Toyota Utility Vehicle Cars

With the pandemic still looming over our heads, 2021 was a pretty action-packed year for the auto industry. Sure, you had challenges, with automakers having to contend with issues like chip shortages, causing delays to consumers. But regardless, the show had to go on and we got some pretty cool cars making their debut, predominantly towards the latter half of 2021.

Let’s get one thing out of the way, 2021 really was also the year, when the market as a whole began to embrace EV’s and you could see several automakers both the legacy as well as EV startups bring several new models to market. Having said that, we did see some pretty cool ICE cars, also make their debut. Now there were several cars that made headlines this year, it was very difficult to pick out the best ones, but the cars on this list definitely stood out. Here’s our list of some of the most highly anticipated and important cars that were unveiled in 2021.

CarWow has been synonymous with its drag racing videos on YouTube, but this time they have something different in-store. This time, two Toyota off-road vehicles are being pitted against each other, to determine, which is the better off-roader and workhorse? Moreover, both the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Land Cruiser (Prado) are not being sold on the US market, so the real question is, are you missing something?

It took a lot of us by surprise when Land Cruiser decided not to bring the new Land Cruiser 300 to the U.S. The beast wasn’t moving in numbers that would justify it being alive here. However, the Toyota Group has decided to replace it with the new Lexus LX600 SUV instead and will be arriving Stateside. The company released a teaser last week announcing that the LX 600 will debut on October 13 at 12:30 p.m. ET, and here’s the live stream for you to watch

The 2022 Toyota Tundra came out with all guns blazing. It doesn’t offer a plethora of engine options like its American rivals, but it still has a strong and loyal fan base who swear by its reliability. No wonder the Tundra and the Tacoma have a high demand even in the pre-worshipped market. While the 2022 model’s highlight was the new hybrid engine, there’s one other thing that deserves attention – its composite bed. It is said to be more abuse-friendly, but is that true?

Toyota sold the second-gen Tundra for 14 years with a few nips and tucks in that period to keep it fresh. Despite the fairly strong sales, those were not enough and the truck was clearly outdated when compared to its American rivals, the Ford F-150, the Chevy Silverado 1500, and the Ram 1500. So, for 2022, the automaker decided to bring in the third-gen Tundra.

The company has ditched the V-8 in favor of a V-6 that’s offered in two configurations, equipped a new suspension system, underpinned it on a new chassis, and a whole lot of other major upgrades. It sure looks and feels in line with the other players in the segment now.

The all-new Tundra was rumored, leaked, and teased – in that order – but it’s finally here… Well, almost here. Toyota released a three-second teaser on its Facebook page that says that the truck is arriving on 19 September 2021. The time has finally come!

Toyota just showed off a limited edition model of its iconic Land Cruiser. It commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Land Cruiser family, the very first model of which debuted on August 1, 1951. Yes, you heard that right, since the Land Cruiser is 70 years old, what better way to celebrate than with a limited edition of one of Toyota’s most iconic models that is still in production to this day. However, this special edition, based on the top-of-the-line GXL trim of the 70 series, will only be available in select markets around the world.

The Toyota Yaris Cross, basically a high-riding hatchback with crossover ambitions, is one of Toyota’s newest vehicles and the company’s only subcompact crossover. Now, it looks like Toyota is going to share that love with Lexus, however, this news might not be a big deal if you live in the United States. The Tiny Lexus will share market designations with the Yaris Cross, which is currently only available in Europe, Japan, and Australia. According to the report, the Lexus crossover will be powered by the same 1.5-liter, hybrid, three-cylinder that powers the Yaris Cross. In that model, it’s good for anywhere between 90 and 118 horsepower with the electric motor – either 3.9 kW or 59 kW – adding from 5.2 to 79 horsepower into the mix.

It’s not likely that Lexus will simply rebadge the Yaris Cross, so expect the typical Lexus front end, nice interior materials, and – perhaps – a small increase in power output, at least for the higher trim levels. For the record, it would slot below the Lexus UX, which means that the trademark filing for “LBX” and “Lexus LBX” could have been hinting at its name. That said, the LBX is largely considered to be a concept, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens with that. Another rumor claims the sub-UX crossover would be called the Lexus BX, it would arrive in 2023, and would sit somewhere below the $30,000 mark. That sounds a little more like it to us, but we’ll have to see what happens.

Toyota is a company deeply rooted in habit. It’s been steadily pushing hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, and let’s not even get started on how it has to slap a TRD badge on almost everything it can. This “habit” in mind, however, is exactly why the name Toyota has chosen for its new moon-ready off-roader makes so much sense that we can’t believe we didn’t predict it. It’s called the Lunar Cruiser, and while that makes sense from a general perspective, there’s actually more thought that went into the name than you might think.

