The Toyota Lineup Offers Buyers Freedom of Choice

When it comes to choosing a car, truck, or SUV that’s big enough for your lifestyle needs, contains the equipment and features you want, and can handle punishing Pennsylvania winters, we’re a Sinking Spring auto dealer that believes in freedom of choice. In fact, the Toyota lineup is stacked with so many options that the hardest part will be narrowing down your search.

What do Pennsylvania buyers look for when they’re shopping for a new Toyota? First and foremost, budget is the most important consideration. For some, getting the highest level trim on a smaller model trumps sacrificing bells and whistles to upgrade to a lower trim of a larger model. Also, it’s important to consider how and where you’ll drive your new vehicle.

Some vehicles are uniquely suited to daily commuting, while others fit in well at the soccer field or in the carpool line at school. Still others manage to fit in just about everywhere. The point is, it’s best to let your lifestyle determine the vehicle that’s right for you. Ask yourself what’s important – do you want class-leading fuel economy, or are you willing to sacrifice mpg’s for greater towing capacity? Are you looking for a comfortable ride for yourself, or do you need room for a half dozen passengers?

Whatever you decide, the good news is, you’ll find what you’re seeking in the diverse Toyota vehicle lineup available here at Performance Toyota.

Compact SUVs and Crossovers

If you’re a budget buyer and you want a crossover body style, you’re in luck. The 2021 Toyota lineup includes a vast selection of models designed for value shoppers seeking not only a low purchase price but a low cost of ownership as well. Commuters and first-time buyers alike will love Toyota’s selection of affordably priced crossovers and SUVs.

The 2021 C-HR is Toyota’s most affordable crossover. With a starting price of $21,445, it offers a subcompact size that’s perfect for commuters.^[a] The 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is perfect for streaming a favorite playlist or podcast, and the 31 mpg highway fuel economy rating means you won’t be stopping for gas very often.

If you need a little bit more room, consider the popular RAV4. The highest trim of the CH-R is actually pricier than the entry-level RAV4, which means buyers have the option of upsizing for the same or even a little lower price than the cost of a fully-loaded CH-R. The 2021 RAV4 LE is $26,350, and with an overall length of around 181 inches, it’s nearly a foot longer than the CH-R.^[a]

Thrown into the compact SUV mix is the fast and extremely efficient RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid. This pricey model starts at a higher base MSRP than the larger Highlander and 4Runner SUVs, which adds another layer of decision-making for buyers: do you want the performance and efficiency benefits associated with plug-in hybrid powertrains, or are you seeking bigger dimensions?

What if You Need Three Rows of Seats?

If you want something bigger, consider Toyota’s larger SUV lineup, which includes the Highlander, the 4Runner, and the largest of the bunch, the mighty Sequoia. For around $35,000, buyers can enter the realm of bigger cabins and larger people movers, and if luxury and outsized dimensions are what you’re seeking, you’ll find it in the Sequoia.

It’s an interesting lineup designed to give buyers multiple options. For example, most models overlap price-wise, so the most expensive RAV4 is about the same (or more) as the entry Highlander trim. If you have $35,000 to spend, you get to decide if moving up to a larger vehicle is preferable to fully equipping a smaller one or paying for a more responsive powertrain.

The Highlander and 4Runner each occupy a spot in the three-row lineup, but the two couldn’t be more different. The recently redesigned Highlander is a family crossover through-and-through, with the third row of seats included as standard. By contrast, the 4Runner makes that third row optional and puts the focus on more rugged off-road driving characteristics.

Both the Highlander and 4Runner can be had for around the same starting MSRP, but because they perform very differently, deciding should be based on personal preference. The Highlander offers a hybrid powertrain, while the 4Runner doesn’t, but the 4Runner has real 4×4 and other off-road goodies. Deciding between the two boils down to personal taste rather than budget, but it’s nice knowing that Toyota values variety.

