Toyota is highly regarded in the United States for its trucks like the Tacoma and Tundra, but there’s a truck in the Toyota lineup that American drivers can’t own. The Toyota Hilux was once seen as one of the most innovative trucks on the road. The truck has earned a positive reputation for comfort and space in a time when most trucks were strictly heavy-duty. But you can’t buy it from US dealerships. What gives?
Other vehicles have been banned in the United States.
The Toyota Hilux is just one noteworthy vehicle that has been banned in America. Many other desired cars have also been banned, including the popular Land Rover Defender and the Nissan Skyline GTR.
While the word “ban” has connotations of scandal, most of these vehicles are only banned due to a law called the Imported Vehicle Safety Enforcement Act, or IVSCA.
According to cutting gear, the IVSCA establishes that if a car cannot be bought in the US, it cannot be imported either. Because no Land Rover Defender models are sold at Land Rover dealerships in the United States, a driver can’t just import one.
However, the IVSCA does not apply to classic vehicles and defines classic vehicles as those that are 25 years old. If your dream car is a classic foreign car, you won’t have to worry about how the IVSCA will fare.
If you have a newer foreign car that you really want, you can take advantage of another exception by claiming the car as a show and display car. However, doing this requires a driver to only drive a car up to 2,500 miles per year.
Why you can not buy a Toyota Hilux prohibited in the United States
The Toyota Hilux is a revolutionary truck, but since the 1990s it hasn’t been available in the United States. Toyota first sold the Hilux in the United States in 1969, and it was a remarkably innovative truck.
Pickup trucks from that era were not designed with everyday driving in mind. The typical truck owner used his truck to help with farming or other jobs. Meanwhile, the Toyota Hilux provided additional cabin space and a more comfortable ride.
Today, pickup trucks are common everyday vehicles, but in 1969, the Hilux would have been an anomaly. If it was considered such a special vehicle, why was it banned? The main reason for the Hilux’s withdrawal from US dealerships is the launch of another Toyota pickup, the Tacoma.
In many ways, the Tacoma provided the same experience as the Hilux. It was designed to be functional as a work truck and comfortable for daily driving. Because of this, the Tacoma replaced the Hilux in the United States, and Toyota has not sold the Hilux in the United States since.
Specifications of the new Toyota Hilux
Outside of the US, the Hilux remains a popular Toyota model, and Toyota continues to produce the Hilux today. The Slash Gear article also states that if a buyer really wants to drive a Hilux in the US, it’s still technically legal, but it comes at a significant cost. Imports like the Hilux come with an additional 25% duty, and because the Hilux is considered so similar to the Tacoma, it may not be worth paying that much more for a Hilux.
The Toyota Hilux isn’t just a renowned Tacoma, however, and it has many features that continue to make it an innovative truck. According to hot cars, the Toyota Hilux is powered by a 204-horsepower 2.8-liter turbo engine. Unlike the Tacoma, the Hilux offers a diesel engine option.
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