The sixth-generation Hilux that was introduced in 1997 consisted of a business-use truck line and a personal-use sports pickup line.
The latter came with equipment and devices suitable for a multi-purpose vehicle, featuring extended cabin height and length and improved quietness.
“Hilux” is a combination of “high” and “luxury.
The extra cab model, introduced in November with the body width extended by 100 mm, was an open-deck multi-purpose vehicle featuring an adequately long cargo bed while adding two auxiliary seats to the rear of the cabin.
The drivetrain configuration was either a 2-wheel-drive (2WD) or a 4-wheel-drive (4WD). The engine lineup consisted of 2- and 2.7-liter gasoline units (1RZ-E, 3RZ-E) as well as 2.4- and 3-liter diesel (2L-TE, 5L). The model variations included 2WD/4WD cabs and 2WD/4WD extra cabs.