the Hilux sports a more streamlined front and sleeker headlights. Additionally, it has more defined wheel designs and sharper body lines. There are alternatives for a tough exterior that has a lot of cladding, though.

The Tacoma, on the other hand, has a block appearance with bulging fenders, glaring headlamps, and a squared-off body shape.

What makes the Toyota Hilux so unique?

The first vehicle to travel to the Magnetic North Pole was this one. The Hilux was the first vehicle to be driven to the Magnetic North Pole in 2007. Jeremey Clarkson, a broadcaster for Top Gear, was operating the vehicle.

What makes the Hilux so trustworthy?

As a result, the HiLux continues to be successful due to a number of factors, including its reputation as a dependable workhorse, Australia’s continued love of four-wheel driving, a vast array of variants, a comprehensive sales and service network, high resale prices, and a large market share.

Is a Toyota diesel vehicle coming to the US?

Additionally, the Toyota Tacoma turbodiesel is anticipated to be available with a standard six-speed automatic gearbox or six-speed manual transmission, which will add to the excitement for off-roaders. This would give drivers more choices, which would further alter the game.

The new diesel engine should give the 2022 Toyota Tacoma additional power. To make it more competitive, its towing capacity might be increased to roughly 8,000 lb. For instance, the Chevy Colorado can tow up to 7,700 lb, whereas the 2021 Toyota Tacoma can pull up to 6,800 lb. Therefore, the outdated Tacoma has long needed some upgrades.

Hilux or Tacoma, which is larger?

When comparing the sizes of the Tacoma and the Hilux, it’s clear that everything in America is bigger than it is elsewhere, though perhaps not by as much as you might assume. The well-liked double cab, short bed Tacoma is about two inches longer than a Hilux with a comparable specification.

In terms of breadth, they are roughly equal, with the Tacoma measuring around two inches broader than an equivalent Hilux. This is to be expected given the size of American roads and parking spaces compared to those in the major markets for the Hilux.

Can I purchase a car in Mexico and import it to the United States?

An R34 cannot be registered or operated on public roads in the United States before 2024, according to the NHTSA, and is only permitted for use on tracks. This calls for specific NHTSA approval and the conversion of the vehicle to track-only use prior to importing.

That still leaves one border open, therefore today we’ll talk about how to bring an automobile from Mexico into the country without the use of a professional business. Fortunately, importing an automobile from Mexico is not all that dissimilar from doing it almost everywhere else. The procedures for importing an automobile from Mexico are largely the same as those for shipping one from outside, with the exception of the fact that you can just drive the vehicle across the border.

Let’s take a deeper look at the procedures you must follow in order to legally import and operate a Mexican vehicle in the United States.

Are the Toyota Tundra and the Hilux the same thing?

Toyota Tundra and Hilux vary in that Tundra is larger than Hilux and, as a result, has a far greater capacity for towing than Toyota Hilux. But for most people, the Toyota Hilux can be a cost-effective choice.

Hilux or Ranger: which is superior?

Even if the Toyota Hilux has almost legendary qualities and the Japanese company behind it is reputable, the Ford Ranger still triumphs based solely on specifications. In comparison to its Toyota rival, it provides you with a lot more features and power options at a lower price. The higher grade variations that offer you active and passive car protection include a ton of features. These not only make the vehicle safer, but also easier to drive. Based on what the spec sheet suggests and the Ford Ranger’s more competitive pricing for what the vehicle can provide, the Ford Ranger wins this head-to-head comparison.

What is the Toyota Hilux’s lifespan?

The lifespan of a Toyota Hilux is between 250,000 and 300,000 kilometres. Any Toyota Hilux can easily surpass 300,000 miles with routine maintenance and repairs. Your Hilux should last 10 to 15 years with average annual mileage of 20,000 to 30,000 miles before needing significant maintenance.