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Toyota: Dependable? Positive.
Boring? Not even shut.
Toyota’s constructed its title on bulletproof reliability. However beneath all these reliable sedans and smart hybrids lives a wilder aspect, one filled with tire smoke, turbo whistles, and design selections that make you do a double-take.
This is identical firm that gave us Le Mans winners, mid-engine icons, drifting legends, and idea automobiles straight out of science fiction. So for those who assume Toyota is only for of us cruising in beige Camrys, buckle up. You’re about to satisfy the Toyotas that desire redline to crimson lights.
How We Selected These Toyotas (Spoiler: Boring Was Banned)
This isn’t an inventory of commuter champs or fuel-sipping hybrids. We didn’t care about MPGs, resale worth, or what number of cupholders it has. As an alternative, we seemed for Toyotas that make fanatics perk up — those with turbochargers, T-tops, butterfly doorways, or legendary engines that sound like they belong on a racetrack.
We picked Toyotas that:
- Had actual fanatic or collector enchantment, not simply historic significance
- Signify daring styling, breakthrough engineering, or motorsport credibility
- Made you say, “Wait, Toyota constructed that?”
- Nonetheless makes hearts race — or not less than sparks a Reddit thread
And sure, we gave the Supra lineup quite a lot of love — possibly an excessive amount of. However what had been we purported to do? They’re iconic, attractive, and utterly unignorable. We tried to withstand. We failed. You’ll reside.
A few of these automobiles are uncommon. Some are bizarre. Some had been neglected when new however turned cult favorites. However all of them show one factor: Toyota’s wild streak runs deeper than most individuals assume.
Toyota 2000GT
The 2000GT was a showstopper from the beginning. With its smooth curves, lengthy hood, and low-slung stance, it proved Toyota might construct a world-class sports activities automotive to rival Europe’s greatest. Powered by a Yamaha-tuned 2.0-liter inline-six and outfitted with a refined chassis, it delivered each magnificence and efficiency in equal measure.
In-built restricted numbers and famously featured in You Solely Dwell Twice, the 2000GT turned a world icon. In the present day, it’s remembered because the automotive that put Japan on the sports activities automotive map — and some of the attractive coupes ever made.
First-Era Supra (A40/A50 Celica Supra, 1978–1981)
The primary Supra was mainly a long-wheelbase Celica with a straight-six engine — Toyota’s approach of chasing the Datsun 280Z and different private GTs of the period. It wasn’t a barnstormer, however it laid the groundwork: rear-wheel drive, inline-six, and a extra luxurious tackle Japanese efficiency.
Why it issues: It’s the genesis of the Supra bloodline, and whereas it’s extra cruiser than bruiser, it launched Toyota’s M-series straight-six — a precursor to the legendary 2JZ.
Second-Era Supra (A60, 1982–1986)
The A60-generation Supra got here into its personal with pop-up headlights, flared fenders, and legit efficiency chops. It was sharper and sportier and carved out its personal id separate from the Celica. The P-Kind (Efficiency) fashions obtained LSDs, upgraded suspension, and sporty interiors.
Why it issues: That is when the Supra turned a real standalone efficiency nameplate. It additionally gave us superb T-top choices and digital sprint extra.
Third-Era Supra (A70, 1986–1992)
The A70 Supra moved to a devoted platform and launched turbocharging to the combination. With impartial suspension, accessible TEMS (Toyota Digital Modulated Suspension), and as much as 276 hp in Japanese-market twin-turbo variations, the Mk3 had brains and brawn.
Why it issues: It’s essentially the most underrated Supra technology right now — quick, clean, mod-friendly, and infrequently neglected in favor of its youthful sibling. The 7M-GTE engine wasn’t excellent, however it opened the door to severe efficiency.
