Unfortunately, 2020 was a year that caused havoc and mayhem because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It has nearly ruined the global economy, and the automobile industry was not immune to this, and it is still struggling to completely recover from its aftermath.
Although the Toyota dealerships in Orange County can agree that 2020 was a very turbulent year, the Japanese car market has dominated the market with sales of its most popular vehicles.
Based on facts from the year-to-date (YTD) sales numbers, Toyota had five vehicles on the top 10 list of the most popular models so far. At the new and used car dealerships in Orange County, the Toyota RAV4, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, and Tacoma models all received outstanding sales compared to others competitors in their class.
The Toyota dealerships in Orange County decided it would be best to take a good look at the data to find out what made the Toyota brand so successful in such a tempestuous market.
The Top Toyota YTD Model Sales For 2021
There was a recent analysis of the YTD sales volume for vehicles sold in the United States at the Toyota dealerships in Orange County. The data analysis aims to compare the sales figures of all models to the numbers from the previous year to figure out the best-sellers in the long run.
Despite the stiff competition, Toyota still managed to come out on top, with five of its models dominating the top ten. The vehicles include: the RAV4 compact SUV, Camry midsize sedan, Corolla compact sedan, Highlander midsize SUV, and Tacoma compact pickup truck were among the best-selling Toyota brand vehicles.
Toyota Led The Market With Five Top-Selling Models
Bloomberg made it known that in 2020 Toyota sold an unbelievable 9.53 million vehicles. This means that for the first time in five years, the Japanese group beat its German competitors to become “the world’s top-selling automaker.”
For instance, the Toyota RAV4 had year-to-date sales of 155,150 units. The most sought-after compact crossover SUV offers economical fuel economy, state-of-the-art technology features, and impressive standard safety features.
It was noticed that there was a 20 percent increase in RAV4 sales for the first quarter. It was also noted that when the RAV4 achieved the title for best-selling non-truck in the country, the RAV4 has been expanding its lead compared to its compact-crossover rivals.
When it comes to Toyota Highlander, it ranked No.7 on the list, attaining a YTD sales figure of 91,510 units. The midsize SUV surpassed the competition because of its family-friendly features with seating for eight passengers. As a matter of fact, Kelley Blue Book rated the Highlander one of the best family cars of 2021, stating that it is very popular because “every Toyota comes backed with the company’s solid record of reliability and strong resale value.”
Next on the list is the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck with a YTD total of 90,897 units. The Tacoma, or as some like to refer to as the “taco” keeps its value better than other models in this saturated segment. This truck is not only the most reliable truck on the road today, but it is a solid favorite with off-road enthusiasts.
Toyota’s Sedans Can Still Outsell Many SUVs
Even though interest in sedans is slowly on the decrease, the Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla are still able to compete with most SUVs on the market.
The Camry has YTD sales of 108,090 units, outdid other vehicles in its segment. It is always Toyota’s best-selling model in its class. This midsize sedan is beloved because of its responsive handling, fuel efficiency, and an optional 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out an impressive 301 hp.
The compact Corolla sedan had YTD sales of 108,090 units, with 29,939 units sold in May alone. It is successful because of its reliability, affordability, practicality, and value. In a nutshell, the 2021 Corolla is popular with people who need reliable transportation at a reasonable cost.
Both Toyota models managed to out beat most of the SUVs on the list, proving that sedans are still a reasonable option for consumers.
Toyota’s Popular SUVs
The Toyota RAV4 and the Highlander are the most sought-after SUVs on the market. Here are a few features of each of these vehicles.
2021 Toyota RAV4
The 2021 RAV4 is available in six trim levels: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and Limited. Each trim comes with a 203-horsepower four-cylinder engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on most of the trim levels, and those offer all-wheel drive as an option. The Adventure and the TRD Off-Road come standard with an upgraded all-wheel-drive system that can enhance traction on loose and slippery surfaces.
The RAV4 LE trim may be the base model, but you still get many features that include:
- LED headlights
- 7-inch touchscreen interface
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity
- Six-speaker sound system
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of safety features:
- Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the RAV4 and the car in front)
- Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
- Automatic high beams
- Traffic sign reader
The XLE adds more convenience features such as:
- Keyless entry and ignition
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Additional USB charging ports
2021 Toyota Highlander
The 2021 Toyota Highlander is a midsize three-row SUV with seating for eight passengers. Midgrade trims and above change out the second-row bench for captain’s chairs, taking capacity down to seven passengers. All models are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (295 horsepower, 263 pound-feet of torque) that is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. All-wheel-drive is available on all trims as an option. Also, there is the Highlander Hybrid variant.
There are six trims: L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. Note that some of the Highlander’s extra features on the upper trims are offered on supporting trims as options.
The base L trim comes well equipped with feature highlights that include:
- LED headlights
- Heated mirrors
- Remote keyless entry and ignition
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Second- and third-row 60/40-split folding seats
- 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa smartphone integration
- Six-speaker audio system
- Onboard Wi-Fi hotspot
- Emergency communications (Toyota’s Safety Connect)
- Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of advanced safety features:
- Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
- Automatic high beams
- Lane tracing assist (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
- Traffic sign reader