Toyota drops a caravan on its electric Hilux, and it drives away

Toyota GB recreated Top Gear's 2003 stunt, dropping a 760kg caravan from 30 feet onto the Hilux BEV.

Richard Edwards October 1, 2026 · 2 min read

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Toyota has dropped a caravan onto its electric Hilux from 30 feet up, recreating one of Top Gear’s best-known stunts, and the ute drove away afterwards.

The 760kg caravan was lifted by crane at Bentwaters airfield in Suffolk and released onto the Hilux BEV’s roof. Toyota GB says the ute suffered only modest bodywork damage, started straight away and was driven off without any problems.

The stunt pays tribute to the 2003 Top Gear episode in which a Hilux was put through a series of destruction tests. Toyota let Reddit users across UK communities choose the test, with the caravan drop winning out over a one-tonne wrecking ball.

An older red Toyota Hilux parked alongside the new electric Hilux on an airfield — An older Hilux alongside the new electric model. Image: Toyota

“Hilux has earned its reputation as the world’s toughest pick-up. Following on from our launch of the ninth-generation model earlier this year, we wanted to honour that legacy,” said Chris Hayes, a director at Toyota GB.

Caravan lifted high by a crane over the airfield — The caravan is hoisted into position. Image: Toyota

Caravan falling towards a Toyota Hilux BEV — Toyota let Reddit users choose the test. Image: Toyota

Caravan resting on the roof of the Toyota Hilux BEV after the drop — The Hilux took the weight of the caravan. Image: Toyota

Wrecked caravan beside the Toyota Hilux BEV — Toyota says damage to the ute was limited to bodywork. Image: Toyota

After the drop, Toyota handed the keys to Top Gear’s YouTube channel for further testing.

The Hilux BEV is sold in New Zealand as a double cab with dual-motor all-wheel drive, in SR and SR5 grades, as either a cab chassis or wellside. Toyota NZ opened pre-orders in May.