Are some of the most epic Toyotas still on the road today? As a company that prides itself on durability and reliability, they could be.
The 80s and 90s might not have been some of the best decades for other automakers, but Toyota had several models that come out bearing its name or the Lexus name that gave us a lot to be proud of during a drive. You might have a few models that aren’t on our list, but here is what we’ve come up with to share.
1999 Lexus RX300
At one time, this luxury SUV represented more than 40 percent of the overall sales of Lexus. The RX300 was one of the first unibody crossover SUVs, built on a car platform instead of one from a truck. This formula of building crossover SUVs became a huge hit for Lexus and we still see the RX as part of the lineup today. Until this model came along, the idea of a crossover SUV on a car platform was unheard of in the automotive world. In fact, without the RX300, we would have only had the failed Pontiac Aztek and might still be unsure how to make a crossover properly.
1985 Toyota MR2
The MR2 is one of the most epic Toyotas ever made. This car uses the rear-drive powertrain from the Corolla Sport to give us the sporty performance desired in a mid-engine two-seat sports car. The first generation of the Toyota MR2 continues to be a car we love and admire to this day. If you thought the 1980s was mired with nothing but boring and plain cars, the MR2 tells a completely different story. This is a sports car that delivers the promise of being fun to drive and easy on the eyes.
1983 Toyota Celica Supra
Another impressive model that we admired for the entire decade is the Toyota Celica Supra. This car brought a fully independent suspension, a strong 2.8-liter DOHC inline-six engine and it was relatively affordable. The seats were some of the most comfortable at that price point. The wide fender flares over the wide 14-inch wheels made this Supra easy to admire. Yes, this was one of the first Supra models ever made, giving way to the versions we see in the market today. Many people who love Toyota still love this Celica.
1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S
The overwhelming simplicity of this car makes it one of the most epic Toyotas ever produced. This impressive car came in a lightweight package and a 112-horsepower DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine. Along with this power and small weight the body was extremely aerodynamic at the time. This car become legendary as a drifting car and helped this impressive model continue to be one of the best-selling vehicles ever built in the world. For the Toyota brand, the Corolla is the best-seller and one that many feel is worth loving and continues to be one of the most impressive cars in the market.
1990 Lexus LS400
The entry into the luxury world for the LS400 gave us a car that was better than anyone could have ever imagined. This incredible LS400 gave us the build quality of a Mercedes-Benz, finishes that were more impressive than a Rolls-Royce, and a strong powertrain with a V8 engine under the hood. The 4.0-liter DOHC engine made 250 horsepower, which was impressive for 32 years ago. The price was absurdly low in the luxury market, giving Lexus a large sedan that we loved to drive. Other well-established luxury automakers hated this car, but owners loved it.
1993 Toyota Supra Turbo
Typically, when you think of the Toyota Supra, this is the car you picture. Without a doubt, this is one of the most epic Toyotas ever produced. This car was basically a missile on wheels. The 320 horsepower coming out of the twin-sequential turbocharged engine was incredible. This car become a tuner’s delight and stayed in production until 2002 in Japan, with its withdrawal from the US happening in 1998. Once tuners got hold of this car, the race was on to see how much power could come out of this Supra. It seemed like there wasn’t a level that couldn’t be reached for this incredible machine.
Toyota Sera
One Toyota that never made it to America but is certainly worthy of our list is the Toyota Sera. This car had something we only see on high-priced European sports cars and the Tesla Model X, a set of gullwing doors. That singular feature made the Sera much more interesting than most other models on the roads in Japan. Overall, the Sera didn’t look like much, and when the doors were closed you wouldn’t think about it at all, but when those doors opened you were amazed by the Sera.
Toyota Starlet GT Turbo
The Starlet GT Turbo only lasted a short while in the United States, but it’s one of the most epic Toyotas ever made and sold in Japan. The JDM version is rare and sought after to this day. The hatchback was produced from 1990 to 1995 which was a good time for this car. The GT Turbo used a turbocharged version of the four-cylinder that produced 133 horsepower and the car only weighed 1,962 pounds. This gave the car an impressive power-to-weight ratio.
1980 Toyota Land Cruiser
We can talk about the small cars and the performance-based machines from Toyota all day, but one of the most epic Toyotas ever produced is the Land Cruiser. This impressive full-size SUV offered families a big vehicle to drive and enjoy every day. The Land Cruiser has been one of the top models in the market, even though the early versions looked like they were about the same size as Jeep Wrangler. This impressive off-road SUV gave way to the larger versions we saw until recently, giving Toyota its foothold in off-road driving and SUV performance.
Which of the Toyota models from the 80s and 90s did you admire the most? Was your favorite one you drove and could it be on the list of epic Toyotas?
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