Fourth-Era Supra (A80, 1993–2002)
The A80 wants no introduction. Twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE. Guide transmission. Iconic Quick & Livid fame. It outlined the ’90s tuner tradition and proved that Toyota might construct a supercar killer. Due to legendary reliability and insane tuning potential, it’s nonetheless some of the sought-after Japanese efficiency automobiles ever made.
Why it issues: It’s Toyota’s most iconic efficiency automotive—full cease. Due to a booming collector market, it now sells for greater than some new Ferraris.
Fifth-Era Toyota Supra
When Toyota launched the revived Supra in 2019, it obtained a lukewarm reception because of its ties to BMW and the underpinnings Toyota used for the sports activities automotive. It additionally had a wildly completely different look than the OG, however this curvier Supra has grown on the automotive neighborhood. And extra importantly, it has change into a regarded efficiency automobile and a favourite amongst fanatics worldwide.
Underneath the hood, numerous turbocharged engines sit, from the two.0-liter inline-four to the three.0-liter inline-six, with the Supra producing as much as 382 hp. The Supra’s dealing with has obtained quite a lot of reward, as have its consolation ranges and appears, refreshing the Supra for the twenty first century. Toyota additionally lastly added a handbook to the vary in 2022, which gearheads had been screaming out for.
Toyota Sera
At first look, the Toyota Sera seems like a cutesy ’90s hatchback you’d count on to see parked exterior a Tokyo arcade. However hit the door deal with, and issues get wild — butterfly doorways. Sure, years earlier than the McLaren F1 made them well-known, Toyota gave this quirky JDM-only coupe a set of glass-roofed butterfly doorways, simply because it might.
The Sera got here with a modest 1.5-liter inline-four, making simply over 100 hp, however efficiency wasn’t the purpose. It was a style-forward, glass-canopy spaceship for metropolis cruising. And that styling wasn’t only for present — Gordon Murray, designer of the McLaren F1, has stated the Sera immediately impressed the F1’s door design. Let that sink in: Toyota by chance beat McLaren to a supercar flex.
Toyota Previa Supercharged (Mid-Engine!)
You most likely didn’t anticipate finding a minivan on this checklist, however hear us out. The primary-generation Toyota Previa was secretly essentially the most over-engineered household hauler of the Nineteen Nineties. Not solely was it accessible with a supercharged 2.4-liter engine and elective AWD, however it had a mid-engine format. No joke — the engine was mounted underneath the entrance seats and drove the rear wheels. The supercharger got here in to provide it some desperately wanted grunt, particularly with a full cabin of children and cargo.
It wasn’t quick, however the Previa was a extraordinary anomaly — a minivan with sports activities automotive structure. Attempt explaining that at Vehicles and Espresso.
Lexus LFA
Technically a Lexus, however let’s not child ourselves — the LFA is peak Toyota. This was the model’s moonshot: a carbon-fiber supercar with a Yamaha-tuned 4.8-liter V10 that revved to 9,000 rpm and seemed like an F1 automotive in a tuxedo.
Solely 500 had been made between 2010 and 2012, and Toyota allegedly misplaced cash on each. However what they gained was one thing rarer — automotive respect. The LFA’s digital tachometer was famously created as a result of the analog needle couldn’t sustain with how briskly the engine revved. That alone makes it really feel like a science experiment with a license plate.
Values have skyrocketed in recent times, with collectors realizing this wasn’t simply Toyota proving some extent — it was Toyota rewriting the principles.
Toyota Mega Cruiser
It is perhaps large, daring, and pointless, however the Mega Cruiser is without doubt one of the craziest and most glorious Toyotas the Japanese producer has produced. What seems just like the Japanese reply to the Humvee is a transporter for the Japanese Floor Self-Protection Drive, which Toyota then modified for civilian use.
The large automobile had a 4.1-liter 15B-FTE inline-four turbo-diesel underneath the hood, producing 153 hp and 282 lb-ft of torque. Toyota bought 133 Mega Cruisers to civilians in Japan at Toyota Retailer areas, and the Mega Cruiser was by no means formally bought exterior of Japan. The producer produced 3,000 Mega Cruisers; only some have gone exterior Japan as gray imports.
