The Exterior Differences of 1998 Toyota Hilux 2WD/ 4WD

Hilux / Pickup isn’t compatible anymore

Since 1998, the Toyota Pickup/Hilux has undergone major changes. In the U.S. market, the Hilux (Pickup) was officially succeeded by the Tacoma. From that year onward, the exterior design of the Tacoma began to differ from the Hilux sold in other regions, which also meant that exterior parts were no longer interchangeable.

The Front of Hilux 2WD/ 4WD

However, except the US market, the 1998 Hilux models with engine codes RN145 and LN165 retained many familiar features. For example, the front grille continued the tradition of having different designs for 2WD (53111-35410 / 53111-35420) and 4WD (53111-35370 / 53111-35380), though the mounting positions and clips on the back remained identical.

Next are the corner lights. Whether for 2WD or 4WD models, the only differences were in the finish/paint, as the mounting holes were the same. One detail worth noting is that the connectors and wirings varied by region.

The bumper design also remained consistent with previous models. It was still made of steel and came in two options: with holes (52101-35430) for installing a bull bar, and without holes (52101-35370).

As for the bumper brackets, since the bumper itself was the same across 2WD and 4WD, the brackets were also identical (52142-35060 / 52141-35060). Photos show that they were still manufactured in steel.

Grilles in Various Finishes for 1998 Toyota Hilux

Overall, aside from the usual styling differences between 2WD and 4WD, Toyota offered a variety of factory paint finishes, such as the dual-tone white/silver and dark gray designs. At BUY N TRY, we not only supply original factory finishes, but also high-quality alternatives such as full chrome-plated versions or sporty matte black options.