The Toyota Hilux is totally legal to import from elsewhere in the world if you so choose; it is not prohibited in the United States. However, after including in all the import-related expenses, such as the 25% Chicken Tax, you’ll find that your little truck actually cost you much more than a brand-new Toyota Tacoma, and you’ll lose a lot of money when you try to sell it.
In This Article...
In the US, where can I purchase a Toyota Hilux?
One of the most well-liked, resilient, dependable, and adaptable pickup trucks in the world, the Toyota Hilux is the standard model in a huge number of nations. You might be wondering why you can’t buy a Toyota Hilux in America if the Hilux is so great and no country likes trucks as much as we do in America. And before we go any further, selling the Hilux in the US is not prohibited.
The Chicken Tax, a 25% tariff (tax) levied by the American government on imported brandy, dextrin, potato starch, and light vehicles like the Toyota Hilux, prevents you from purchasing a Toyota Hilux at the moment. The Hilux wouldn’t be subject to that tariff if Toyota constructed it here in America like many other Toyota models, enabling Toyota to sell it for a reasonable price. The Hilux would become uncompetitive in the market for compact pickup trucks as a result of the levy.
Although it’s impossible to purchase a Hilux in the United States, you can get some excellent secondhand trucks and other automobiles for incredibly inexpensive costs here that might be sufficient. Ex-government and confiscated automobiles of various varieties are available for purchase at government auctions, where savvy bidders can score a significant discount.
Why am I unable to purchase a Toyota Hilux in the US?
The government passed a new law in the 1980s that made it more challenging to import brand-new automobiles from abroad. The Hilux was a light-duty truck, and in the 1960s, a tax known as the “Chicken Tax” levied a 25% tax to them. Toyota began manufacturing automobiles in the United States in order to circumvent these limitations.
Toyota also accomplished this by collaborating with American manufactures like Winnebago. This, according to Toyota of Orlando, is what gave Toyota the opportunity to enter the American SUV market. Toyota also developed the popular 4Runner SUV in this way. However, the 4Runner’s success also demonstrated to Toyota that producing automobiles in the United States, for Americans, was the company’s future in this country.
To replace the Hilux, Toyota began producing the Tacoma as a small pickup truck in America. Both the form and the function of the two models are remarkably similar. The Tacoma makes up for the differences by enabling Toyota to circumvent restrictions that the Hilux was unable to.
The Drive claims that the Hilux no longer complies with American emissions and safety requirements because it has been out of American markets for such a long time. There is a significant reason why Toyota won’t produce an American Hilux that is produced in America and complies with American safety and pollution regulations.
What does the Toyota Hilux look like in the US?
The Toyota Hilux is a robust and dependable truck that is well-known throughout the world, despite not being available in the United States. Even though the trucks are somewhat distinct and uniquely styled, that trustworthy vibe carries over to the similarly sized Tacoma pickup we do get here. Our first glimpses of what seems to be the 2021 Hilux show a truck with more than a little Tacoma in it, suggesting that the two Toyotas may become more stylistically similar in the future.
The images were released by the auto export company Milele Motors, who claimed they showed the upgraded Hilux. If this is the new Hilux, it has a strong grille that resembles the Tacoma in design. According to the website, Toyota offers two headlamp options: a full LED option for higher trim levels and a halogen/LED combo for lower trim levels (exactly like our Taco does). The website also claims that the tail lamps have new designs. Shades of orange, blue, golden, red, and many others will be among the various colors that the Hilux will be offered in.
These computer-generated images might just be renderings of a new Hilux; in that case, the finished product might differ from these images. The latest Hilux pickup made its debut in 2015 and underwent cosmetic changes in 2017. In 2018, a limited-edition “Invincible” variant was released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Hilux nameplate. If not a complete redesign, it is due for another mid-cycle face-lift soon.
It’s less certain how this hypothetical new Hilux would fit into claims that the Tacoma and Tundra will share a platform with all of Toyota’s pickups around the world. In the same way that it has done since adopting the Toyota New Global Architecture, this would assist Toyota in reducing complexity and saving money. Additionally, it would align the mid-size Tacoma truck sold in the US with the Hilux. In North America, Toyota used to sell the Hilux, but in 1995 the Tacoma took its place. These days, the two trucks are extremely different automobiles that are suitable for various markets. However, a Taco/Hilux realignment might be some time off. For 2020, the Tacoma sold in the United States will feature new design, LED headlights, and an improved infotainment system. The truck leads the pack in sales of mid-size pickups even though it is by no means the best in its class.
The cost of a Hilux in the USA
The Toyota Hilux and Toyota Tacoma are very similar to one another in many aspects. Both vehicles have rear-wheel drive as a basic feature and four-wheel drive as an option. Each vehicle has a 2.7-liter gasoline engine. Both have a reputation for being dependable and enduring.
Despite this, there are a few minor variances between the Toyota trucks in terms of design and engine specifications. The Tacoma is bigger and more rugged, whereas the Hilux, which was marketed as a compact pickup truck until 2004, has a more streamlined SUV appearance. Additionally, the Hilux offers a single cab layout as an option, whilst the Tacoma does not.