We’re unhappy this factor by no means made it to america, the land of obnoxiously lifted vans and the Cybertruck. If Individuals are keen to purchase that shiny dumpster, they’d purchase something.
Toyota GR Yaris
There’s a strong argument to make that the Toyota GR Yaris is the very best Toyota of the twenty first century. It would share its title with the competent however bland hatchback, however the GR Yaris differs from its sibling.
Constructed as a rally homologation particular earlier than the WRC guidelines modified, the GR Yaris incorporates a four-wheel drive system, a carbon fiber roof, and a 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine producing 257 hp. An engine that’s among the many most potent manufacturing cylinders on the earth. It’s within the corners the place the GR Yaris excels, and the dealing with is a number of the greatest seen on any efficiency automotive within the trendy period. Demand has been excessive for the GR Yaris, such is the standard of the recent hatch.
Okay, I’m curious… Alright, I’m again after watching this video of a Toyota GR Yaris sending it on a rally observe. Yep, positively one thing particular.
Seventh-Era Toyota Celica
Amidst all of the hype for traditional examples of the Supra and MR2, it’s largely forgotten that Toyota produced the very competent Celica. Specifically, we imply the seventh-generation Celica, which Toyota created from 1999 to 2006. Even in 2025, the sports activities automotive’s design nonetheless seems the half — a Sizzling Wheels come to life.
Underneath the hood, you’d discover two variations of Toyota’s 1.8-liter inline-four engine, the 2ZZ-GE, developed collectively with Yamaha. The 1ZZ-FE was the extra economical engine with 140 hp, whereas the 2ZZ-GE, accessible in Europe and Japan, was stronger with 192 hp. The seventh-gen Celica was a classy, agile, and incredible sports activities automotive, and it was a superb approach for the Celica to bow out.
Toyota GR86
The Toyota GR86 is the second technology of the GT86, co-developed with Subaru, which created its model with the BRZ. In a world of high-priced, massive, and opulent SUVs, the GR86 is a breath of recent air. It supplies us with a discount sports activities automotive that’s quick and usable each day.
Underneath the hood, you can see a 2.4-liter flat-four with 231 hp, a rise of round 16 p.c over the earlier GT86. The GR86 additionally develops its peak torque at a decrease rev vary of three,700 rpm versus the sooner 6,400 rpm. Due to a stiffer chassis, the GR86 handles higher, and an aluminum roof, hood, and entrance wings decrease the middle of mass by 1.6mm. I’ve come throughout some GR86 haters on TikTok, however these are the identical guys who gained’t settle for something that isn’t a Porsche 911 or Supra.
Toyota Hilux
Whereas it’s not at the moment accessible in america, the Toyota Hilux has been a staple of the Japanese producer’s vary for many years. The present vary gives loads of brawny diesel engines, making it really feel old-school in a world of hybrids and turbocharging. Diesel not your model? There’s a fuel choice, too.
Its most well-known moments got here in Prime Gear. In Sequence 3, the present examined a Hilux to destruction, but it doesn’t matter what they did, it all the time got here out and was nonetheless operating. The Hilux was additionally the automobile of selection when Jeremy Clarkson and James Could went to the North Pole, racing Richard Hammond on his canine sled. Making the Hilux much more superior was the truth that it was guzzling jet gasoline for this mission, a greater choice in extraordinarily chilly situations. However no, this gained’t make you drive any quicker on the freeway.
Toyota MR2
Toyota launched the MR2 within the Eighties, and it quickly turned the most effective and most satisfying sports activities automotive experiences whereas not breaking the financial institution. Underneath the hood was a 1.6-liter engine, both naturally aspirated or supercharged, and within the second technology, Toyota introduced in a 2.0-liter powertrain.
