Second Hand Volkswagen Taro Bonnet Latch

The Volkswagen Taro is a pickup truck sold in Europe during the early 1990s that was mechanically identical to the Toyota HiLux of the same era, and it does have a conventional front-opening bonnet secured by a bonnet latch. The latch mechanism sits at the front of the engine bay in the usual position and is a genuine serviceable part on this vehicle. If you are searching for a used example, UK breakers who stock Taro or equivalent HiLux parts from that period are your best port of call.

The Volkswagen Taro was built on the same platform as the Toyota HiLux Mk4 and Mk5 (broadly covering the late 1980s to mid-1990s), and the two vehicles share a very high degree of panel and hardware commonality, including front-end components like the bonnet latch. In practice many breakers and parts suppliers treat the Taro and the corresponding HiLux generation as interchangeable for this part, which also means HiLux new-old-stock and used parts are far easier to source in the UK than Taro-branded items. You should still confirm the specific part number against your vehicle's registration with the breaker before buying, as minor running changes can occur across a production run.

No — the bonnet latch on the Volkswagen Taro is part of the front-end structure and is shared across engine variants and drivetrain configurations, whether two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. You do not need a different latch based on whether your Taro has a petrol or diesel engine, or whether it is a 2WD or 4WD model. Simply match the part to the correct model year and confirm with the breaker.

Trim level does not affect bonnet latch fitment on the Taro — the latch mechanism itself is the same regardless of specification. There may be minor cosmetic differences in the surrounding grille or bonnet release handle finish between higher and lower specifications, but the functional latch hardware is shared. Confirm the part with your breaker using your registration to be certain.

The Volkswagen Taro was sold in Europe from approximately 1989 to 1997, and it followed the Toyota HiLux through a generation change during that period, with the Mk5 HiLux (introduced around 1991) bringing updated front-end styling including revised lights and grille. This generation boundary is the key question when sourcing a bonnet latch, as the latch and surrounding hardware may differ between the earlier and later versions. Name your exact model year when contacting a breaker and ask them to confirm the part matches your specific vehicle rather than assuming all Taro years are identical.

Because the Taro was sold in relatively small numbers in the UK, dedicated Taro parts are uncommon at breakers, but the shared platform with the Toyota HiLux means HiLux dismantlers are a very practical alternative source. On Findapart you can request quotes from breakers who may list the part under the HiLux equivalent — mention both names and your vehicle's year when making your enquiry. Always confirm the part number with the breaker against your registration before purchasing.