Doug DeMuro Got His Hands on a New Toyota Hilux
YouTuber Doug DeMuro generated some controversy with his recent review of a Toyota Hilux. Find out why here.
Written by Allison Stone
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The coveted
Toyota
Hilux is a rare find
in the U.S. thanks to something called the “Chicken Tax”—a 25% tariff imposed on imported light duty trucks. For Toyota, the answer to this was the U.S.-made Toyota Tacoma, and at first, the two cars were identical. In the early 2000s, however, the two cars split somewhat in design, with the Hilux retaining more of the rugged design elements it originally shared with the Tacoma.
Recently, American YouTuber
Doug DeMuro
got his hands on a real-deal Hilux and gave a thorough review of all its pros, cons, and quirks. Read on with the car ownership experts at Jerry to see what DeMuro thought about the Hilux, and why his review caused some controversy in the comments section.
What makes the Hilux different
According to DeMuro’s Youtube Video, the fracture between the Tacoma and the Hilux was driven by different market needs between American consumers and the rest of the world.
The Tacoma became a more Americanized, highway-driveable pickup, while the Hilux retained more of its rugged elements.
“Here in America, trucks aren’t necessarily used for utility,” said DeMuro, “they’re much more frequently used for normal, everyday driving.” This is evident in the Tacoma’s flashier, bulkier styling combined with its more comfortable and luxurious interior.
DeMuro obtained the Hilux he reviewed from a viewer in Mexico, where the truck is still sold. “In other markets, trucks are more for utility,” said DeMuro, citing the Mexican Hilux’s more stripped-down appearance.
Compared to trucks sold in the U.S., DeMuro pointed out the Hilux’s simplistic design, both outside the car and under the hood.
The Hilux also sported a diesel engine, someone else not often found in the United States for midsize trucks. In exchange for a less-powerful engine, the Hilux has massive towing and hauling power.
The Hilux is an affordable, utilitarian truck
To further emphasize this truck’s utility and accessibility, DeMuro pointed out that in Mexican markets, a Hilux starts at about $20,000 USD. Alternatively, pricing for a
Toyota Tacoma
starts from $27,250 for the base model. In terms of downsides, DeMuro noted that the sparse, sheet-plastic interior and simplistic infotainment systems were somewhat lacking in quality and comfort.
DeMuro said that in spite of being a factory Toyota infotainment system, it resembled a “cheap, third-party aftermarket unit.”
He also noted that the unintuitive touchscreen system was not compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or even a backup camera in spite of being the top-end trim of the Hilux sold in Mexico. Stateside, backup cameras are a requirement for all new vehicles.
Did DeMuro miss the mark?
While DeMuro focused heavily on the Hilux’s lack of flair or interesting quirks, some viewers argued that he may have missed the point by focusing too much on appearance.
“[The Toyota Hilux] has a much more expensive fully boxed frame and much stronger suspension, meant for a lifetime of hard usage,” said one commenter, while another argued that its design is very market dependent.
Another commenter noted that Australian and South African market Hilux models have similar infotainment systems and technology packages to the Tacoma, coming equipped with a full suite of safety and comfort-driven tech features.
How to save money on truck insurance
Regardless of where you stand on the Tacoma vs. Hilux debate,
insuring a truck
can be expensive. If you want to get the best deal possible on your car insurance plan, download the Jerry
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Every time your policy comes up for renewal you’ll get a new set of quotes, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. Sign up with Jerry today.
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