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30 September 2026
To discover just how tough its all-new electric Hilux is, Toyota has staged an extreme test that celebrates one of the most famous vehicle stunts in TV history.
More than 20 years ago, Top Gear attempted – and failed – to destroy a Hilux, hitting it with a wrecking ball, submerging it in the sea and placing it on the roof of a 23-storey building that was then demolished. The feature also included dropping a weighty caravan onto the pick-up, a test that’s now been recreated to prove the latest model’s ruggedness.
Rather than deciding the stunt behind closed doors, Toyota turned to Reddit, inviting subreddits across the UK to vote on how the Hilux should be put through its paces: repeatedly hit with a one-tonne wrecking ball or subjected to the caravan drop. Hundreds responded with an overwhelming call for the caravan test, as originally performed by Top Gear in 2003.
The stunt took place at Bentwaters airfield in Suffolk where a caravan weighing more than three quarters of a tonne was craned 30 feet above the ground, then released directly on top of the Hilux’s cab. As a cloud of debris settled on the test track, engineers stepped up to inspect the Hilux, which bore only modest bodywork scars from the impact. It powered up immediately and drove off silently from the scene without breaking a sweat, true to its legendary “indestructible” heritage. Strict safety conditions were observed throughout the test.
Spectacle aside, the stunt demonstrates that the new electric model upholds the global reputation for exceptional quality, durability and reliability that has defined successive Hilux generations across seven decades. With more than 27 million worldwide sales to its credit, it might be thought the Toyota has little left to prove, but this latest test shows how introducing electric power has not diminished Hilux’s formidable strength. During the model’s development programme, it underwent extreme testing to guarantee its performance, including deep-water driving, challenging trials across all kinds of rough terrain and total immersion of the battery. Unique design solutions were also produced to ensure the battery is protected from damage when driving in extreme conditions.
While the all-new Hilux – available with both battery electric and Diesel 48V power – delivers the last word in ruggedness, it also offers everything that today’s pick-up customers are looking for. That includes bold and powerful styling and a spacious, comfortable double cab body complete with fully digital instrumentation and a comprehensive multimedia package. Its workhorse credentials are equally compelling, Hilux being able to carry payloads (according to powertrain) of up to 1,065kg and tow trailers up to 3.5 tonnes.
Chris Hayes, Toyota (GB) Director, Products and Services Division, said: “Hilux has earned its reputation as the world’s toughest pick-up. Following on from our launch of the ninth-generation model earlier this year, we wanted to honour that legacy and demonstrate how Hilux is still as impressive as it was decades ago, even when it’s powered by electricity. Dropping a caravan on it wasn’t just about repeating the famous TV stunt, it was our way of showing how Hilux’s core toughness remains intact.”
Susan Billingsley, Senior Director of Global Business Marketing at Reddit commented: “Some of the best stunts start with an authentic conversation. By inviting Reddit’s communities to help choose the Hilux’s ultimate test, Toyota turned audience participation into a memorable, shared experience and proved how powerful it can be when you listen and create alongside your most engaged fans.”
And the caravan drop is just the warm-up. Toyota has now handed over the keys to the electric Hilux to the Top Gear You Tube channel. Watch this space…