Memorable Toyota models we miss

Toyota has since been a staple in the local automotive scene and has produced some iconic nameplates, some of which are no longer in production.

As Toyota Motor Philippines celebrates its 35th anniversary this month, here are some of the nameplate released in the country that we miss.

Tamaraw FX

Nothing says Filipino pride more than having an automobile named after one of our local species. In this case, the Tamaraw — a dwarf buffalo endemic to the island of Mindoro.

The Toyota Tamaraw FX, on the other hand, was a Japanese-made multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) that became popular in the 90s.

Well, having Anjanette Abayari (who played Darna) drop off the Tamaraw FX in a basketball court might have helped build the hype around the nameplate, but its ever-reliable engine and then above-average features were what made the model a hit among Filipino car buyers.

The 1994 Toyota Tamaraw FX was powered by either a 1.5-liter or a 2.0-liter diesel mill and was mated to a five-speed manual transmission across the board. The range-topping model had a Sanden dual air conditioning system and a Kenwood radio cassette with four speakers.

Speaking of reliability, you might be surprised to see several Toyota Tamaraw FX units still running on our roads today.

To note, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that Toyota is set to revive the Tamaraw nameplate for the Philippine market in the near future.

Corona

During the 90s, Toyota introduced the Corona to the local market.

It was the ride of choice for most Filipino families, thanks to its elegant design and advanced technological features that you won’t find on lower-market models and smaller sedans.

One of the more popular Toyota Corona models was the 1997 Corona Exsior, known as the final Corona to be released in the country. It was powered by a 2.0-liter gasoline engine mated to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic and had an anti-lock braking system.

Also a highlight for the said Toyota Corona Exsior was its Nippondenso air conditioning system and Alpine Radio cassette player.

Revo

The Toyota Revo was considered the successor to the Tamaraw FX and held the fort for Toyota in the MPV segment.

The 2002 Toyota Revo offered features like a 1.8-liter or a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, power windows, stylish wood grain trims, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, and either an Alpine or a Kenwood radio system.

So, what are the Toyota models that 

Photo from Toyota

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