As the largest manufacturer of motor vehicles on the planet, Toyota is certainly a force to be reckoned with. At last count, Toyota Motor Corporation produced 10.48 million units compared to their largest rival Volkswagen Group’s 8.26 million. They’ve been dominating the automotive industry for some time, with their incorporation in 1937 bringing a long list of vehicles of all shapes, sizes and specifications to the market.
After recently celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first generation Hilux – a bestselling model that is now on its 8th series – it’s safe to say that their enviable reputation producing pickups is well deserved.
The Hilux however is just one of the pickup models that have been successful during Toyota’s long history.
And so it begins…
The Toyota Stout was the brand’s first ‘official’ pickup truck, though technically the pickup version of its famous Land Cruiser was the beginnings of the iconic design. Nevertheless, the Stout was thought to be the catalyst that sparked the US’ long term love of the pickup truck. Manufactured from 1954 to 1989, the Stout was primitive by nature yet while space or performance wasn’t on its side, practicality was.
Since it fell off the production line over 30 years ago, the Stout name was thought to have been long forgotten. But, as HotCars describes, the Stout is about to make a comeback with a long list of features hotly anticipated:
“The 2025 Toyota Stout is speculated to have engine options including the RAV4’s 2.5-liter Dynamic Force engine or the Highlander’s 2.4-liter turbo I4, giving it an advantage in power and fuel economy compared to competitors like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. It is also expected to have competitive payload and towing capacities.”
An icon makes its debut
From its first generation (manufactured from 1968 to 1972) to its soon-to-be 9th generation (set to be released in 2025), the Hilux is the benchmark for pickups everywhere and has enjoyed unrivalled success throughout its 50-plus years of history.
Used for commercial, industrial and leisure purposes, and accessible in more than 30 different variants (including single, extra and double cab), there’s a Hilux to suit everyone, not to mention a range of Hilux upgrades to personalise your setup further.
The T100: A pickup for the modern day?
The ever-evolving Hilux may have enjoyed huge success but it wasn’t the same story for the T100. In an effort to modernise their line of pickup trucks, the Hino-produced T100 was released in the 1990s.
While known for their heavy-duty productions, Toyota subsidiary Hino’s pickup model didn’t live up to expectations. It subsequently failed to compete with more spacious and powerful pickups available at the time.
Back on track with the Tundra
The failings of the T100 paved the way for success, this time in the form of two pickup models – the Tacoma and the Tundra.
While neither the Tacoma or Tundra are sold in Europe, both went down a storm elsewhere. They provided a powerful yet reliable and robust, full- and mid-size option in the now crowded pickup marketplace. The mid-size Tacoma was the first to be released in 1995 and was a huge hit with off-road enthusiasts. Five years later, the Tundra and its V8 engine made a similar splash.
Upgrade your Toyota pickup
Whether you’re the proud owner of a Toyota Hilux, Tacoma, Tundra or another model, we have the upgrades for you. Browse our Toyota parts and accessories right here.
