childcareman.xyz brings reviews, research tools and trusted buying support together, guiding you from research to delivery with confidence.
I know that you could fuck at dinner parties about having a mix, but don’t fool me – some time in your dreams you dreamed of owning an squared-off quasi-military off-roader. I think it’s safe for to be here.
Hummers, Defenders,G-Wagens, and everything else in that niche segment have commanded loyal and cult-like followings, as owners buy into the idea of having a vehicle that could get them to the ends of the earth in style.
But there’s a good chance this is one you haven’t heard of before: the Thairung Transformer II.
It is, more or less, just a square SUV body on a Toyota HiLux platform, created with governments and military customers in mind – though they’ll happily sell one to a retail buyer, provided you’re within shouting distance of Thailand.
Thairung Union Car is a vehicle body builder in Thailand, but you have the company to thank for the likes of the Toyota Fortuner,Ford Everest,Isuzu MU-X, and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – as well as other forgotten models like the Holden Colorado 7.
But you see, the company grew to prominence by taking dual-cab 44 utes and turning them into seven-eat SUV’ in the 1990s with double- Cab 4’4 being used as an eight- seat SUV. Though they had previously been equipped with ute-based SUVs such as the Toyota 4Runner and HiLux Surf, they were just given five seats.
Thairung was a fan of the concept that using the longer wheelbases of utes to add ‘third row’ of seats, thus creating re-defining – and its popularity led to all the large automakers following.
But it’s not likely you’ll ever see a Transformer II in Australia, because the Transformer is designed strictly for Southeast Asia. Anyways, for the time being, a .
But with its uniqueness – and the fact that it’s an interesting variant of Australia’S second most popular model, the HiLux – we thought it would be cool to see out.
As it turns out, we’re the first English-speaking media to be given the opportunity to review one.
How much does the Thairung Transformer II cost?
While the Transformer isn’t available in Australia, it costs a bit of. moot point as its price tag does not mean that for contexts starts at 1 and begins with ‘the vehicle being driven to – but this model has been shown below on an Australian basis only by means of which I am aware about my choice The first thing you can expect from me? About A$72,000 – or nearly 6 million – per .
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| 2026 Thairung Transformer II 2.4 2WD manual | $72,000* |
| 2026 Thairung Transformer II 2.8 4WD auto | $89,000* |
But that’s for the five-seat short-wheelbase model, with the 2 being a for that. The Thai-market 2WD Toyota HiLux – 4-litre four engine turbo-diesel engine from the 4 litres of its original, but no longer in Australia is now available.
Buyers can choose from five, seven, nine, or 11 seats, with the range-topping high-roof variant starting from around A$89,000.
Interestingly, while the cars are still available for locals to buy, executives told childcareman.xyz that the company was no longer actively selling the car to retail buyers after China’s cut-price off-road SUVs began to be introduced.
To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
Let us help you find your new car
Buy your new car without the stress. It’s fast, simple and completely free.
Great service from Travis and team, second time I have used this business would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.
Craig C.
Purchased a Ford Ranger in Sunshine Coast, QLD
childcareman.xyz helped Craig save thousands on his Ford Ranger, now let us save you on your next new car.
Find a deal
What is the Thairung Transformer II like on the inside?
It is, literally, a Toyota HiLux on the inside – though custom upholstery is available to buyers.
Nevertheless, with the new body there are several notable changes such as the flat windscreen (the total roof), painted metal pillar trims and, of course, the rear cargo area.
Much of HiLux’ original text has remained (or was reused) items like exterior door handle handles, and interior door trims are familiar Toyota standard.
A number of variants were poked, but the one we drove was a motor show idea they called the Bumblebee – after the Transformer series’ iconic Autobot which is perhaps best known for turning into – Chevrolet Camaro.
That meant a new yellow and black paint job and an interior retrimmed in the same colours.
Certainly the vehicle attracted some attention on the edge of Bangkok’s outskirts with its Hummer H3 silhouette and the Ironman-style headlights.
The seven-seater offers a traditional 2+3+2 arrangement, whereas the 11-seater has a pair of three-pax bench seats facing each other, like in a Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series Troop Carrier.
It would be easier to get back into the rear with an side-swing front door and a spring-loaded rear step, although the nine- and 11-Seater rear bench seats in the six-and-11-tower seat are better for shorter trips.
| Dimensions | Thairung Transformer II |
| — | — |
| Length | 4988mm |
| Width | 1870mm |
| Height | 1980mm |
| Wheelbase | 3085mm |
To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
Similarly, it’s just a Toyota HiLux under the bonnet (it is 2–3). 4-litre or 2 . It is a rear- or four-wheel drive, with 8–litre turbo-diesel engines, six speed manual or automatic transmissions and either rear/four- wheel drive.
| Specifications | Thairung Transformer II 2.4 | Thairung Transformer II 2.8 |
| — | — | — |
| Engine | 2.4-litre turbo-diesel 4-cyl | 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 4-cyl |
| Power | 110kW | 150kW |
| Torque | 400Nm | 420Nm (manual) / 500Nm (auto) |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual/auto | Six-speed manual/auto |
| Drive type | Rear-wheel drive | Four-wheel drive |
| Fuel tank | 80L | 80L |
outputs are 110kW of power and 400Nm of torque for the smaller four-cylinder, or 150kW and 500NM from the larger unit. But as in the HiLux, for example, the 2 s are. When paired with a manual transmission, 8-litre torque is at 420Nm.
