Top Performers: Toyota Performance Vehicles
A lot of people associate Toyota with suburban driving only. Thinking of the Camry, the Sienna, or the RAV4 (all great vehicles, by the way), people often overlook Toyota as a true performance brand as well. But, if you take a look at our lot for a used Toyota for sale, you may be surprised at the number of high-level performers you find. Different performance vehicles perform in different ways; some performance vehicles are exciting off-road SUVs, others are highly-capable trucks, and still others are agile sports cars. Toyota does indeed offer all of those vehicle types, and they provide a lot of fun and a lot of capability.
It’s fun to take a look at some of the hidden heroes of Toyota’s lineup because you can see how versatile a brand Toyota truly is, and you get to learn about some of the coolest vehicles on the market. So, let’s take a look at three specific vehicles in the Toyota lineup: The Tacoma pickup truck, the 4Runner SUV, and the 86 sports car.
Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma is America's best-selling midsize pickup truck, and for good reason. With the capability to rival its competitors, the Tacoma stands out on the job site or the trail. And while looks are second to performance when it comes to trucking, the Tacoma is an incredibly good-looking truck as well, with a strong, muscular body. The Tacoma isn’t an also-ran; it has set the standard for the best trucks on the market since its introduction in 1995.
If trucks are made for one thing, it’s utility. A lot of people are tempted to brush over midsize trucks, especially in the area of utility, assuming that they can't offer as much capability as a half-ton model. However, those people would be shocked to find out that the Tacoma actually has some of the most creative, innovative utility solutions on the market. With a highly functional, carefully crafted pickup bed, the Tacoma offers more than just storage in its bed; it offers a command center for you to make sure everything gets done. Along with this, the Tacoma has creative interior storage solutions to make sure that there’s room for everything you need; not to mention all kinds of tools in the interior as well.
Nothing says “performance” like an off-road vehicle, and the Tacoma certainly delivers in that area, thanks to the TRD variants. With TRD-specific suspension and design elements combined with unique architecture, the top TRD Pro trim is a whole different Tacoma that is truly fit for the trails. The Tacoma is highly sought after by off-roaders because of its durability and reliability, allowing it to take a beating on the trails but come home intact. Once again, looks are second to performance when it comes to trucking and off-roading, but the Tacoma TRD Pro actually offers some of the most stunning and innovative engineering you’ll find in any truck anywhere. Leaning into the vigor and ferocity of off-roading, the design communicates a readiness for adventure and a spark of energy.
The Tacoma deserves all of the attention that it gets. If you look at the raw facts and offerings of this truck, it exceeds the competition in many ways. It is a true performer, but not simply a performer in terms of performance specs. The Tacoma offers the full package of exciting performance, authentic utility, and cutting-edge design, even if you are shopping for a used pickup. That’s the ideal trucking combo, and that’s what the Tacoma offers.
Toyota 4Runner
While the Tacoma transforms itself into a fierce off-roading vehicle, if you want an off-road SUV, you should take a look at the closely related Toyota 4Runner. This vehicle is among the most popular off-roaders on the market, competing with models like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco but providing a more well-rounded package. Toyota has been pioneering the off-road vehicle market for decades, and the 4Runner is the most affordable member of a family that includes options like the famed Land Cruiser.
As a mainstay of the Toyota lineup for over 40 years, the 4Runner has proven itself as a true off-roading vehicle. Sharing the same sturdy, angular, box-like build that so many off-roaders seek in other models, it’s no wonder that the 4Runner is one of Toyota’s most durable SUV models. The 4Runner provides the architecture, engineering, suspension, and technology necessary for serious off-roading, so it delivers on the trails in a serious way.
In decades past, vehicles used to be more focused on a single role. For example, off-road vehicles were focused specifically on off-roading capability and didn't give much thought to daily drivability, while family vehicles couldn't stray far from paved roads. Now, popular demand dictates that one vehicle wears all the hats all the time. The Tacoma does it successfully, and the 4Runner does the same.
The 4Runner is certainly a beast on the trails, but it is highly functional for day-to-day life as well. Able to seat up to seven passengers with its optional third row, the 4Runner provides the passenger and cargo space you need for domestic living. When being used as a standard SUV, you’d never know how brilliant the vehicle can be on the trails (though some context clues may give it away); you’d simply be taken in by how nice of an SUV it is. But, if you put it to the test, you’ll find that the 4Runner can get the family to work and school on the weekdays and take the family on a fierce adventure on the weekends. Having a vehicle that performs in both settings is key, and a used 4Runner delivers.
Toyota 86
So far, we've focused on the off-roading side of performance, but what if you are looking for a traditional sports car? Toyota has a few options available, but one of the best choices if you are shopping for a used sports car is the 86. Firmly rooted in true racing and sports car culture (the name is a callback to the legendary Toyota AE86 that has been featured in games and TV shows), the Toyota 86 truly pulls out all the stops, leaving no thrill untapped.
Originally introduced as the Scion FR-S in 2012 before being renamed and folded into the Toyota brand in 2016, the 86 crafts a beautiful marriage between traditional race-capable engineering and aesthetics and everything you’d hope to find in a modern sports car. Toyota's in-house performance divisions have had their hands in the creation of the 86, making it a real athlete of a vehicle (the involvement of the Gazoo Racing team in the 2022 redesign led to the updated car being officially called the GR86).
Perfectly compact in true sports car fashion, the 86 is tactfully crafted with aerodynamics in mind. While it can be used for day-to-day purposes, the 86 is not a family vehicle; this is a true sports car designed for the track, and its compact body is focused on performance rather than passengers. The first-generation 86 is equipped with a 2.0-liter Boxer engine, keeping the center of gravity low while delivering 205 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque. The car also offers a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, which makes for an invigorating and fun drive suited to the real racing enthusiasts out there. While an automatic transmission is an option, many enthusiasts favor the manual, and the 86 drives like a dream.
Now, if you look ahead a couple of model years to the 2022 GR86, you’ll find some even higher performance specs. As mentioned, the impetus for the name change comes from the 86’s new affiliation with Gazoo Racing, which has led Toyota to offer a new 2.4-liter Boxer engine. This new engine allows the 2022 GR86 to offer 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, a serious increase from the original 86. There’s no doubt that the GR86 is track-ready.
The 2022 GR86 also had a body makeover, with some chassis reworking and a freshly-designed exterior and interior. While the redesign has some aerodynamic benefits and certainly modernizes the vehicle’s look, there is something to be said for the classic-leaning look of the traditional 86. While not being fully “retro,” the first-generation 86 is reminiscent of the traditional sports cars of yesteryear with its simple but fierce design.
The Toyota 86 is a real performer. It’s not as showy as some other sports cars, but its simplicity makes for an even greater surprise when you get inside and see that it’s not simply a vehicle interior––it’s a cockpit suited to serious drivers. That surprise will be extended when you start driving and feel the thrills of its race-ready capability.
Big Performers
Toyota offers a lot more than just commuter vehicles fit for suburbanites. The fact that its models are ubiquitous among that demographic speaks to the fact that the company produces vehicles that are sturdy, reliable, and safe. With those qualities as the foundation, it’s no wonder that Toyota is just as capable of offering performance-forward enthusiast and adventure vehicles. Offering engineering, performance specs, architecture, design, and technology to keep up with and exceed the competition, Toyota performance vehicles are a no-brainer for those seeking a jolt of adrenaline in their lives. Whether it’s the Tacoma, the 4Runner, the 86, or another performance vehicle that we didn’t cover, Toyota will deliver, even if you are shopping used.
