Toyota Shrinks Its Hilux Champ Into The Super Short Wheelbase

The appeal of a small, practical and affordable pickup lies in its ability to do more with less, and the Toyota Hilux Champ has leaned into that philosophy since its debut in 2023. With its quirky, modular design and wallet-friendly pricing, it quickly carved out a loyal following. Now, Toyota is expanding its lineup with the most compact version yet, aimed at those who value maneuverability above all else.

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Called the Super Short Wheelbase or Short SWB, it stretches to 4,520 mm (178 inches) in length with a wheelbase of 2,580 mm (101.6 inches). That makes it 450 mm (17.7 inches) shorter than the regular SWB and 780 mm (30.7 inches) shorter than the long-wheelbase (LWB) model.

It’s Shorter, Tighter and Nimbler

Other dimensions remain essentially unchanged, including the familiar nose of the truck. What changes dramatically is how it handles. The reduced wheelbase allows a turning radius of 4.7 m (15.4 feet), a lot sharper than the 4.9 m (16.1 feet) and 5.4 m (17.7 feet) figures of its bigger siblings.

Despite its compact footprint, the single-cab layout leaves enough room for a rear bed that is 1,867 mm (73.5 inches) long. That’s more than your average dual-cab midsize truck, although it can’t match the 2,647 mm (104.2-inch) rear bed of the Hilux Champ LWB.

The Super SWB comes in a single trim level known as the “Attractive Package.” While still modestly equipped, it offers more features than the bare-bones Hilux Champ. On the outside, it’s distinguished by LED headlights, black trim inserts along the profile, an unpainted bumper, and 14-inch black steel wheels.

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Inside, the cabin sticks to a straightforward formula: black upholstery with orange highlights, no infotainment screen, and basic practical features. These include power mirrors and windows, manual seat adjustment, air conditioning, a pair of speakers, a USB Type-C port, and even a solitary sunshade. Safety tech is equally simple, limited to ABS, EBD, dual airbags, and Forward Collision Warning.

Under the hood lies a familiar 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine, which is good for 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS) and 343 Nm (253 lb-ft) of torque. Power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic. The pickup sits on a ladder-frame chassis, pared down from the larger Hilux but carrying over its robustness.

The Priciest Champ of All

In Thailand, the Hilux Champ Super SWB Attractive Package starts at ฿615,000 ($19,000). Oddly, that price makes it the most expensive variant in the lineup, edging past the slightly longer SWB version that opens at ฿602,000 ($18,600).

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At the other end of the scale, the most affordable Hilux Champ remains the MT Chassis & Cab LWB, priced from ฿519,000 ($16,000). To put that into context, the regular Hilux Revo single cab begins at ฿584,000 ($18,000).

Toyota