Toyota Tamaraw: from first People Power till now

The history of the Philippine automotive industry is one of the most colorful and most storied in the world. 

In talking about significant vehicles in our country’s past, there’s, of course, the Jeepney, which is the iconic Filipino mode of transportation. It does, however, share the said spot with another ride, which helped push forward the thrust of the Philippine economy from 1976, through the martial law era, through the People Power revolution, and all the way to the current age. 

We’re talking about the Toyota Tamaraw, the Japanese-branded vehicle with a Filipino heart. A venerable nameplate that was around since the first People Power before being brought back from discontinuation to once again serve the masses. 

So, in the advent of this year’s People Power celebrations, let us look back at the history of the Tamaraw - one of the vehicles that really gave power to the people. But before that, let’s explore what made this ride so iconic. 

Why is the Tamaraw so iconic?

While the Jeepney is and still currently is a ubiquitous form of transportation in the Philippines, the Tamaraw and, eventually, the Revo truly marked a point where automobiles became democratized for all Pinoys. 

When the model became the Tamaraw FX, it transformed into a configuration that was more suitable for a family car or a logistics solution for businesses. 

Additionally, all generations of the Tamaraw were specced to be tough as nails because, from the get-go, Toyota understood its target market. 

For those of you too young to remember, vast swathes of the country had to make do with rough, unpaved roads from the 1970s all the way up to the 2000s. As such, it was necessary for the vehicle to come with a body-on-frame chassis and a sturdy leaf-spring type rear suspension. 

Most of the model’s iterations also came with seating configurations that were able to accommodate more than five occupants. The aforementioned, as we all know, is a crucial characteristic for a vehicle, as far as the family-oriented Filipino is concerned. 

All of the aforementioned goes along with the fact that Toyota kept the Tamaraw as a highly accessible nameplate. It was affordable, and even the modern version we have now starts at a relatively inexpensive price of P937,000 (Dropside DSL MT). 

And, of course, the Tamaraw, despite being sold by a Japanese company, has its origins firmly planted in the Philippines. In fact, its first generation model was first assembled in Bicutan, Paranaque City, before its eventual spread throughout Southeast Asia. 

Now, in 2025, the Tamaraw remains true to its roots as a Philippine-made product through Toyota Motor Philippines’ Santa Rosa plant. 

First, second generation

The first version of the Tamaraw was built in the country in December 1976. Back then, the model utilized a high-side, pick-up truck-style body and a 15-seater jeepney-style version. 

Similar to many vehicles at the time, the earliest version of the Toyota-made utility vehicle came with a boxy and straightforward design. It also used a simple 1.2-liter inline-4 engine with a maximum output of around 61 horsepower (hp). 

Eventually, the model evolved to become more versatile. In 1981, Toyota rolled out the second generation version, which was equipped with a 1.3-liter mill capable of making up to 71 hp. It also retained the same body style options. 

The second generation was sold in the country until 1991 and it lived through one of the most important historic events that shaped the Philippines as we know it today - the People Power Revolution. 

Come 1992, the Tamaraw took its next big step to become a true household name.

Toyota Tamaraw FX

After first rolling out a pick-up truck version in 1991, Toyota introduced the wagon version of the Tamaraw in 1992. It was known as the Tamaraw FX and was the first-ever version of the nameplate intended to fit into the passenger vehicle niche. 

While the Indonesians received the wagon first in 1986 (as the Toyota Kijiang Deluxe), the Philippine market quickly took to adopting the new ride despite its simplicity. 

Per old brochures, the model received a 1.5-liter gasoline engine or a 2.0-liter diesel mill. The aforementioned was paired with a five-speed manual transmission while retaining the same rugged body-on-frame built from its prior iterations. The gasoline version, specifically the ”Wagon GL” version, could produce up to 64 hp and 110 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. It wasn’t powerful, but it was touted by Toyota as “reliable and economical.”

Unlike the older utilitarian first and second-generation versions, however, it was available with some dealer options, such as an air-conditioning system and a radio cassette player with four speakers. 

In 1996, the Japanese marque followed up on its initial launch with an updated version equipped with seatbelts and power steering. It also gained a fair bit of power, with the gasoline-powered Wagon Standard trim being able to churn out 78 hp and 140 Nm of torque. 

Later, in the year 2002, the Tamaraw FX line was discontinued to make way for a new version that’s closer in appearance and style similar to a modern sports utility vehicle (SUV). 

Toyota Revo

In the late 1990s, Toyota once again evolved the nameplate into the Tamaraw FX Revo. 

While it retained a wagon-type body, which was right on the cusp of being an SUV. It still had rigid axles, a leaf spring rear suspension system, and a body-one-frame chassis, but its appearance came quite close to the Hilux from the same era. 

For its engines, it utilized a 2.4-liter diesel mill and a 1.8-liter gasoline engine. The most powerful version was the “1RZ-E” or 2.0 Gas AT (Leather) variant, which could produce up to 105hp and 161 Nm of torque. It also boasted front disc brakes, 15-inch alloy wheels, and keyless entry. During this time, power steering became standard for all Tamaraw FX Revo versions. 

The Tamaraw FX Revo, which eventually got a name change to “Toyota Revo,” received significant updates until 2005. As Toyota delved into the Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform, however, it was discontinued. 

All-new Toyota Tamaraw

As the Aichi-headquartered brand further delved into the IMV project, it eventually introduced the 0 Concept as a part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations. The model eventually became the locally available Toyota Tamaraw, which was launched just last year.

Similar to the nameplate’s first-gen iteration, the current version of the Tamaraw is still a utility vehicle with a utility van, dropside pickup truck, and aluminum cargo variants. 

For those curious, here are the specifications of the all-new Toyota Tamaraw, specifically the GL Dropside DSL AT: 

Model	Toyota Tamaraw GL Dropside AT
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	5,300x1,800x1,800
Wheelbase (mm)	3,085
Wheel size	16-inches
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	PVC
Amenities	Manual air-conditioning Urethane steering wheel Cupholders Keyless entry Power-adjust side mirrors Two-piece speaker system
Instrument cluster	Digital trip meter, analog gauge cluster
Infotainment system	7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	Two
Powertrain
Engine	2.4-liter 2GD-FTV (high) inline-4 turbocharged
Fuel type	Diesel
Transmission	Six-speed automatic
Horsepower	147
Torque	400 Nm
Brakes	Front disc, rear drums
Technology
Safety	Dual-front airbags Anti-lock braking system Electronic brake-force distribution
Price	P1.075 million

Final thoughts

At the end of it all, the Toyota Tamaraw is an enduring symbol of the indomitable Filipino spirit. Like some of us, it has lived through the times of Martial Law, and it has seen us through the People Power revolution. And now Toyota Motor Philippines has brought it back like a phoenix out of the ashes. 

Sure, it is a Japanese-branded nameplate, but the Tamaraw, more than just its name, is one of the cars that has indeed attached itself to our identity as a nation by evolving along with us throughout the years. 

For now, the Philippine-spec Tamaraw has yet to receive a wagon-type passenger version. However, considering the first-generation model's history, there’s a strong possibility that a wagon variant will be introduced in the future.

Notably, Indonesia-based PT Toyota-Astra has already unveiled a Tamaraw-based SUV concept. This model is set to launch as a three-row passenger vehicle through the company’s partner coachbuilders. Given this development, it wouldn’t be surprising if Toyota Motor Philippines follows suit with a locally available version— fingers crossed.

Also read: 

Toyota Tamaraw vs. the competition

TMP eyes to produce next-gen Toyota Tamaraw ‘as much as it can’

TMP starts delivering next-gen Tamaraw units to customers