Toyota’s Toughest Truck Tempts with Upgrades Tacoma Fans Can Only Dream Of

The automaker just launched the ninth-generation Hilux in its home market, and it’s a release that brings lots of options in tow.

Silver Toyota Hilux pickup truck bed with black trim and red-accented taillights under a partly cloudy sky.

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By Gray Van Dyke

Published May 28, 2026

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Toyota first revealed its overhauled ninth-generation Hilux last fall. At the time, it made for the biggest update to the globally recognized pickup truck in the model’s history.

After all, beyond introducing a first-time EV powertrain option, the new Hilux heralded fresh styling on top of a redesigned cabin and a stiffer ladder-frame construction. Such changes have since also resulted in a workhorse conversion targeting the Ranger Super Duty.

Dark gray Toyota Hilux BEV electric pickup truck charging with orange cable in a studio setting. — Toyota isn’t offering the BEV Hilux for the Japanese market, though it’s still an important release.

Even still, now that Toyota has officially launched the Hilux in its home market, the truck has somehow managed to become even more tantalizing. If you’re a Tacoma owner, it has to be causing a bit of FOMO.

A refined Modellista approach

That’s because, as part of the Hilux’s Japanese release, Toyota has already announced a grip of upgrades under both the Modellista and the GR Parts umbrellas. Importantly, they comprise both stylistic and performance-related additions.

White Toyota Hilux pickup truck with black accents and Modellista badge parked near water at sunset. — The Modellista package gives the Hilux a refined yet rugged look.

When it comes to the former, the exterior options take the form of everything from added hood and tailgate protection to headlight garnishes, door handle guards and even a fresh 18-inch aluminum wheel option. As individual pieces, they’re minor additions, but the full Modellista Package nevertheless makes for a more rugged look.

That’s not all. Along with those parts, Modellista also offers more functional upgrades like front and rear aluminum skid plates, auxiliary lighting and even smart LED door lamps.

Gray skid plate attached to the underside of a vehicle with a "MODELLISTA" license plate above. — Aluminum skidplates count among the more functional upgrades.

In typical Modellista fashion, there’s even a trick tote that can double as both a cushion and a bag for your EDC. Made from denim fabric, it offers 17 liters of storage and even sports a shoulder strap for easy carry.

Dressing up like a GR Sport

Even if you’re not really into Modellista’s options, the Gazoo Racing goodies should stoke some envy.

Yellow Toyota Hilux GR Parts pickup truck parked on rocky terrain at sunset. — The Gazoo upgrades make the Hilux look like the Dakar-inspired GR Sport.

Namely, because they help dress the new Hilux in the style of the previous generation’s Dakar-inspired GR Sport. In other words, it looks absolutely badass, even if the 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel powertrain remains untouched.

Around the outside, then, the GR parts include a honeycomb grille, a polished dual-exit muffler and some mudflaps (red, obviously, being the way to go). There are some side visors that Gazoo says help improve ventilation and handling stability.

Towards that end, the other GR Sport parts do amount to more functional additions.

Close-up of a black rear bumper bar mounted on a yellow vehicle with dual chrome exhaust pipes and a red GR mud flap. — Front and rear stabilizer bars are meant to improve handling.

As with its JDM RAV4, Toyota is offering specially designed front and rear dampers. Be it through the elimination of unpleasant road vibration or improvement in handling stability, they make for impactful additions to the steering setup.

Especially in conjunction with touches like the spacers in the door striker. Much as they might seem like an afterthought, GR does claim quicker steering response on account of a more rigid platform front-to-rear.

Yellow Toyota Hilux pickup truck with black wheels and red mud flaps on a rocky terrain at sunset. — The red mud flaps are the obvious choice, of course.

Availability and pricing

Being for the Japanese-market Hilux, these parts aren’t likely to cross the Pacific anytime soon. It’s unfortunate, because even though America does get its fair share of truck-worthy TRD goodies, just imagine if the GR division decided to bring its expertise stateside.

If you’d like to learn more, you can head to Toyota’s website. Prices start from 16,500 yen (~$100) for the door handle protectors and run as high as 294,800 yen (~$1,800) for the full Modellista package.

Gray Toyota Hilux pickup truck with black grille and wheels on rocky terrain under a cloudy sky.

2027 Toyota Hilux

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About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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