Toyota’s Tacoma could land here — but HiLux-loyal tradies aren’t sold
Toyota keeps leaving the door half open on bringing the Tacoma to Australia. On paper, the idea sounds tempting: more size, more comfort and a pickup vibe rather than a classic work ute. On site, the question is different. With the HiLux ruling for decades, what would the Tacoma actually need to offer to win over tradies who don’t change horses easily?
Bigger, tougher looking, and built with comfort in mind
Toyota isn’t locking anything in yet. The Tacoma keeps popping up as a “we’re looking at it” possibility for Australia, with no timing or final specs confirmed. That alone is enough to spark noise.
Because here’s the reality: the HiLux isn’t just another ute. It’s the default setting on site. Proven diesel, known reliability, and a support network tradies trust without thinking twice. Shifting someone off that takes more than a new shape or a glossy pitch.
Two Toyotas, two very different mindsets
Even with the same badge, the HiLux and Tacoma play different games. The HiLux was born and bred as a straight-up work tool, designed to be a no-nonsense combat ute. The Tacoma comes out of the North American market, where the focus leans more toward lifestyle pickup territory: bigger cabins, more comfort, and a feel closer to an SUV with a tray out back.
In its current forms, the Tacoma runs turbo petrol engines and hybrid options in some markets. That still raises eyebrows in Australia, where diesel remains king for work duties, especially when torque delivery, range and long term durability matter. Toyota Australia knows that line well. That’s why it’s been clear that if the Tacoma does come here, it would need serious local tuning to meet Aussie expectations. And we’ve heard that promise before.
“The HiLux isn’t loved for big numbers. It’s loved for how it uses them.”
The Tacoma numbers
In markets where it’s already on sale, the Tacoma brings some eye-catching figures. Current versions run a 2.4-litre turbo engine making around 207 kW and roughly 430 Nm. In hybrid form, output jumps to about 243 kW and close to 630 Nm, a figure that genuinely trips up a lot of mid-size utes.
Towing capacity typically sits under the 3,500 kg mark, often closer to 2,900 kg depending on the variant. That’s respectable, but it still falls short of the unofficial benchmark many Aussie tradies expect. And for anyone towing heavy, often and without compromise, that gap matters more than headline power.
What would need to change to win tradies over
If the Tacoma landed in Australia exactly as it’s sold in the US, it would struggle to win over the old guard. Petrol and hybrid drivetrains still raise questions in a market that leans hard on diesel for work duties.
That said, the Tacoma doesn’t feel like it’s meant to replace the HiLux. It reads more like a second lane within Toyota’s lineup. A pickup-style option for tradies who do long drives, lighter towing and want more cab comfort, without walking away from the badge they trust.
For now though, until there are clear local specs on the table, the HiLux remains queen without argument. The Tacoma sparks curiosity, sure. Conviction will only come once Toyota makes it official.
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