Toyota produced its first automobile in 1936 in Japan and has since established itself as a powerhouse in the automotive world. Accounting for a total of over 65 million cars worldwide, here are the top 3 best selling Toyota models of all-time.
3rd Place: Toyota Land Cruiser
The numbers:
- 10 million+ units sold worldwide
- 12 generations
- First sold in the US in 1958
Following its introduction in 1954 for use in the Korean War, the Land Cruiser proceeded to become a staple in the off-roading market. The initial design was based heavily on the US Army’s Jeep. After development by Toyota, including a bigger engine and some other tweaks, the first-generation Land Cruiser was born. Sporting excellent ground clearance and rugged design, they can be seen anywhere in the world where the going gets rough and helped cement Toyota’s reputation of bulletproof reliability.
Land Cruisers continued to be used as military vehicles worldwide and remain very popular in Australia, where over one million have been sold. Due to their signature styling and off-roading capability, values of classic examples have jumped in recent years. In 2016, a 1981 FJ43 model sold for $176,000. While worldwide sales will continue, the Land Cruiser will not return to the US after the 2021 model year.
2nd Place: Toyota Camry
The numbers:
- At least 12.4 million units sold worldwide
- Eight generations in the US
- First produced in 1982
- Best selling passenger car in the US for 19 consecutive years
The runner up is a household name when it comes to sedans, the Camry. From the get-go Toyota’s recipe for a dependable sedan hit the sweet spot in the US market. The early generations in the 80s were equipped with a four cylinder engine that delivered an impressive 30 MPG and proved to be as reliable as a wood-burning stove. The recipe remained mostly unchanged throughout the different iterations while adding the option of a V6 and much later, a hybrid option.
You would find it difficult to make any road trip here in the US without spotting one, and it is because it has been the best selling passenger car for 19, yes 19, consecutive years. It is not, however, the best-selling vehicle overall during that span, being eclipsed by the Ford F-series platform as the leader in its own sector. For the last 40 years the Camry has been a mainstay in the US market, proving that simplicity and reliability are the ingredients for a home run best-seller.
1st Place: Toyota Corolla
The numbers:
- 43 million+ units sold worldwide
- 11 generations
- First sold in the US in 1986
And the gold medal of best selling Toyota models goes to…the Corolla. Let’s face it, most of us knew the Corolla would top this list. Designed by Tasuo Hasegawa and first produced in Japan in 1966, today the Corolla is actually the best-selling car there has ever been, Toyota or non-Toyota. That’s right, no other model in history has sold in greater numbers, even Ford’s F-series or Volkswagen’s Golf, both of which are the runners up to this title.
The inspiration began with Japan’s need for a small, practical and affordable car that the average person could afford. In 1966, some Japanese citizens wouldn’t even dream of being able to purchase a car. But Toyota didn’t simply build their new model down to a price, they designed a quality item that would withstand the test of time. It became so successful that it would eventually be introduced in most major automotive markets worldwide and sell in vast numbers.
In the market for a new, used, or certified pre-owned vehicle? Thousand Oaks Toyota is your Southern California dealership destination for cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs. We have an on-site Service Center with Genuine Toyota OEM parts, accessories, and merchandise.
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