Toyota Infuses Various Models With Appearance Trims

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

The vast majority of TTAC readership is well acquainted with the manufacturer propensity to throw paint-n-wallpaper at a particular model in the years following its introduction, hoping the resultant noise made in the press from dweebs like myself will keep the thing top of mind when shoppers hit the dealer lots in search of new metal.

That game continues for the ’23 model year (and will do so until the sun explodes) with Toyota introducing new packages on the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sienna. We’ve rolled them into one news post rather than subjecting you to three.

Starting the triumvirate is a new styling package for the not-old-at-all Tundra, a model which was completely overhauled last year with a dandy new hybrid powertrain that belts out 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. A new SX package capitalizes on the color-keyed styling trend which has popped up on numerous pickups. Here, matching trim appears on the doors and bumpers, while some badges have been binned in an apparent nod to minimalism. We think they are just saving on plastic nameplates but whatever. This is one of those packages which is layered on top of an existing trim, SR5 in Double Cab or CrewMax models in this case, and can be had with a 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrain.

If slightly smaller trucks are more your speed, the venerable Tacoma also gets the SX treatment with similar styling addenda, though black overfenders are applied here for a butch stance. Side mirror caps, badges, and wheels are all dipped in inky black paint. Like the Tundra, the SX package can be had on Access Cab or Double Cab trucks in 4×2 or 4×4 varieties. There is also a new Chrome package which is essentially an inversion of the SX pack, an option that predictably ladles on the bling which once again proves there’s no plate like chrome.

Finally, families in the audience may wish to learn more about the 25th Anniversary model being flung in the direction of Toyota’s kid-friendly Sienna minivan. Limited to 2,525 examples (guffaw), this van builds on the XSE trim by infusing it with some of the interior trappings of the high-zoot Limited model. Premium JBL-branded audio kit, wireless device charging, leather seats, and satnav are all on board. Ottomans sprout from the second-row chairs, apparently. Spotting this van in traffic should be easy thanks to those 20-inch wheels plus front and rear fascias with a slightly more aggro bent.

See? Told ya this single post would be easier on the noggin than three separate ones.

[Images: Toyota]

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • Art Vandelay Art Vandelay on May 19, 2022

    Well duh, if you have limited cars on a lot you put this on all of them. It's like printing money.

  • Nrd515 Nrd515 on May 20, 2022

    about 7/8ths of the current Tundra is OK looking, but that front end, wow. WTF were they thinking? It makes the Lexus Spindle look good, and that's saying something.

    • See 1 previous
    • Ajla Ajla on May 20, 2022

      @ttacgreg I think Goblin Shark is closer for the Tundra. Kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/goblin-shark

  • Redapple2 jeffbut they dont want to ... their pick up is 4th behind ford/ram, Toyota. GM has the Best engineers in the world. More truck profit than the other 3. Silverado + Sierra+ Tahoe + Yukon sales = 2x ford total @ $15,000 profit per. Tons o $ to invest in the BEST truck. No. They make crap. Garbage. Evil gm Vampire
  • Rishabh Ive actually seen the one unit you mentioned, driving around in gurugram once. And thats why i got curious to know more about how many they sold. Seems like i saw the only one!
  • Amy I owned this exact car from 16 until 19 (1990 to 1993) I miss this car immensely and am on the search to own it again, although it looks like my search may be in vane. It was affectionatly dubbed, " The Dragon Wagon," and hauled many a teenager around the city of Charlotte, NC. For me, it was dependable and trustworthy. I was able to do much of the maintenance myself until I was struck by lightning and a month later the battery exploded. My parents did have the entire electrical system redone and he was back to new. I hope to find one in the near future and make it my every day driver. I'm a dreamer.
  • Jeff Overall I prefer the 59 GM cars to the 58s because of less chrome but I have a new appreciation of the 58 Cadillac Eldorados after reading this series. I use to not like the 58 Eldorados but I now don't mind them. Overall I prefer the 55-57s GMs over most of the 58-60s GMs. For the most part I like the 61 GMs. Chryslers I like the 57 and 58s. Fords I liked the 55 thru 57s but the 58s and 59s not as much with the exception of Mercury which I for the most part like all those. As the 60s progressed the tail fins started to go away and the amount of chrome was reduced. More understated.
  • Theflyersfan Nissan could have the best auto lineup of any carmaker (they don't), but until they improve one major issue, the best cars out there won't matter. That is the dealership experience. Year after year in multiple customer service surveys from groups like JD Power and CR, Nissan frequency scrapes the bottom. Personally, I really like the never seen new Z, but after having several truly awful Nissan dealer experiences, my shadow will never darken a Nissan showroom. I'm painting with broad strokes here, but maybe it is so ingrained in their culture to try to take advantage of people who might not be savvy enough in the buying experience that they by default treat everyone like idiots and saps. All of this has to be frustrating to Nissan HQ as they are improving their lineup but their dealers drag them down.
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