The Top 5 Most Reliable Toyota Trucks Ever Built

Toyota is characterized by a long and historic tradition of building fantastic automobiles, and its methodology has always emphasized substance over everything else. Toyota evolved into a car manufacturer in the 1930s, and unveiled its first production car in 1936 called the model AA (via HotCars). In the waning days of World War II, Toyota shifted focus and began to work heavily on the creation of vehicles designed to mimic the off-road capabilities of the Jeep brand, according to Field Ethos. 

Early on, Toyota endeavored to create vehicles that respected the terrain challenges and always performed at a high standard for the driver. Toyota quickly made a name for itself in both Japan and the foreign marketplace: In particular, Toyota was the first Japanese carmaker to export vehicles to the American marketplace in the 1960s. These cars were cost-effective and performed admirably in a wide variety of driving conditions.

Toyota hasn't always been synonymous with style, but it's hard to argue the track record of incredible performance in some of the harshest conditions that drivers face. Take, for instance, the almost unbelievable sales performance of the Toyota Tacoma. MotorBiscuit reports that the Tacoma brought in more than twice as many sales as the next highest-selling truck in 2021. These trucks are fierce performers out on the road (and far beyond its well-trodden path), making Toyota one of the most important names in pickup trucks and vehicle reliability.

One of the first commercial vehicles produced by Toyota was the Land Cruiser, which utilized the brand's potent F Engine. Shifting toward a commercial product took them out of the market for simply supplying police and military vehicles in Japan. 

In 1954, the first Land Cruisers with the F Engine were shipped to Pakistan, and then in 1955, Saudi Arabia began receiving shipments (via Toyota UK Magazine). The F Engine outfitted in the original Land Cruisers took over power duties from the previous B-Series engine — designed in 1948. The F Engine provided a 23% increase in power output, and was a workhorse of Toyota for many years after it first hit the market.

The 20-Series Land Cruisers of this era made use of a shorter wheel base than previous models to increase maneuverability. These vehicles also incorporated cleaner chassis designs, and drivers enjoyed improvements to the overall comfort of the new model over previous iterations of early Toyota trucks (via My Auto World). These vehicles were designed to take punishment and keep on driving, and that's exactly what it offered owners.

The Toyota Hilux may not be a familiar name in North America any longer. But before 1995, it could be found all across the United States; on roads, trails, and everything in between. The Hilux is a high performance pickup truck, and Toyota UK Magazine reports that it enjoys a reputation as one of the most reliable commercial vehicles in the world.

The truck was envisioned as a more comfortable option for truck owners. Toyota UK Magazine notes that the name is derived from the terms "high" and "luxury," and in 1968 when the truck debuted in the Japanese market, it offered exactly that. The Hilux was just as durable as the older models that came before it, while adding better handling and a more comfortable cab for the driver and passengers.

In 1984, Toyota UK Magazine notes that the Hilux lost its Solid Front Axle (SFA) design, and the Surf and 4Runner iterations were added to the Hilux lineup. Toyota reports that the vehicles produced in this golden timeframe were part of the fourth (1983-1988) and fifth (1988-1997) generations. These trucks offered continually improved interiors and four-wheel drive or rear-wheel driver setups. During this time, the trucks were progressing toward interior amenities that continually resembled sedans. So the earlier your model, the more distinctive the overall experience (as a purist's pickup truck) would be.