Toyota Hilux Returns To Japan After 13 Years

Toyota will be reintroducing the Hilux into the Japanese market after the model's 13 year hiatus. The new Toyota Hilux will be available at Toyota dealers across Japan from 12 September onwards. 

Sales of the previous generation Toyota Hilux ended in 2004, with roughly 9,000 owners still using the Hilux for work. 

"Furthermore, I would like to propose to customers not only the functional value of objects but also their conceptual value, in terms of special experiences and time gained by their possessing. We realize that for various practical reasons, Hilux can be a difficult vehicle to choose―for example, being a Class 1 vehicle, it requires annual inspection, and it is subject to slightly higher expressway tolls," said Masahiko Maeda, chief development engineer for the Hilux.

The Japanese market Toyota Hilux will be powered exclusively by a 2.4-litre 2GD-FTV turbodiesel engine that does 150 PS and 400 Nm, mated to a six-speed automatic. Under the JC08 test cycle, the Toyota Hilux returns 11.8 km/L.

Toyota is offering two grades of the Hilux for the Japanese market, Hilux X and Hilux Z. Both variants of the Toyota Hilux come fully-imported from Toyota's production facility in Thailand. The company aims to sell 2,000 units of the Hilux annually. 

Elsewhere, Toyota has also introduced a redesigned Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and updated FJ Cruiser. The former is available alongside the Hilux from 12 September onwards, while the latter will be available at Toyota dealers from 16 October onwards.