When you hear the word Toyota, a few things come to mind; reliability, efficiency, build quality, and an endless range of hybrids. Toyota has been in the automotive industry for decades, and they’ve gained a reputation for functional, no-nonsense cars.
Mostly, Toyota doesn’t offer much excitement with their cars. However, over the years, they have produced some models that have caught the attention of car enthusiasts. Filled with a mixed batch of options, here are a few samples that have been extremely fun or boring to drive.
10 Boring Toyota: Toyota Prius
The first-generation Prius was launched in 1997. It was the world's first mass-produced hybrid passenger car. Until now, Toyota still produces the Prius, making it one of the market's most reliable and economical vehicles.
However, the Prius has always been a punching bag in the automotive world. For starters, there is only one engine on offer, making it a take it or leave it kind of deal. Toyota designed the Prius for efficiency, leaving no room for a fun driving experience. With this, it's among the cars that have gotten uglier with every generation.
9 Smiles Per Gallon: Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
The Tacoma isn’t the most advanced truck on the market. It has a sturdy design, and that’s one of the things customers appreciate. It’s a better daily driver, but there aren’t many sportier variants to choose from. A few years ago, Toyota made a truck to rival the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning.
The Tacoma X-Runner launched in 2005 with the second generation of the Tacoma. It was intended as a street truck, with part of its upgrades being the 4.6 V6 producing 236 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. It also received upgrades like a six-speed short-throw manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.
8 Boring Toyota: Toyota C-HR
The C-HR is a subcompact crossover SUV that has been in production since 2016. Since its production, it was meant to invoke images of race cars. However, the design and performance were a letdown. To make it a reliable and efficient model, Toyota uses a 144-hp engine and a CVT automatic.
It has an underwhelming powertrain making one wonder how such a car could be born from a mind of a race car driver. It's also an ugly iteration of a vehicle that has failed at being something interesting. This model only appeals to people who know nothing about cars.
7 Smiles Per Gallon: Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
The TRD Pro is build to take on the world’s gnarliest terrain. This off-road truck is outfitted with everything you would ever need off-road. These upgrades include a TRD Pro skid plate, 16-inch TRD Pro wheels, TRD tuned internal bypass FOX shocks, and machine forged upper control arms.
All these components help bring confidence and capability to any off-road adventure. This cool-looking offering from Toyota is available with a 278 hp 3.5-liter V6 all sending power to all four wheels using a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. All the upgrades make the Tacoma TRD Pro a reliable truck that can take a lot of abuse.
6 Boring Toyota: Toyota Camry
Toyota has been making the Camry since 1982. With the brand being known for its reliable vehicles, the Camry is one of its bland offerings. Like the Prius, it’s an efficient car. However, it's underpowered, making it no fun to drive or own.
Currently, the Camry is available with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing between 176 hp to 208 hp for the hybrid variant. All the power is transmitted to the front wheels using an eight-speed automatic with a slow sequential shift mode in the SE trim.
5 Smiles Per Gallon: Toyota 86
With an open road ahead of you, the 86 is one of the most exciting sports cars to drive. It’s properly balanced and feels light as it's only 2,756 lb. it also tends to sound better than the current turbocharged Porsche Cayman.
Previously known as the GT86, the 86 is one of the least intimidating vehicles on Toyota’s lineup. Even with its subdued 2.4-liter 16V engine producing 228 hp, it’s a fun car to own and drive. It's also available with 6-speed automatic and manual transmissions.
4 Boring Toyota: Toyota Aygo
The Aygo has been around since 2005. It was made as a competitor to Volkswagen Up. It’s a small compact car with a distinctive, ugly design. The larger sibling, the Aygo X, takes the design horror show to a new level, especially its nose.
Over the years, Toyota has tried to make the Aygo a fun compact car with new bumpers and modern LED headlight designs. However, none of these upgrades have enticed enthusiasts to try the Aygo. It has a strained engine that is slow to pick up to highway speeds.
3 Smiles Per Gallon: Toyota GR Supra
Frankly, all Supra generations were fun to drive. The latest one, however, takes the excitement to a new level. When you put aside all the BMW jokes for a moment, the new Supra lives up to its name and helps revive the nameplate.
The Supra is available with two turbocharged engines, a 255 hp 2.0-liter inline-4 and a 383 hp 3.0-liter inline-6. These engines help propel the Supra from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds for the 2.0-liter version and 3.9 seconds for the 3.0-liter variant. All models are available with an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and manual mode.
2 Boring Toyota: Toyota Corolla Hybrid
The hybrid Corolla was first introduced in 2020. It features the same engine and hybrid powertrain as the Prius making it a fancier, uglier Prius. Even with its better-looking sedan body style, the Corolla is pretty slow to accelerate to highway speeds.
Besides its subdued performance, some Corolla Hybrid owners have had a few complaints about the vehicle's reliability. Some customers have complained about their 12V battery draining after leaving the Corolla parked for a few days.
1 Smiles Per Gallon: Toyota GR Yaris
The GR Yaris is one of the best hot hatches of the decade. It incorporates the technology and knowledge from the World Rally Championship to offer a true daily sports car feeling. The experts at Toyota Gazoo Racing developed the GR Yaris, incorporating the advanced GR-FOUR AWD system technology.
This outstanding hot hatch was born as a homologation special for the Yaris that still dominates the WRC. It features an insane turbocharged 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine producing 268 hp. Some additional upgrades that help make the GR Yaris fun include the dual exhaust pipes, 6-speed manual transmission, front & rear Torsen limited-slip differential, and the GR suspension.