Toyota Motor Company has come a long way since the introduction of its first-ever model, the Model AA in 1937. Throughout the years, they have become the biggest carmaker in the world and solidified their place for producing affordable but high quality and reliable cars, with hundreds of millions of Toyota vehicles sold worldwide.
Yet, the Japanese automotive giant shows no signs of slowing down, with Toyota's motorsport and performance car brand Gazoo Racing making waves across the world by introducing one exciting car after another, the latest being the 2022 Toyota GR 86, lining up alongside the GR Yaris and the recently revived Supra.
Toyota has stood the test of time, and now we take a look at the models that took them to their rightful place in being one of the greats in the automotive industry.
Corolla
With more than 45 million units sold, the Toyota Corolla will go down in history as the best-selling car in the world. First revealed to the world in 1966, it remains true to its roots as a reliable and practical family saloon car.
The Corolla nameplate has gone through several major redesigns over the years to stay at the top of its game. And with rumors of a GR Corolla expected to come out by 2022, the world's best-selling nameplate, just got even better.
Land Cruiser
From a nameplate that started as a utilitarian jeep, only to evolve into one of today's best luxury SUVs in the market, the Toyota Land Cruiser has earned a cult following throughout its 60-year history by defining what an all-around SUV should be; a serious off-roader that can go anywhere, yet comfortable enough as a daily commuter.
The Land Cruiser is one of Toyota's models that gave their reputation of producing cars with rock-solid reliability. You can take it to the beaten path during the weekend for some off-road action, and take it to work on the weekdays. This car won't let you down.
Hilux
A pick-up that's labeled by Top Gear UK as indestructible, the Hilux nameplate is the weapon of choice around the world for a solid workhorse. Whether put out in harsh environments such as fighting wars in the Middle East, to carrying huge payloads in transporting goods, this formidable pick-up truck is sure to deliver.
The Hilux is now in its eighth-generation model called the Hilux Revo, and still retains its high level of durability and reliability even through sustained use and abuse, continuing its legacy as one of the most dependable pick-ups of all time.
2000GT
Toyota entered the world of sports cars when they revealed the 2000GT in the 1960s as Japan's version of a grand tourer. It was a thing of beauty, one that can be compared to the Jaguar E-Types and the Aston Martin DB5s of the era, with a sleek and sporty look with performance to go with it.
The car was made famous by the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. And with only 337 examples of this car were ever produced, it's extremely rare and expensive these days. But more importantly, the 2000GT set the bar for Japanese sports cars that came after it.
86
The 86, or the Hachi-Roku in Japanese, belongs in the iconic Toyota list because it arrived at a time where sports cars were increasingly becoming heavier and more powerful than ever, while being too technologically advanced, taking away the driver skill out of the equation. It only had 200hp, but it had all the ingredients of a pure sports car; low center of gravity, a 53/47 weight distribution, and rear-wheel-drive.
This car was a proof that Toyota could still build an exciting car and bring the "waku-doki" feeling, a Japanese expression for "heart pumping, adrenaline racing" in such a small package.
Supra
Built to compete against the likes of the Datsun 240Z during the reveal of its first-generation model, the Toyota Supra was somewhat a spiritual successor to the 2000GT nameplate. An inline-6 engine, FR layout, and a combination of luxury and performance were the ingredients that made this car popular in motorsports and the aftermarket scene, particularly the A80 chassis.
The formula remained the same in the revival of the nameplate in 2018, and with Toyota collaborating with BMW in the development of the new model, the Supra just got even better, with excellent driving dynamics added to this already great car.
Prius
Toyota seems to be always one step ahead of the competition. Hybrids are coming out left and right in today's quest for efficiency and eco-friendly mobility, but the Japanese carmaker has been doing this and been successful since 1997 with the Prius, the best-selling mass-produced hybrid of all time.
Combining excellent fuel efficiency with Toyota reliability and everyday practicality, the Prius is today's benchmark for a successful hybrid car formula.
Celica GT-Four
The Toyota Celica GT-Four became popular in motorsports because of its huge success in the Group A era of rallying. Piloted by the likes of Didier Auriol, Carlos Sainz and Juha Kankkunen in its stint as Toyota's rally weapon, It earned 30 victories, 4 driver's titles, and 2 manufacturer's titles in just 7 years of competition.
Much of the Celica GT-Four's characteristics became the inspiration for the new Toyota GR Yaris, Toyota's latest road-going version of the Yaris WRC.
RAV4
Pioneering the start of the compact crossover SUV segment is the Toyota RAV4. Back then, consumers wanted the cargo space, ground clearance, and four-wheel drive capabilities of an SUV, whilst being refined, comfortable, and as fuel-efficient as a compact saloon car.
Toyota did just that with the RAV4 in 1997, and it became a huge success worldwide. It was such a huge hit that more than 20 years and five major redesigns later, it is the world's best-selling SUV, with more than 11 million units sold.
Lexus LS400
And last but not the least, we have the car that started off a revolution and brought Lexus to its place as Japan's most successful luxury brand, the LS400.
The car boasted extraordinary levels of refinement and advanced technology unheard of during its time. When it was revealed in 1989, customers of luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW were willing to trade in their cars just to get their hands on one of these.