The Hilux is the only one of the two vehicles with a diesel engine option, a 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. A 2.7-liter four-cylinder gas engine with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission is an additional option for the 2021 vehicles.
In contrast, the Tacoma does come with a 3.5-liter V6 engine. However, the Tacoma’s maximum towing capability is 6,800 pounds, compared to the Hilux’s 7,700 pounds.
Simply said, as a work truck, the Hilux places more value on its high torque ratings, whilst the Tacoma, as a capable off-road vehicle, places more value on horsepower.
The Tacoma costs over $25,000 while the base model of the Hilux costs over $15,000. Both vehicles have higher-end variants that cost around $40,000.
Therefore, even if it’s unlikely that a new Hilux would be sold in American markets in the foreseeable future, the style of the forthcoming Hilux may start to resemble the Toyota Tacoma more. Or perhaps it’s the opposite. The Hilux was the first, after all.
Our editors individually choose all of the products that are displayed on Alt driver. However, we might get paid a commission if you use one of our links to make a purchase.
Are Toyota Hilux vehicles sold there?
Toyota Motor Sales unveiled its 2018 diesel Hilux in Mexico, with 5,000 vehicles scheduled to be sold through the end of the following year. The Japanese assembler stated at the introduction of the two new diesel variants of this model that they were hoping to boost their presence in the pick-up vehicle market with this commercial activity as this market accounts for 23% of the Firm’s overall sales. Toyota modified this vehicle to fit the type of diesel sold in this country in order to successfully launch the Diesel Hilux in Mexico.
Are Hilux and Tacoma equivalent?
The Tacoma and Hilux are significantly distinct trucks, despite the fact that they may appear to be very similar to a casual observer. The latest generation of each has, however, been available for roughly the same amount of time.
The third generation of the Texas-made Tacoma and the eighth generation of the Hilux, built at factories all over the world, including Thailand, a significant market for the truck, respectively, went on sale in 2015.
Do Toyota Hiluxes sell in Canada?
The Fiat Toro might be the ideal lightweight pickup truck for city dwellers. It has four comfortable seats, is small enough to fit in a parking space, and has an open box in the back that may be used to transport a load of decking material from the lumberyard to your house.
The Toro won’t be arriving in either Canada or the United States, according to FCA, the automaker famous for its full-size Ram pickups. The Toro is one of at least a half-dozen enticing compact utility cars that are not available in the United States but are suitable for countries like Argentina, Brazil, or Mexico.
In North America, mid-size vehicles including GM’s Canyon and Colorado, Ford’s Ranger, Toyota’s Tacoma, Nissan’s Frontier, Honda’s Ridgeline, and FCA’s strikingly Jeep-like Gladiator are now the only viable alternatives to full-size pickups.
What is the main barrier preventing the importation of these small trucks into Canada and the US? “According to Toyota Canada Inc. vice president Stephen Beatty, Americans. “In North America, size is a major success factor. Are North Americans willing to choose smaller cars? No, is the response. Things have a tendency to grow bigger in vehicles.
Automakers have previously attempted to solve the mini-pickup puzzle. Volkswagen manufactured a type of Frankentruck in the late 1970s that was built on the chassis of the subcompact Rabbitthe forerunner to today’s Golf. Not only was Volkswagen present. In the 1960s, both the Truck from Datsun and Mazda’s B-series pickups debuted as tiny trucks (now Nissan). Mini trucks were ugly, ungainly, and heartless in those days. They just failed to sell, therefore they vanished.
However, modern small trucks sold all over the world provide excellent fuel efficiency together with comfort, convenience, and flair. Could the small truck make a comeback in North America? We certainly hope so. Here are a couple of our favorite trucks that we’d want to see in Canada right now, organized alphabetically.
Fiat Toro
According to U.S. and Canadian standards, this unibody-based vehicle’s 4,915 mm total length qualifies it as a “mini pickup.” It was created in Brazil and is based on the Jeep Renegade, Jeep Compass, and Fiat 500X’s compact, broad 4×4 design. The Fiat Toro has front-wheel or four-wheel drive and is powered by 1.8, 2.4, or 2.0 liter gasoline or turbodiesel engines. Fiat asserts that it can seat five people.
The reasons we like it are that it is simply adorable, has excellent gas mileage, and would be the ideal urban runabout. For minor applications, even the split tailgate with hinges on either side is useful.
Markets in Latin America, such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Chile, as well as Portugal, are where it is sold.
Why isn’t it available here?
According to Jordan Wasylyk, communications manager for FCA Canada, the Fiat Toro is a car that was created and manufactured specifically for the Latin American market. “In North America, Ram and now Jeep compete in the pickup sector, while Fiat continues to operate in the compact passenger vehicle area. Toro doesn’t fit with our lineup because Fiat is a manufacturer of little passenger vehicles.
Reason for optimism? Don’t wager on it, Wasylyk advises. Seriously, don’t. Instead, FCA has said that it is thinking about developing a new mid-size pickup, perhaps bringing back the Dakota nameplate that was dropped over ten years ago.
