In a world that’s going green, diesel engines are at risk of being discontinued by a majority of auto manufacturers. However, Toyota trucks might be an exception to this trend. The Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Hilux, and more could have green diesel plans on the way. 

Toyota trucks aren’t saying goodbye to diesel engines just yet 

While we get to enjoy the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma in the United States, we don’t have the Toyota Hilux. This is a shame because it’s like the Toyota Tacoma’s more capable cousin, and it has an exciting turbo diesel engine. 

The 2022 Toyota Hilux has the 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV I-4 turbodiesel with 174 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. There is 273 lb-ft of torque available as low as 1,200 RPM. A small-displacement 2.4-liter engine provides 148 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. 

To provide some context for these numbers, the General Motors 2.8-liter Duramax I-4 engine pumps out 181 hp and 396 lb-ft of torque. The previous Hilux engine, the 3.0-liter 1KD-FTV I-4 diesel, generates 170 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. 

This turbodiesel engine claims to have a thermal efficiency of 44 percent. This is among the highest of any engine in the world, according to Toyota. We’ve also been following rumors about the Toyota Tacoma gaining a new turbodiesel engine for months, so this could be it. 

Is the Toyota Tacoma going diesel? 

It’s possible that the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra may get a new diesel engine. Toyota filed a patent in the United States for a high-compression diesel truck engine. One of the benefits of a high-compression engine would include the suppression of smoke and improvement of ignitability. They could have an engine designed to reduce smoke without requiring diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). 

But rumors about a hybrid Toyota Hilux and Tacoma are also circulating. The Hilux could gain a mild-hybrid diesel engine that delivers an improved fuel economy and more power. The Toyota Hilux Hybrid is expected to generate 200 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. 

The 2022 Hilux will start at around $28,000, and the hybrid model could cost about $35,000. As we wait to learn more, we can speculate that this is a preview of what’s to come for the Toyota Tacoma. 

The Hilux was just remodeled for the 2022 year, and the redesigned 2022 Toyota Tundra should make its debut in the United States soon. The new Tacoma is expected to arrive in 2023, following in the Tundra’s tracks. 

Is the Toyota Tundra going diesel? 

The 2022 Toyota Tundra is being teased with a new iForce Max engine. The image of the engine shows that it has six ribs on the engine cover instead of eight. This suggests that the V8 engine is being dropped. 

It could gain the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s in the 300-Series Land Cruiser, but Max suggests the engine could be hybrid. The lettering is also outlined in blue, which is often used for hybrid vehicles. 

Plus, there is a rumor circulating that the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser is gaining a new electric-diesel hybrid powertrain. If the Tundra shares powertrain options with the Land Cruiser, we can expect this hybrid-diesel setup to make its way to the United States.