The Toyota Tundra is known for its rock-solid reliability. It’s also strong, well-built, a competent hauler, and tough enough to be taken off the roads as well. But, it looks like this owner was not happy with the Bruce Banner version of his Tundra and decided to transform it into Hulk.

The model in question is a 2013 CrewMax equipped with the TRD Off-road package. This Tundra is a completely different monster inside-out and might be your best bet if we face an apocalypse.

Well, here’s a Mercedes X-Class pickup truck with an older 6.2-liter Mercedes-AMG mill plonked under the hood. Oh, wait, I’m sorry. It’s a Toyota Hilux with an AMG engine. I wonder why I thought the X-Class pickup truck with an AMG engine would’ve been a good idea. Duh! The X-Class was better off as a rich man’s Nissan Navara with the same interior and drivetrain, right? Anyway, here’s one genius who plonked the previous-gen 6.2-liter AMG mill under the hood of his Toyota Hilux. The result? A sleeper truck that will scare the living daylight out of you with one press of the throttle.

Toyota is bringing an armada of trucks and SUVs at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, including the Highlander XSE that’s infused with enough sporty characteristics that make us wonder if Toyota’s deliberately trying to jolt some life into what otherwise is a family-oriented three-row crossover. To be clear, the Highlander XSE is not a special edition Highlander; it’s a new trim level that comes with significant visual and performance upgrades that you normally don’t see in a Highlander. If this is Toyota’s attempt to catch our attention with the 2021 Highlander, consider our attention’s caught. The Toyota Highlander XSE will go on sale in the fall of this year as a 2021 model. No pricing details have been revealed, but Toyota did say that the Highlander XSE will slot between the XLE and Limited trims. With the Highlander XLE starting at around $40,000 and the Highlander Limited starting at $44,000, expect the Highlander XSE to start at $42,000.

Toyota created a buzz before the 2020 Chicago Auto Show kicked off by announcing it’ll bring “sporty and outdoorsy, with a touch of nocturnal mischief.” to the show. Toyota teased the Tacoma’s front passenger side lower fascia in a teaser image leading to the auto show, but now we have all the scoop. The company has brought along Trail and Nightshade editions for a handful of its vehicles.

The Trail Editions are introduced on the 2021 models of the Tacoma, Tundra, and the 4Runner. They are aimed at folks who prefer rugged vehicles for a “sporty and outdoorsy” lifestyle. The Trail Edition will be based on the SR5 trims on all three vehicles. They will be offered in special exterior colors that include Army Green, Cement, Midnight Black, and Super White, and also receive black badging to distinguish from the regular SR5 trims. On the inside, Toyota has upholstered the vehicles in black seats with tan contrast stitching. All-weather floor mats also come as part of the package. The Tacoma Trail will come with stuff like:

Dark Gray 18-inch TRD Off-Road wheels Kevlar All-Terrain tires Front fascia grille borrowed from Tacoma Limited A 115-volt power outlet in the bed Lockable bed storage that doubles up as a cooler as well Limited to 7,000 Tacomas

As for the Tundra Trail, you receive:

Chrome grille from the 1794 trim Special Edition exclusive wheels Lockable bed storage-cum-cooler like on the Tacoma Trail Limited to 5,000 Tundras

The 4Runner Trail will be equipped with:

Dark Gray TRD Off-Road wheels Yakima LoadWarrior Rooftop Cargo Basket Custom 40-quart Cooler Sliding Cargo Tray Limited to 4,000 4Runners

Toyota has also blacked out a few more models in its portfolio. Currently, the company offers the Nightshade package on five of its products – 4Runner, Camry, Corolla, Corolla hatch, and Sienna – on the SE trims. Now, Toyota has added the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia to the range as well. The Limited trims of these three vehicles will be treated to the Nightshade package. Customers can have the Nightshade package on these new vehicles in Midnight Black Metallic or Magnetic Gray Metallic exterior shade. Toyota offers this package on the Tacoma in Super White shade, too. The common package details across the three models include:

Black Leather Seats Blacked-Out Front Grille Black Mirror Caps Black Door Handles

Apart from this, the Tacoma Nightshade also receives:

Dark Smoke 18-inch Wheels A Black Exhaust Tip Black Fog Light Bezels New Grille Insert Design Offered in Windchill Pearl shade as well Limited to 5,000 Tacomas

On the Tundra, the company offers black wheels and black exhaust tip. Other than the two standard exterior shades, you can order it in Windchill Pearl, or Super White as well. Toyota will only make 5,000 examples of this one. As for the Sequoia, it receives darkened chrome "Sequoia" badging, body moldings, lower grille, and fog light surrounds. The SUV with the Nightshade package can be had in Blizzard Pearl shade as well. The company has limited the production to 2,500 examples for the Sequoia Nightshade.

Toyota hasn’t revealed the pricing for any of the Special Edition vehicles, but we don’t expect a major increase in any of them. The company also hasn’t announced when these vehicles will be available.