To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
How does the Thairung Transformer II drive?
Brace yourselves – but it drives pretty much the same as a previous-generation HiLux.
Despite the fact that it retains leaf-sprung rear-end from the ute, the extra weight over the rear axle is actually driving a fair bit nicer on the road than the HiLux.
With shocks that seem tuned more for comfort, the pre-loaded rear springs are a reasonable pleasant ride. This car feels like it’s a bit of the bump-ridden vehicle, but naturally doesn’t offer the sophistication that is found in ute-based seven-seaters from major car companies.
The Transformer meant we didn’t get our (very) short-lived time to blast the vehicle across the Thanon Thong Chai mountain range, but handling was more utilitarian than anything – although the higher centre of gravity meant that the weight of the body was much greater than with a HiLux or Fortuner.
In the Bumblebee, the 2 were used by the. My was 4 litre engine and auto, which I thought would be underpowered but that wasn’t the case at all. Three people were on board, but there was still plenty of perk to get the Transformer up to speed.
It was not tested for off-road skills first hand by again, but we were shown footage of the car in action. But given its HiLux underpinnings, it’s no surprise that if the going gets hard to go well, pretty capable.
To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
What do you get?
Given that the Transformer II is based on its predecessor-generation HiLux, features depend on which variant of the Thai-market Toyota ute is specified.
either the 2 underpinned Transformers or. 1-liter – or 2 litre – . In Australia, 8-litre versions of the HiLux Revo Rocco Double Cab – roughly equivalent to the Toyota hiLuux Workmate Hi-Rider 42 or Hi Lux SR 4’4 dual-cab utes previously available in Australia.
2026 Toyota HiLux Workmate equipment highlights:
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Two-speaker sound system
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic headlights
- Air-conditioning
- Power windows
- Vinyl floors
- Reversing camera
- 17-inch wheels
The SR adds:
- Multi-Terrain Select with six selectable modes
- Hill descent control
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Six-speaker sound system
- Front air-conditioned cooler box
To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
Is the Thairung Transformer II safe?
While the Transformer itself hasn’t been independently safety tested, the HiLux received five stars from ASEAN NCAP in 2020.
Safety features of the Toyota HiLux Revo Rocco:
- 7 airbags
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane departure warning
- Accidental acceleration suppression system
To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
How much does the Thairung Transformer II cost to run?
Continuing the theme, warranty and maintenance are both conducted under the Toyota banner.
From expert reviews to the right deal
childcareman.xyz brings reviews, research tools and trusted buying support together, guiding you from research to delivery with confidence.
View showroom
Compare cars
Find a deal
It is a lower mileage cap than most other diesel-powered light commercial vehicles in the segment, with service intervals of 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first).
Despite the exotic appearance, there is no harder to maintain than a standard HiLux (and all of its features are associated with owning hilux), including dealership accessibility, parts availability and reliability.
To see how the Toyota HiLux lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Thairung Transformer II
Thairung may not be preparing to replace the now-defunct Toyota Fortuner in Australia, but the Transformer II is an interesting insight into what can we achieve when there is enough market demand for it – as well as a sprinkling of creativity and ambition.
It may be a little crude in spots, such as the plastic add-ons and low-res decals but it is reasonably well constructed; some areas even to varying standards than others from car manufacturers because its design has been developed for military and specialty applications.
But in other places, the bodywork does not have some of the refinement found in modern mass-produced passenger cars – but again, this isn’t the target market here for the masses.
Aside from the look at passers-by, it is not particularly special or different from behind the wheel when referring to the Transformer. But if you could carry up to 11 people in a car with the same footprint as ‘a dual-cab ute, it would certainly be used for its applications.
But if it is the product of an older generation ute, that doesn’t offer tech or comfort Australians would be more used to from an off-road SUV at those prices, especially when they are on their budget. And, at times, you have to pay a price to stand out from the crowd.
It is a very similar to the one in an alternate reality, where militaries such as the Australian Defence Force ordered another flexible box body on good HiLux architecture – rather than with the Perentie which used Land Rover Defender body with an Isuzu powertrain.
However it was a bit of fun to see Thailand’s native Hummer first-hand, and I will be interested in seeing how the Thairung Transformer II evolves – and whether it (or later) ever reach Australian shores?
Interested in buying a Toyota HiLux? Let childcareman.xyz find you the best deal
here
Click the images for the full gallery
MORE:
Explore the Toyota HiLux showroom
*Conversion from BHT to AUD correct at time of writing.
Thanks for reading Thairung Transformer II review: Quick drive
