Toyota Utes in Australia: Hilux, LandCruiser 70 Series, and the Models That Define the Category
Toyota has held the top position in Australian ute sales for most of the past four decades, and with good reason. The Hilux and LandCruiser 70 Series serve fundamentally different buyers but both carry a reputation for durability and retained value that few competitors have matched. Understanding what separates these models — and which accessories make the most sense for each — helps owners get the most out of their vehicle from day one.
Toyota Hilux: Australia's Consistent Sales Leader
The Toyota Hilux dual-cab has been the best-selling vehicle in Australia across multiple years, a position earned through reliability data accumulated across millions of kilometres of tradie, farm, and off-road use. The current generation (Series 3 of the eighth-generation model, known as the Rogue/SR5/SR/Workmate range) offers a 2.8-litre turbodiesel with 150kW and 500Nm, a 3,500kg braked towing capacity, and a payload ranging from approximately 730kg (Rogue with full options) to over 1,000kg on base configurations. The tub measures approximately 1,520mm in length on the dual-cab — a standard dimension that most Australian accessory manufacturers use as their benchmark.
LandCruiser 70 Series: Working-Grade Off-Road Platform
The LandCruiser 70 Series is a different proposition entirely. It's offered in single-cab and double-cab ute configurations, alongside the wagon, and is built around durability in genuinely harsh conditions — mining operations, remote stations, and high-country terrain where the ability to endure rather than perform defines value. The current 70 Series runs a 2.8-litre turbodiesel (updated from the older 4.5-litre V8 as of 2024), retaining live axles front and rear. Its tub — especially the single-cab workmate — is a genuine heavy-load platform suited to tray or flat-bed configurations.
Hilux GR Sport: Performance Credentials on a Work Platform
Toyota introduced the Hilux GR Sport to the Australian market as a more capable off-road performance variant, featuring a raised suspension, revised shock absorbers, and a distinctive exterior treatment. It uses the same 2.8-litre turbodiesel as other Hilux models but with specific suspension tuning for high-speed corrugated road use. Its tub configuration is identical to the SR5, which means the full range of standard Hilux accessories fits without modification.
Accessories for the Hilux: What Owners Fit First
The Hilux's tub dimensions are the most widely supported in Australia, meaning there are more accessory options available for it than any other ute. A tub mat is typically the first purchase — it protects the factory tub floor from day one. A fibreglass or aluminium canopy transforms the open tub into secure, weatherproof cargo storage. A sliding tray makes the 1,520mm tub fully accessible without climbing in. For owners who need organised tool storage, a drawer system rounds out a complete tub setup. View canopy options at UniUte's canopies collection.
Accessories for the LandCruiser 70 Series
The 70 Series is less commonly accessorised with canopies due to its tray-body configuration in single-cab form, but the double-cab ute version has a standard tub that accepts most Hilux-compatible accessories. For double-cab 70 Series owners, tub mats, sliding trays, and roller shutters are practical options. The single-cab is more commonly fitted with aftermarket trays, toolboxes, and flat-bed configurations suited to its work-vehicle role.
Tub Mats and Sliding Trays for Toyota Utes
Across all Toyota ute configurations, tub protection and organised access are the two most common accessory requirements. UniUte stocks tub mats and sliding trays cut to Hilux and LandCruiser 70 Series tub specifications. Browse the tub mats collection and sliding trays collection for current options.