Toyota’s first U.S.-market diesel mini truck landed in 1981, initially offered as a 2WD long-bed Deluxe model with a five-speed manual. Under the hood was Toyota’s 2.2-liter L diesel engine, an inline-four designed from the ground up for diesel duty (unlike some competitors’ converted gasoline engines). This engine put out about 62 horsepower and 93 lb-ft of torque, modest even by early ’80s standards. (For comparison, the gas 2.2-liter 20R engine made about 90 hp and 122 lb-ft, making it feel like a racehorse next to the diesel).

Period tests boasted fuel economy around 31 mpg (city) and up to 38 mpg (highway), dramatically better than the estimated 20 mpg of its gasoline counterpart. The trade-off was performance. Its 0–60 mph was a glacial (approximately) 20 seconds. (Note that the gas truck did it in 13.3 seconds). This diesel mini truck was no drag racer, but it ran like a mule: slow, steady, and dependable. By 1982 the sportier SR5 trim could be had with a diesel, and by 1983 you could even get 4×4 diesel mini trucks.

In 1984, the pickup was redesigned and with it came an upgraded diesel engine known as the 2L (despite the name, it was enlarged to 2.4 liters). Available in both 2WD and 4WD, the 2.4-liter 2L diesel delivered a bit more punch—roughly 75 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque in naturally aspirated form. This was still well shy of Toyota’s 2.4-liter gas engines (which were now 100+ hp), but it was an improvement.

Fuel economy remained a strong point: a mid-’80s 2WD diesel mini truck could achieve about 35 mpg (city) and 44 mpg (highway), versus about 25/33 mpg for the equivalent gasoline version. In an era of cheap gas, getting well over 30 miles per gallon in a truck was a big bragging right for diesel owners.

Mid-1985 brought an extra dose of excitement. Toyota introduced a turbocharged version of the 2.4-liter diesel, dubbed the 2L-T. The turbodiesel bumped output to about 84 hp and 137 lb-ft, finally cracking the 80-hp barrier and greatly improving torque. That torque was nearly on par with the gasoline 22R-E engine’s 140 lb-ft, giving the diesel better grunt for hauling and hills. Enthusiasts welcomed the 2L-T as it made the truck more livable, athough by modern standards it was still a humble performer. The turbo model could keep up with highway traffic a bit better and made the driving experience more engaging with its turbo whistle and boost. Toyota even proudly badged these trucks with “2.4D Turbo” emblems, though they remained quite rare.

All told, between 1981 and 1986 Toyota offered three diesel engine iterations in its U.S. mini trucks:

• 2.2L “L” diesel (1981–1983): ~62 hp, 93 lb-ft
• 2.4L “2L” diesel (1984–1985): ~75 hp, 114 lb-ft
• 2.4L “2L-T” turbodiesel (1985–1986): ~84 hp, 137 lb-ft

Despite their cult following, Toyota’s diesel mini trucks quietly disappeared after the 1986 model year. Several factors spelled the end of this diesel experiment in the U.S. market. First, by the mid-’80s, American buyers expected more performance from their pickups. While sturdy, Toyota’s diesel mini trucks were slow by any measure. Second, the early ’80s fuel crises had faded. Fuel prices dropped and the urgency for extreme mpg waned. With gasoline cheap and gasoline Toyota trucks already quite efficient, the diesel’s economy advantage no longer justified its compromises for most consumers. Lastly, the diesel mini trucks also cost more and were available only in select trims, limiting their market.

In the end, Toyota made a business decision: after 1986, it discontinued diesel pickups in America and never looked back.