Toyota Hilux (formerly the Toyota Pickup in the North American market) are a series of compact pickup trucks, now reclassificied as a mid-size upon the introduction of seven-gen to present. It is build by Toyota since 1968. Since the 3rd series of the show, the Hilux has grown to become one of the most venerated names in the history of Top Gear.
Hilux initially powered with inline-4 petrol engines and RWD, by the introduction of third-gen to onwards the part-time 4WD was added by the used of the second lever beside on the shifter. It can only use for off-roading. By fourth-gen the diesel engines is offered. In a later generation now includes the V6, turbocharged or supercharged for increase power. Current eigth-gen with increase overall dimension now classified as mid-size since previous sixth-gen.
The light-commercial vehicle version was launched in late 2023, as the Hilux Champ. The Hilux Champ mainly sold in Southeast Asian markets only.
In Top Gear, Hilux often used as a challenge truck. One notable is the first road vehicle to reach North Pole at exact coordinates.
Appearances[]
- In Series 3, Episode 5 and Episode 6 (Indestructible Hilux, Part I and II), Jeremy testing the fourth-gen Hilux diesel with 190,000 miles on odometer for toughness in abuse way in order: by drove it down a flight of stairs, sideswiped buildings, head-on collision on tree, sweeping the Hilux through tides, setting cabin on fire, dropping a caravan into it, and placing to top of the building for implosion. Through, the Hilux still has capable of engine running by using basic tools but suffering extreme structural damage (to the point that, according to the presenters, the bodywork was holding the chassis together instead of the other way around) and driving it back to the studio.
- In Amphibious Car Challenge, Jeremy picks the fifth-gen Hilux as a part of a challenge that can hover through lake. He simply welded the underfloor chassis, sealed windows and doors, mounted an outboard engine, and painted with a "B" and spelt dubbed as Toybota. His Toybota had a stability issue on the lake and unable to rescue James's Herald sailboat. He was first to cross on pontoon but he steered too fast and veered and promptly to sink and lose to James May.
- In Polar Special, Jeremy and James driven the seven-gen Hilux with modification similar in off-road like special snow tyres, with a toilet seat at the rear bumper, etc. The duo crossed first the exact coordinates of North Pole beating Richard whilst only in dogshed.
- In Series 15, Episode 1, James modified the Hilux used previously in Polar Special purposely to driving up the Eyjafjallajökull, he fitted it with a corrugated roof to protect from falling lava, and got very close to the center of the volcano, in fact only a few meters away.
- In Sand Job, the Hilux was seen briefly. At first on the desert, then on the metropolitan of the Maurintania.