Toyota built its American truck reputation one model at a time, starting with a utilitarian Land Cruiser variant and ending with a turbocharged, electrified Tacoma. Along the way came small trucks, a full-size attempt without a V8, and three generations each of Tacoma and Tundra. Here are twelve Toyota pickups, with the engines and milestones that defined them.
The day in tech, in one email: TLDR is the daily newsletter with links and TLDRs of the most interesting stories in startups, tech and programming.
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
1. Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 pickup: First Toyota Truck
Toyota’s first pickup in North America, the 1961 FJ45, had a 128-hp 3.9-liter six and lasted only one year in the U.S., as SlashGear’s history of Toyota trucks explains. It was a Land Cruiser variant with a bed rather than a purpose-built pickup.
Its short American run makes the FJ45 a rarity today. Collectors who find one are looking at an early piece of Toyota history in the United States, one that predates the brand’s later reputation for dependable small trucks.
2. Toyota Stout: Forgotten Predecessor
The 1960s Toyota Stout sold in low numbers before the smaller, much more popular Hilux replaced it, according to Driving Line’s Tacoma history. The Stout was an early attempt to win American truck buyers.
The Stout shows that Toyota’s success was not immediate. Its modest sales set the stage for a smaller, lighter truck that better matched what American buyers wanted, and examples are rarely seen on the road now.
3. Toyota Hilux: Compact Breakthrough
The Hilux reached the U.S. in 1969 with a 1.9-liter four making 84 hp, later raised to 97 hp, according to SlashGear’s Toyota truck timeline. Modest power was enough for a light, inexpensive work truck, and the later bump to 97 hp gave it a little more freedom on the highway.
This was the model that put Toyota on the map for American truck shoppers. Its simple mechanicals and low price made it a practical choice for small businesses and young drivers alike.
4. Toyota Pickup: Reliability Legend
The 1978-1994 Toyota Pickup built its reliability legend on the 2.4-liter 22R, while a turbo 22R-TE made 137 hp, based on SlashGear’s account of the era. The long production run gave the truck time to earn that reputation.
Used examples remain popular with off-road builders and anyone seeking a simple, repairable truck. Buyers should still inspect for rust and years of hard use, since age matters more than engine type at this point.
5. Toyota T100: Full-Size Attempt
The T100 was Toyota’s first full-size pickup, but with no V8 its sales peaked near 38,000 in 1996 against roughly 800,000 F-150s, as SlashGear’s Toyota truck history reports. The gap between those numbers, nearly twenty to one, shows how much the missing engine mattered to American truck shoppers.
The T100 is a lesson in how American full-size buyers shop. A capable truck without the expected V8 could not compete, and Toyota’s answer came a few years later.
6. Toyota Tacoma (first generation): Tacoma Takes Over
The 1995 Tacoma replaced the Hilux in North America and topped out with a 190-hp 3.4-liter V6, while Driving Line’s Tacoma retrospective notes that a TRD Off-Road with a locking rear differential arrived in 1998. The name has stayed on Toyota’s midsize truck since.
The first Tacoma set the template for the nameplate’s popularity. Shoppers hunting for an older, trail-ready truck often start with the TRD Off-Road variant, whose factory locker makes it a capable base for modifications.
7. Toyota Tundra (first generation): Tundra Arrives
The 2000 Tundra brought an American-built 4.7-liter V8 of 245 hp and was named MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year, according to the Toyota Tundra article on Wikipedia. The V8 answered the criticism that had held back the T100, and the award gave the new truck instant credibility with reviewers.
The first Tundra gave Toyota real credibility in the full-size segment. Used examples are still common, and the award helps explain why the model drew so much attention at launch.
8. Toyota Tacoma (second generation): Midsize Grows Up
The 2005 Tacoma grew into a true midsize truck with a 236-hp 4.0-liter V6 and spawned the 2005-2008 X-Runner, according to Driving Line’s Tacoma story. The larger body marked a clear step up from the first generation in both size and output.
Buyers who wanted more room and power found it here, and the X-Runner showed that Toyota would experiment with a sport-truck variant. The 4.0-liter V6 became a familiar engine for many owners.
9. Toyota Tundra (second generation): Big V8 Tundra
The 2007 Tundra offered a 381-hp 5.7-liter V8, towed up to 10,800 pounds and was the first full-size truck to earn IIHS Top Safety Pick, according to the Toyota Tundra entry on Wikipedia. It was a major leap in capability over the original, and the safety honor was a first for the full-size class.
The second-generation Tundra finally gave Toyota the specifications to challenge domestic rivals directly. Towing buyers and safety-minded families both had a reason to consider it.
10. Toyota Tacoma (third generation): Third-Gen Tacoma Hit
The 2016 Tacoma’s 278-hp 3.5-liter V6 helped it sell nearly 250,000 units in the U.S. in 2019, according to Driving Line’s Tacoma retrospective. That sales figure shows how popular the midsize truck had become by the end of the 2010s, with the larger V6 doing much of the work.
The third generation is a common used choice today. Its sales volume means shoppers have many examples to compare across trims and model years, which tends to keep the used market competitive and informed.
11. Toyota Tundra (third generation): Twin-Turbo Switch
The 2022 Tundra dropped the V8 for a twin-turbo V6, and its hybrid version makes 437 hp and 583 lb-ft while towing up to 12,000 pounds, as the Wikipedia Tundra article records. It marked a break from the V8 tradition that defined the previous generation.
Owners who valued the older V8 had to accept a different engine layout. In return, the turbo V6 and hybrid option delivered more torque and a higher tow rating than before.
12. Toyota Tacoma (fourth generation): Turbo Tacoma
The all-new 2024 Tacoma’s hybrid powertrain pairs a 2.4-liter turbo engine with a 48-hp electric motor for up to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft, which is 75% more torque than the old V6, according to Toyota’s own press release. The turbocharged four replaces the long-running V6 for the top output.
The latest Tacoma closes the loop on this list, moving from small four-cylinder trucks to a turbocharged hybrid four. Shoppers comparing midsize trucks now have a far stronger torque figure to weigh.
The day in tech, in one email: Get TLDR →
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
More from Morning Overview
- Two passengers died at an Ohio toll plaza, and the NTSB now wants the cash lanes shut
- Long use of a common prostate pill is tied to a higher chance of glaucoma
- Ford is recalling 223,472 F-150 pickups because the fuel tank can leak or detach
- Hybrids have 15% fewer problems than gas cars, while EVs and plug-in hybrids have about 80% more, Consumer Reports finds
