About Toyota Model SUVs

The Japanese automaker Toyota is the world's largest, and enjoys sales from Portugal to Pennsylvania to the Philippines. It has a line of six SUV models, including a hybrid. Some, like the RAV4, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser, are well-known symbols of the Toyota line. The features and prices noted are for the 2008 models.

RAV4

The RAV4 is a popular compact crossover SUV model that has been available in the United States for more than a decade. It was very much a trailblazer, with most of the other crossover SUVs currently on the market following in the wake of its proven success. There are now only four-door models. All versions have a 2.4 liter, 166hp, four-cylinder engine and a 15-gallon gas tank. The vehicle starts at $21,500.

FJ Cruiser

This is a retro-style compact SUV resembling a 1960s-era Toyota vehicle. It has a 4 liter, V-6 engine that puts out 239hp, and a 19-gallon gas tank. The transmission also comes as a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual. It is a two-door vehicle that starts at $23,045.

Highlander

The Highlander is a mid-sized crossover SUV. It is powered by a 3.5L, V-6, 270hp engine. The body comes as a four-door only, and only with a five-speed automatic transmission. Despite that lack of choice in transmission system, the vehicle does have front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions. There is also a hybrid edition that gets 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, The hybrid starts at $34,700, and the standard starts at $25,706.

4Runner

The Toyota 4Runner has been on the market for more than 25 years. It started as a compact SUV, but is now a mid-sized, semi-luxury design. There are two choices of engine: a 4 liter V-6, and a 4.7 liter 270hp V-8. A tire pressure warning system is a novel part of the standard equipment, and a five-speed automatic transmission is standard. The vehicle starts at $28,640.

Sequoia

This is a full-size SUV, and based on Tundra pickup-truck technology. It is the biggest SUV sold under the Toyota label. There are two engine options: a 4.7 liter V-8 with 276hp, and a 5.7 liter V-8 with 381hp, but there is no manual transmission option. There are only the five- and 6six-speed automatics. The SUV starts at $34,150.

Land Cruiser

The iconic Land Cruiser comes with four-wheel drive standard and a plethora of transmission and engine choices. The engines available are the 5.7 liter 381 hp Dual VVTi V-8, the 4.7 liter 288 hp VVTi V-8 Petrol, the 4.5 liter 286 hp Intercooled Twin Turbo D-4D V-8 Diesel, and the 4.0 liter 240 hp DOHC with VVT-i Petrol. There are five-speed and six-speed automatic transmissions, and a six-speed manual. The six-speed automatic is only for the diesel version. The Land Cruiser starts at $64,755