The granddaddy of them all – the Sequoia – stands alone. Its $50,200 starting price tag and cavernous interior are unmatched by any other SUV in the 2021 Toyota lineup.^[a] In short, large SUV buyers have but one option, and that’s the Sequoia. A six-trim lineup offers diverse equipment configurations, with the Platinum being the most luxurious and the TRD Pro the most off-road ready.

Hybrid Powertrains

Toyota is known for its hybrid technology, and the current lineup reflects it, with eleven different hybrid models to choose from. These include the iconic model that started it all, the Prius. Today’s Prius is more streamlined and modernized but remains highly fuel-efficient, with the 2021 Prius Prime Plug-In Hybrid achieving 133 MPGe.

Sedan lovers can choose between the compact Corolla Hybrid, the midsize Camry Hybrid, and the upscale full-size Avalon Hybrid. With the 2021 Corolla Hybrid starting at $23,500, the 2021 Camry Hybrid beginning at $23,270 range, and the 2021 Avalon Hybrid carrying a $37,000 MSRP, their price points don’t overlap.^[a] Budget and size requirements will be the main factors in your decision.

For 2022, the Camry Hybrid comes in four trims, the base LE, the SE, the XSE, and the XLE. Making the leap from the smaller and less expensive Corolla is best if you require more space for passengers and cargo, but both vehicles are excellent options for commuters because of their long driving range and high fuel economy ratings. The Avalon adds more room and luxury to the mix.

SUV lovers looking for alternative fuel options aren’t left behind either. The RAV4, the Venza, and the Highlander all include hybrid powertrain versions, which means finding a family vehicle with seating for up to eight passengers is possible. Even the legendary Sienna minivan is now sold with a standard hybrid powertrain, demonstrating Toyota’s ongoing commitment to building family-friendly vehicles.

Toyota’s Capable Pickup Trucks

Pickup truck buyers looking for both utility and rugged durability will find it in the midsize Tacoma and the larger, full-size Tundra. Both models are priced with value in mind, with the 2021 Tacoma starting at $26,400 and the 2021 Tundra coming in at $34,025.^[a] As with the brand’s sedan and SUV lineups, there is pricing overlap.

The Tacoma lineup consists of six trims, three of which – the TRD Off-Road, the TRD Pro, and the luxurious Limited – cost more than the entry Tundra SR. This leaves buyers with an important decision: fully equipping the smaller midsize Tacoma with class-leading off-road capability and high-end luxury finishes or spending the same amount of money for a larger truck with fewer options.

Making that decision boils down to how you plan to use your truck. Is it for commercial use, such as at the job site? Do you need additional towing capability? If buying a pickup truck is a lifestyle decision, or you want a truck for weekend off-roading, you’ll get more bang for your buck with a smaller Tacoma. Once again, when the price is the same for two options, the vehicle you choose should largely depend on your individual lifestyle.

Case in point: a comparably-equipped 2021 Tundra TRD Pro tips the scales at $49,125.^[a] That’s a big price jump from the Tacoma TRD Pro’s price tag. Is it worth the substantially higher price tag? Maybe so, especially if your Tundra does double duty as a family vehicle.

Price Overlap is Toyota’s Goal

Toyota wants buyers to find a vehicle that fits not only their lifestyle and personal tastes but also their budget. Buyers want a variety of options to choose from, and when it comes to investing thousands of dollars, we want to know the pros and cons of each choice before signing on the dotted line.

As you progress through the buying cycle, ask yourself what’s most important. Do you value a larger vehicle, or can you live with something smaller that has more standard features? Another consideration is the powertrain. For some, a hybrid powertrain is more important than keeping to a restrictive budget.

Others are willing to shell out big bucks for the best-of-the-best in the category they want. Luckily, Toyota’s lineup accommodates each of these buyers, thoughtfully pricing its cars, trucks, and SUVs competitively and in such a way that graduating to a larger size or more well-equipped trim isn’t going to break the bank. If you have any questions about the Toyota lineup, simply speak with the team here at Performance Toyota – we’ll be happy to point you towards the right model.

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^[a]MSRP subject to change. Please see dealer for details.

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