When Toyota Tundra ute will be sold in Australia next to the Hilux

Another monster American-style ‘pick-up truck’ is coming to Australia, with Toyota announcing the development of the Tundra ute for local conditions.

The Japanese car giant is in an official partnership with Walkinshaw Automotive Group to convert the American vehicles to a right-hand drive configuration.

The move comes as Australia’s car industry adapts to a growing appetite here for the larger pick-up truck style so popular in the United States.

A fleet of 300 Tundras is due to be deployed around Australia in the fourth quarter of 2023, before the model officially hits the market, possibly next year.

‘Demand for full-size pick-ups in Australia continues to grow, and we believe we are entering the market at just the right time,’ Toyota told Daily Mail Australia.

Toyota Hilux has long been Australia’s favourite ute but it is expected to come under pressure in 2023

Toyota Tundras are much larger, more powerful and far more expensive than Australia’s most popular ute, the Hilux.

Tundras are up to 6.2 metres in length, up to 80 centimetres longer than a Hilux and at 2 metres in height, up to 30 centimetres taller.

While Toyota previously announced that the re-engineered Tundras would be hybrids, the prototypes spotted around Australia have so far been petrol-only.

Toyota confirmed testing of the prototypes began on public roads in September last year.

‘The vehicles will be equipped with a new inline hybrid system featuring a twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 – the most advanced and fuel-efficient powertrain available on this model,’ a statement from Toyota read.

Hiluxes range from 2.4L diesel for the entry-level Workmate to 2.8-litre diesel for the Rugged. The petrol-only Workmate has a 2.7-litre engine capacity and is for sale for as little as $28,710.

The Tundra (top) dwarfs Toyota’s HiLux (bottom) in size, with the new ute measuring in at 5,933mm long and 2,037mm wide compared to the classic’s chassis at just 5,265mm long and 1,800mm wide

Size comparison between Toyota’s popular HiLux (top) and the new Tundra (bottom) set to hit Aussie showrooms in 2024

Side-on comparison of the HiLux (top) and Tundra (bottom)

By contrast the Tundra is guaranteed to carry a six-figure price tag when it hits the market, possibly early in 2024.

‘Toyota has confirmed an extensive development program in Australia for the Tundra pick-up, demonstrating its intention for local development and evaluation experts to re-engineer Tundra in a RHD format and evaluate the vehicle against Australia’s severe local conditions and tough customer use,’ the 2022 statement also said.

Walkinshaw has previously handled left to right-hand drive conversions for Toyota’s SUV rivals Chevrolet and Ram.

The Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are both of which are already on sale in right-hand-drive form.

Likewise, Ford’s F-150 – one of the best-selling vehicles in the United States for many years – is now available to order in Australia.

Despite being almost twice the price of a new Hilux, the F-150 is predicted to become its main rival.

Meanwhile speculation is mounting that the next generation of Hilux, which will be the ninth model in the series since 1968, will also be styled to resemble a new American release, the Tacoma.

Next off the rank for Toyota in 2023 is the release of its Hilux GR Sport

The Ford Ranger finished second to the Hilux in the 2022 list of Australia’s top 10 car sales, but already in 2023 it has pulled ahead of its main rival

The newest Hilux, initially expected in 2024, could hit the market a year later than expected in 2025.

It is thought Toyota needs to move the styling of its Hilux towards an American look in order to hold off the challenge presented by Ford’s Ranger and the F-150.

The Tacoma and Hilux are reportedly being developed side by side, and both will share Toyota’s TNGA-F platform.

In 2022 Toyota sold 64,391 Hiluxes, Ford’s Ranger was the second most popular model, with 17,000 fewer cars sold.

But monthly car sales data shows that in 2023 the Ranger is outselling Hilux. 

Two-thirds of new car sales in Australia in 2022 were SUVs, 4WDs or light commercial vehicles, including utes.

Speculation is mounting that the new Toyota Hilux will  be styled to resemble the Toyota Tacomba, which is not available in Australia

The biggest-selling car in Australia every year since 2016 has been a ute.

Before the new Hilux is released, Toyota will release its latest Hilux variant, the GR Sport, in the second half of 2023.

It will feature a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine with the vehicle’s power upped to 165kW and 550Nm.

The last new Hilux model to be released in Australia came in 2015.  

Sales figures for 2023 onwards are likely to be impacted by changes to the Instant Asset Write-Off tax break which makes it more difficult for tradies to purchase work vehicles.

From June 30, the spending cap for new or used motor vehicles in the scheme drops from $65,000 to $20,000.

Toyota Hiluxes can be purchased for as little as $28,000 for the entry-level Hilux Workmate.

Toyota Australia told Daily Mail Australia it has ‘no plans’ to introduce the Tacoma to Australia.

‘Regarding HiLux, we will introduce a halo off-road variant later this year, the HiLux GR Sport. Beyond that, we are always looking at ways to improve our product offering, but we have nothing further to announce today.’