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

  • ToolGuy First picture: I realize that opinions vary on the height of modern trucks, but that entry door on the building is 80 inches tall and hits just below the headlights. Does anyone really believe this is reasonable?Second picture: I do not believe that is a good parking spot to be able to access the bed storage. More specifically, how do you plan to unload topsoil with the truck parked like that? Maybe you kids are taller than me.
  • ToolGuy The other day I attempted to check the engine oil in one of my old embarrassing vehicles and I guess the red shop towel I used wasn't genuine Snap-on (lots of counterfeits floating around) plus my driveway isn't completely level and long story short, the engine seized 3 minutes later.No more used cars for me, and nothing but dealer service from here on in (the journalists were right).
  • Doughboy Wow, Merc knocks it out of the park with their naming convention… again. /s
  • Doughboy I’ve seen car bras before, but never car beards. ZZ Top would be proud.
  • Bkojote Allright, actual person who knows trucks here, the article gets it a bit wrong.First off, the Maverick is not at all comparable to a Tacoma just because they're both Hybrids. Or lemme be blunt, the butch-est non-hybrid Maverick Tremor is suitable for 2/10 difficulty trails, a Trailhunter is for about 5/10 or maybe 6/10, just about the upper end of any stock vehicle you're buying from the factory. Aside from a Sasquatch Bronco or Rubicon Jeep Wrangler you're looking at something you're towing back if you want more capability (or perhaps something you /wish/ you were towing back.)Now, where the real world difference should play out is on the trail, where a lot of low speed crawling usually saps efficiency, especially when loaded to the gills. Real world MPG from a 4Runner is about 12-13mpg, So if this loaded-with-overlander-catalog Trailhunter is still pulling in the 20's - or even 18-19, that's a massive improvement.
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