Toyota Hilux
Hacker ApprovedRanked 2 of 8 pickup trucks by recommenders
Recommended for reliability, toughness and fuel economy as a practical pickup used worldwide. One critic says the current model is much like a Tacoma.
Recommended for reliability, toughness and fuel economy as a practical pickup used worldwide. One critic says the current model is much like a Tacoma.
29 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 27
- criticize it
- 2
- approval share
- 93%
Recommended in 10 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 27 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 14 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 10 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Reliable and tough
“I like the reliability, it feels more anti-fragile, if that makes sense.”
Comment from 16 Dec 2025 in “Ford kills the All-Electric F-150” “I don't doubt how tough the Hilux can be”
Comment from 10 Feb 2026 in “Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?"” “the best reliability for the money”
Comment from 1 Feb 2026 in “Antirender: remove the glossy shine on architectural renderings” - Comment from 10 Jan 2026 in “Allow me to introduce, the Citroen C15”
- Comment from 11 Feb 2026 in “Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?"”
Fuel-efficient economical turbo diesel
“can do light truck things, is relatively economical, and doesn't have a large footprint”
Comment from 18 Nov 2025 in “Nearly all UK drivers say headlights are too bright” “The hilux is a small efficient turbo diesel with plenty of torque.”
Comment from 10 Jan 2026 in “Allow me to introduce, the Citroen C15” “were also already known for being fuel efficient and reliable cars”
Comment from 20 May 2026 in “Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]” - Comment from 14 Jan 2026 in “Ford F-150 Lightning outsold the Cybertruck and was then canceled for poor sales”
Practical workhorse used worldwide
“The hilux and 79 landcruiser are run of the mill workhorses in virtually every country in the world”
Comment from 10 Feb 2026 in “Toyotas and Terrorists: "Why are ISIS's trucks better than ours?"” “Drove them in South America for years and they're great vehicles.”
Comment from 10 Jan 2026 in “Allow me to introduce, the Citroen C15” “an actually practical pickup truck”
Comment from 29 Oct 2026 in “I went to Mexico to test-drive the cars Americans can’t buy” Strong payload and towing
“Seems to work well for driving around lawnmowers and other stuff, also for towing the large self-driving lawnmovers and other heavy equipment.”
Comment from 3 Dec 2025 in “Accepting US car standards would risk European lives” “Hilux has leaf springs and significantly higher payload capacity for technical mounts.”
Comment from 19 Aug 2026 in “New Casio F-B100W – Upgrade to the iconic F-91W after 40 years” “the payload is significantly better on the Hilux”
Comment from 17 Sep 2026 in “Global shortage has led to motor oil rationing at Costco”
Other pickup trucks people recommend
The four most recommended other pickup trucks, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 44 | 51 | 46% | 9 | — | — |
| Toyota HiluxThis page | 27 | 2 | 93% | 10 | — | Approved |
| Ford Maverick | 25 | 16 | 61% | 8 | — | — |
| Toyota Tacoma | 22 | 16 | 58% | 9 | 11 yrs5 owners | — |
| Ford Ranger | 19 | 8 | 70% | 8 | — | Approved |
What people said
26 of the 32 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“an actually practical pickup truck”
“the payload is significantly better on the Hilux”
“Hilux has leaf springs and significantly higher payload capacity for technical mounts.”
“A Toyota Hilux, sold in america would be nice.”
“In the end, it's basically a Toyota Hilux.”
“were also already known for being fuel efficient and reliable cars”
“They are indeed formiddable.”
“The current Hilux really isn't much different than a Tacoma”
“the full cab Hilux just can’t be beat”
“I don't doubt how tough the Hilux can be”
“I wish we could get the Hilux here.”
“The hilux and 79 landcruiser are run of the mill workhorses in virtually every country in the world”
“I wish it was easy and simple to buy the Hilux in America”
“the best reliability for the money”
“The Hilux and friends made it highly economical”
“Top gear driving to the magnetic north pole in Hiluxes was impressive.”
“The hilux is a small efficient turbo diesel with plenty of torque.”
“not Spartan/repairable as the Hilux”
“Drove them in South America for years and they're great vehicles.”
“They are literally combat proven.”
“I'm thinking specifically of the Toyota Hilux”
“I like the reliability, it feels more anti-fragile, if that makes sense.”
“We were putting Toyota Hiluxes back to the leasing company at three years and they were going straight in the crusher.”
“a classic, normal-sized Hilux/Frontier/Ranger would excel at that with none of the downsides”
“Seems to work well for driving around lawnmowers and other stuff, also for towing the large self-driving lawnmovers and other heavy equipment.”
“can do light truck things, is relatively economical, and doesn't have a large footprint”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.