The Tacoma is gussied up and not Spartan/repairable as the Hilux. I guess it’s more comparable to the current ranger than the hilux is, I wonder if ford makes a stripped down ranger for the developing world? Are there any Ranger Jeepneys? Maybe the T6? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger_(T6)

Oddly enough, it says this was developed in Australia but might be the ranger selling in the USA/Europe now (the same one we are talking about). But the P703 is the model (a T6 variant) sold internationally now. It doesn’t surprise me that the current ranger was designed abroad. What I really don’t get is that ford doesn’t make cars in Australia anymore but they still design them there?

> The similar (but not identical) US model is the Tacoma.

This is a very common misconception.

At no point have the hilux and Tacoma shared any parts. Not engines, transmissions, frames, breaks, axles, wiring or anything interior.

The hilux is a small efficient turbo diesel with plenty of torque. The Tacoma is an anemic gas V6 that gets horrible mileages.

The Tacoma is significantly larger, and has a lower payload.

The hilux is an actual utility work vehicle, the Tacoma cosplays as one.

I’ve lived in Australia and Canada for 20 years each, driven many models of each many tens of thousands of kilometres.