Toyota drops a caravan on an electric Hilux in a classic Top Gear throwback to see if the EV can survive
Published on Oct 01, 2026 at 1:46 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 01, 2026 at 1:46 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Toyota has recreated one of Top Gear’s most memorable stunts, dropping a caravan onto its new electric Hilux to see if the pickup could survive the impact.
Cast your mind back to 2003 and you’ll recall Jeremy Clarkson subjecting the truck to a spectacularly elaborate stunt on the BBC motoring show.
Despite his best efforts of destruction, the pickup kept chugging along.
Two decades later, Toyota wanted to see if it could finish what Clarkson started.
Top Gear was an iconic show, there’s no doubt about it
Perhaps the most iconic motor show to ever grace our television screens, Top Gear had the lion’s share of memorable moments.
Viewers were left on the edge of their seats when Jeremy Clarkson took on ‘Death Road’ in Bolivia, and they were left stunned by a controversial incident in Argentina involving a certain license plate.
The team on Top Gear were never shy about pushing the envelope, as demonstrated by the time they broke BBC rules to get a Ferrari Enzo on the show.
But perhaps one of the most bizarre things they ever did on the show – and believe us, that’s a high bar – was when they attempted to destroy a Toyota Hilux with a caravan.
Yes, seriously.
Top Gear attempted to destroy a Toyota Hilux in a multitude of ways
In an episode that aired on November 23, 2003, Clarkson subjected a 1980s diesel Hilux to a round of abuse, all in a bid to test its limits.
It was driven into a tree, driven into a building, left out at sea, smashed with a wrecking ball, and set on fire.
But the biggest knock of all came from a caravan, which was dropped on top of the poor Toyota.
Despite all of the abuse it took, the Hilux kept running – albeit looking battered.
Twenty-three years on, Toyota attempted this stunt again
Toyota decided that this iconic stunt was worth repeating in the electric era.
It put a question to Reddit users – choose how to test the new electric Hilux.
The options presented were to either smash it repeatedly with a wrecking ball or to drop a caravan on it.
To nobody’s surprise, Reddit opted for the latter option.
This stunt took place at Bentwaters airfield in Suffolk, where Toyota lifted a 1,675-pound caravan 30 feet into the air.
From there, they dropped it directly onto the cab of the electric Hilux.
Inspections of the vehicle after the fact found that it’d only sustained some minor bodywork damage.
Otherwise, it was in fine condition and could still drive.
So there you have it, the Hilux can sustain a caravan whether diesel-powered or electric.
That’s got to earn electric cars some brownie points, right?
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
