Volkswagen TARO
Built: 1989-1996 · Series: TARO
More machines from model year 1989
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Volkswagen Taro – the pickup built under licence from the Toyota Hilux, four-cylinder diesel and petrol engines, 58 to 84 kW, 1.8 to 2.4 litres displacement, gross weights up to 2.52 tonnes, built 1989 to 1997
The Volkswagen Taro is a pickup taken over from Toyota almost unchanged technically, which Volkswagen offered from 1989 to 1997 under a co-operation with Toyota as a licence-built Hilux exclusively for the European market. The body variants follow Hilux logic: the single cab, the extended Xcab with extra storage behind the seats, and the double cab D.C. for up to five occupants, each also available with 4X4 four-wheel drive. The engines and chassis came unchanged from Toyota's range, only the grille, badges and interior trim distinguishing the Taro from the Hilux.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 34 versions with 58 to 84 kW from the four-cylinder engine of 1,810 to 2,446 cm³. Unladen weights range from 1,174 to 2,280 kg, gross vehicle weights from 2,040 to 2,515 kg, lengths from 4,900 to 4,910 mm and widths from 1,650 to 2,120 mm.
The Taro was meant to give Volkswagen a quick foothold in the rugged pickup segment alongside the Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Pick-up, but remained a niche model, as Volkswagen did not present a genuine, independently developed successor until the Amarok arrived in 2010.
When buying used, thanks to the Toyota engineering, what counts above all are points typical of Hilux model years: corrosion on the frame and bed, the condition of the clutch and transfer case on 4X4 models, tightness of the diesel injection pump, and brakes and shock absorbers. Spare parts can be sourced through both Volkswagen and Toyota channels, since most components are identical.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Volkswagen Taro, Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | DIESEL | GAS | PETROLcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 61 kWcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 2,440 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 4,910 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,690 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 3,100 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,660 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 2,515 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gears | 5correct |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 4correct |
Origin and approval
| Version | TARO 4X2correct |
|---|---|
| Number of versions | 3correct |
| Built from | 1990correct |
| Built to | 1992correct |
| First registered from | 1,990correct |
| First registered to | 1,993correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 36.7 kW/t (61 kW / 1.7 t)
Stronger than 17% of the vans in the register — out of 7,144 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Volkswagen TARO have?
The Volkswagen TARO delivers 61 kW.
How much does the Volkswagen TARO weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,660 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Volkswagen TARO?
2,515 kg.
What engine does the Volkswagen TARO have?
4 cylinders, 2,440 cm³ displacement, DIESEL | GAS | PETROL.
What are the dimensions of the Volkswagen TARO?
4,910 mm × 1,690 mm.
When was the Volkswagen TARO built?
Production years: 1989-1996.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 25 individual figures for this model. They come from 3 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
TARO 1.8-7AXO-SONDERKABINE PICKUP/3090
TARO 2.2-7AX1-SONDERKABINE-PICKUP-4X4/309
TARO 2.4-7AX1-SONDERKABINE-PICKUP-4X4/309
TARO 2.4D
TARO 2.4D 4x4
TARO 2.4D-7AX1-PICKUP-4X4/309
TARO 2.4D-7AX1-S-PICKUP-4X4
TARO 2.4D-7AX1-S-PICKUP-4X4/309
TARO 2.4D-7AX1-SONDERKABINE PICKUP-4X4
TARO 2.4D-7AX1-SONDERKABINE PICKUP-4X4/309
TARO 2.4D-7AX1-SONDERKABINE PICKUP-4X4/3090
TARO 4X4
Sources: Traficom — Finnish vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · UK government data (DVLA) (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Van in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