Renault Duster Oroch
For the South American market, it was created in So Paulo and released in Brazil in 2015. A five-seat light pickup built on the Duster SUV, the Duster Oroch is offered in select regions of the world under the Dacia name. Instead of the conventional body-on-frame seen in most pickups, it sports a unibody design. It can carry a meager 650 kg of weight. By North American standards, it is also a mini truck at 4,700 mm. The length of the bed is only 1,350 mm. It is offered with a 1.6- or 2.0-liter gasoline engine and a five- or six-speed manual transmission.
Why we like it: Similar to the Fiat Toro, it targets the micro-pickup market, which prioritizes convenience and garageability over load capacity.
Sales locations: The Oroch, which was first offered in South America, is also sold in Mexico, India, Africa, and Europe.
What is a ‘chicken tax’?
- The “chicken tax” was initially imposed as a 25% levy on light trucks imported into the United States as well as potato starch, dextrin, and brandy. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson enacted the tax in reaction to levies France and West Germany imposed on imports of American chicken. Although brandy, dextrin, and potato starch tariffs were removed, there is still protectionism in effect for automakers. Canada is free from the tax under the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA).
Why is it not offered here? Renault left the Canadian market in 1988 but returned in 2016 with the Twizy electric runabout on a very small scale (which is kind of a glorified golf cart). The Oroch does not adhere to safety regulations in Canada or the United States, and it would also be subject to the 25 percent “chicken tax” on imports of light trucks. Its lower-than-average safety ratings in other areas have also drawn some criticism.
Reason for optimism? There is almost no chance that you will see this adorable small pickup anytime soon on Canadian highways. To satisfy market demand in Canada and the United States, Renault/Nissan is relying on the mid-size Nissan Frontier. In 2021, a rebuilt Frontier is anticipated, and it will almost definitely be much larger than the Oroch.
Toyota Hilux
This is the Tacoma mid-size truck from Toyota, which has been consistently popular (in Canada and the United States, at least). The Hilux is primarily a work truck and lacks many of the Tacoma’s extras. The latter is advertised more as an all-purpose car with a strong off-road focus. The Hilux comes standard with a four-cylinder engine and two-wheel drive.
Why we like it: The Hilux is a straightforward truck that is simple to maintain. In comparison to the testosterone-fueled Tacoma, it also has a gentler, more urban-friendly look. Taxis, police cars, and utility vehicles for contractors all over the world use the Hilux.
Where it is sold: It is offered in marketplaces all over the world, including those in Mexico, South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania.
Why is it not offered here? Since the Hilux brand was discontinued in Canada and the United States in 1976, the current model (eighth generation) does not meet regional safety and emissions regulations. The Hilux is also subject to the 25% tax because it is not produced here “American tax on chicken
Reason for optimism? “Everyone adores the Hilux. According to Stephen Beatty at Toyota Canada, I adore the Hilux. “They occasionally appear on Canadian roadways due to persons bringing them over from Mexico. However, the market in Canada and the United States for 2WD commuter vehicles has “Almost vanished, says Beatty. This vehicle’s potential market is too small to warrant the capital expenditure.
Volkswagen Amarok
This spacious crew-cab truck is about the size of a mid-size. Its largest engine, a 3.0-liter V-6 with an eight-speed automated transmission, has 201 horsepower. With a payload capacity of up to 1,147 kg and a towing capacity of 3,100 kg, it can pull vehicles as heavy as the Colorado (3,401 kg) and Ranger (3,401 kg) (3,500 kg). Three countriesArgentina, Germany, and Algeriabuild the Amarok. Its length from end to end is 5,900 mm with the enlarged box.
Why we like it: This is a tried-and-true, no-frills truck that is little but powerful enough to perform actual labor.
Mexico, South America, Europe, Russia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are among the regions where it is sold.
Why is it not offered here? “According to Thomas Tetzlaff, manager of public relations for Volkswagen Canada, we must weigh the sales potential of [a new model] against the cost of bringing it to market in terms of production, logistics, R&D, homologation [certification to safety and emissions standards], and even macroeconomic factors, like exchange rates. “The “chicken tax” is another important consideration in the particular scenario of a pickup truck headed towards North America.
Reason for optimism? Tetzlaff declined to comment on upcoming vehicles, but Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess reaffirmed last month that the company is working with Ford to build a replacement for the Amarok for global distribution, including North America, and that it may be released as early as 2022. The new car, which is based on the Tarok idea, may be produced at the Ranger assembly factory in Wayne, Michigan, avoiding the 25% tariff. Volkswagen has also hinted to the Tanoak concept compact pickup, which is built on the MQB chassis of the Atlas SUV, but believes that the unibody-based car would not be popular in North America.
There are additional little pickups available. The Mitsubishi Triton is popular elsewhere (and was formerly offered here as the Dodge Ram 50), and there are rumors that Ford and Chevy are planning tiny pickup trucks for international markets but not for ours. The Santa Cruz compact unibody pickup, on the other hand, will be introduced by Hyundai in North America later this year.