Many have felt the demise of the unique, though Toyota stuffed the hole considerably with the Supra and the GR86. Rumors have endured for a few years that Toyota may carry the MR2 again. These have ranged from speak of an all-electric model to a brand new, turbocharged sports activities automotive. Sadly, none can have these iconic pop-up headlights, which actually put a damper on the JDM market’s aesthetic.
Toyota Corolla AE86
Of all of Toyota’s merchandise, the Corolla AE86 is without doubt one of the most well-known. Also referred to as the Hachi Roku, it’s a automotive that outlined the Japanese automotive scene within the Eighties and JDM tradition. The Corolla AE86 shot to fame because of its function in Preliminary D, its look within the Gran Turismo PlayStation recreation, and the automotive of selection for drift king Keiichi Tsuchiya. For those who assume this wedge-like, boring coupe seems cool in any respect and never like one thing you’d drive to an early morning yard sale throughout city, you’ve been brainwashed by the media.
Due to these well-known appearances, the costs of the Corolla AE86 maintain growing, however it additionally has the efficiency to again up its fame. Underneath the hood is a 1.6-liter twin-cam 4A-GE. It solely produced 112 hp as normal, however tuning and modifications extract much more energy from the hatchback. As is, the AE86 feels fairly gradual, which YouTuber NoriYaro factors out over and over in his notorious video. However there’s positively potential.
Toyota Land Cruiser
A listing of Toyota’s best-ever designs is incomplete with out wanting on the distinctive Land Cruiser. The unique Land Cruiser stays the most effective off-roaders in historical past, showing in all types of kinds and designs. It’s no shock that Toyota has lately relaunched the Land Cruiser in each america and Europe.
The Land Cruiser turned well-known for its robustness and dependability. It was one of many few autos that might go anyplace and get you house after. The Land Cruiser first appeared in 1951 because the BJ and FJ, evolving into the well-known J20 in 1955 with a design that may quickly change into iconic.
Toyota Century
Toyota is not any stranger to bougie, particularly with its luxurious division, Lexus. Nevertheless, the principle mother or father firm is aware of a factor or two about opulent journey, and nowhere is that this extra obvious than with the Century sedan. This positively seems like the kind of automotive you’d see parked exterior a funeral house, however the specs of this factor will really make you are feeling alive.
Century is a producer’s flagship in Japan, and whereas it has been in manufacturing since 1967, there have solely been three generations of the posh sedan. The very best is the G50, which debuted in 1997 with a large 5.0-liter V12 underneath the hood. The third technology debuted in 2018, and underneath the hood is now a 5.0-liter hybrid V8 engine, producing a mixed complete energy output of 425 hp.
Toyota GR Corolla
Not content material with its present GR choices, Toyota launched the GR Corolla for the 2024 mannequin yr. Beginning at simply $37,195, it’s little surprise that, just like the GR Yaris, the GR Corolla has taken the fanatic market by storm.
Underneath the hood, the G16E-GTS 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produces 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque throughout all of the trim ranges. Just like the GR Yaris, it gives excellent dealing with by way of the GR circuit-tuned suspension, and gearheads will revel within the six-speed handbook transmission. All-wheel drive is one other bonus with the GR Corolla. I’m at the moment taking a look at my 2015 Corolla with 132 hp and weeping.
Remaining Gear: Toyota Doesn’t Simply Construct Vehicles—They Construct Legends
For each beige Corolla you see in a college pickup line, there’s a GR Yaris lighting up a rally stage. For each sensible RAV4, there’s a Supra chasing supercars or an LFA screaming previous redline at 9,000 RPM. Toyota doesn’t all the time flaunt its enjoyable aspect, however when it does? It leaves a mark.
Whether or not you’re into sideways-driving drift machines, world-conquering off-roaders, or supercar science initiatives with V10s, Toyota has constructed one thing for you — even for those who didn’t notice it but.
So the subsequent time somebody says Toyota is boring, ship them this checklist… and possibly the sound of a 2JZ hitting increase.
