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.
In This Article...
A Toyota Hilux is legal to own in the US.
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.
Toyota Hilux: Is it the same as Tacoma?
Except for those in North America, almost every country has access to the Toyota Hilux as its midsize truck. Why? Our Hilux lasted until 1976. We then changed its name to Toyota Truck and then Tacoma.
The Hilux (or Hi-Lux) evolved from being the same fundamental truck we have in this country to a totally distinct truck for the international market. Over time, the Hilux developed distinctive features that set it apart from the Tacoma.
It has a separate platform and distinct powertrains now. Its capabilities, outward design, and interior design are all different. Simply said, it’s a truck that is almost entirely unique.
The 2.8-liter, 1GD-FTV four-cylinder common rail diesel engine of the Toyota Hilux used in this movie produces 177 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. Although it had a six-speed manual transmission as standard, the owner in this video chose the six-speed automatic instead. The Hilux differs from the Tacoma in terms of cargo, towing, and size.
When the new truck(s) platform version of the TNGA is introduced, all of that could alter in the future. In the future, other components might be shared.
This video shows:
We get a great and thorough look at a 2019 Toyota Hilux thanks to this video entry from Malaysia. The American Tacoma differs significantly from what the rest of the world receives right away. Despite being completely different, it nonetheless enjoys a sterling reputation.
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.
What makes terrorists choose Toyotas?
One of Toyota’s most devoted and unfortunate customers returned to power on August 15 when the Taliban rode into Kabul and took control of the presidential palace.
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.
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.
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.
Does Tacoma outperform Hilux?
According to Autoweek, the 2019 Hilux has an updated 2.8-liter inline-four turbodiesel engine. This has a 201 horsepower and 369 lb-ft torque output.
Customers of the Tacoma have a choice between a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 horsepower and a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 278 horsepower, according to U.S. News & World Report. Only TRD trim levels provide the manual transmission option. The rest of the lineup includes a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Tacoma has two- and four-wheel drive choices. Both the Tacoma and the Hilux are available with two or four doors, as well as either long or short pickup beds.
Toyota designed the Tacoma with towing in mind while favoring a higher payload with the Hilux. The Hilux non-chassis cab can tow 1,650 pounds while the Tacoma can pull up to 6,800 pounds. But compared to the Tacoma’s 1,685 pounds, the Hilux can carry up to 2,240 pounds.
What is America’s toughest truck?
These Are The Road’s Toughest Pickup Trucks.
- 8 Ford F-150.
- 7 Silverados Chevrolet.
- 6 Ford F-250.
- Toyota Tundra, no. 5.
- Four GMC Sierra 1500s.
- 3-Wheel Chevrolet Colorado
- 2 RAM 1500.
- 1 Chevy C/K.
What truck is the toughest to destroy?
The most durable pickups are the Toyota Tundra and Honda Ridgeline.
- Toyota Tundra, 2022.
- Honda Ridgeline model year.
- Toyota Tacoma for 2019.
- Nissan Titan 2020.
- Chevrolet Silverado 2020.
- 2019 Ford F-150.
Does purchasing a Toyota HiLux make sense?
The Toyota HiLux has a quiet diesel engine, accommodates large loads with ease, and tows effectively. It is available with dual-range 4WD or two-wheel drive, and in 4WD trim it is excellent off-road. The HiLux is available in a wide range of variants, including cozy, family-friendly Double-Cabs. Toyota offers the best remote area support and all models come with autonomous emergency braking.