2020 Toyota Hilux SR5 is the Compact Truck You Always Wanted

Is smaller better when the possibility exists? Will we see a new Toyota Hilux back on the U.S. market?

As most of you know, the Toyota Hilux aka Toyota Pickup was discontinued in North America after the fifth generation. It was without a doubt, an icon in its time and I myself am the proud owner of a 1981 Hilux. In the U.S. after the 90’s, the Hilux was phased out by its bigger brother the Tacoma. However, what if we told you that the Hilux never actually died, we just didn’t get it anymore? Well, that would kind of suck, but it happens to be the case. In reality, the Hilux has actually been going strong for multiple generations since, now on its current eighth-generation.

Wondering what we have been missing for the last couple decades? Well, thanks to Dubi Cars, we get to take a look into some of the benchmark features of the new 2020 Toyota Hilux.

This new Hilux is seeing its first refresh since the 2017 facelift and has a completely new appearance package. This includes the signature Toyota grill with a redesigned front bumper. The truck will feature fog lights as standard as well as 17″ wheels, not to mention an electronically controlled and retractable bed top. The Hilux is powered by a 2.7L inline-4 with Dual VVT-i and makes 160 HP with 181 foot pounds of torque. The interior is dashed by red leather and looks especially upscale with dual monitors behind the passenger and driver seats, a surprising feature we definitely did not expect. Other features include Toyota’s first use of an autonomous emergency braking technology (AEB).

Interestingly, after all these years, Toyota also decided to re-introduce the Hilux back into the Japanese market. Seeing as there is a strong necessity for smaller vehicles in Japan, we can understand how the Hilux plays its role in their market. However, is it possible for the Hilux to make a resurgence in the North American market? Less and less people are buying sedans and family cars and more and more are opting for crossovers and small sized SUVs. The truck market in the U.S. has never been weak and most likely will see continued support.

Can small-sized trucks come back into popularity again, even with the increasing size of modern vehicles? What are your thoughts on this subject? Let us know in the comments below.

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