The Best Toyotas of the 1980s: Ranked and Graded

1984 Toyota Celica Supra

Grade: B-

The second-generation Toyota Celica Supra was introduced in 1982. By 1984, power was up to 160 hp, and the car received some styling updates. Looking the part of a proper sports coupe, the Celica Supra was still lacking a bit in the power department despite steady increases.

1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 4WD

Grade: C+

The Tercel SR5 4WD was way, way ahead of its time. Before the ubiquitous crossover became commonplace in the automotive landscape, Toyota was already using the basic formula of putting a tall hatchback body on a four-wheel drive architecture. Not all that great to drive, the Tercel 4WD was a master at wintery weather.

1986 Toyota Corolla Sport GT-S (AE86)

Grade: A-

I know what you’re thinking, why doesn’t this have a higher grade? Well, as cool as these cars were, it's the legend of what people transformed the cars into that we love so much – not the way it left the Toyota factory. Still, a compact rear-wheel drive coupe is a great place to have fun, and the GT-S was the most powerful of the lot.

1986 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Turbo

Grade: B-

Not many remember, but today's 4Runner is not the first time it was possible to get a turbocharger right from the factory. For a few short years in the mid-80s, Toyota addressed the 4Runner’s power deficit by adding a turbocharger to the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (sound familiar?) It would be replaced by a more powerful V6 engine, but for a while, one could attack the wilderness under boost.

1987 Toyota Van 4WD

Grade: B

Unlike anything else for sale in North America at the time, the aptly named Toyota Van was a minivan competitor with the engine squished under the floor in between the driver and front seat passenger. Starting in 1987, the Van could be had with a proper four-wheel drive system, adding versatility to this people hauler.

1987 Toyota Supra Turbo

Grade: A

The third-generation Supra, or Mark III as the cool kids call it, really came into its own. Most notably, the Turbo model turned the Supra into a serious sports car competitor. With 231 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, the car could also be had with a limited-slip rear differential and anti-lock brakes. The car also looked the part with a sleek, low-slung profile.

1988 Toyota MR-2 Supercharged

Grade: A

Addressing power shortages seems to be a theme here. The lightweight, mid-engine budget sports car known as the MR2 was an entertaining, if not unforgiving car to drive. But for the first few years of its existence, it was also quite slow. Toyota addressed that in North America by finally bringing out the Supercharged model. It added 33 hp to the diminutive car and took nearly two seconds off of the 0-60 mph sprint.

1988 Toyota Celica All-trac Turbo

Grade: A+

Toyota seemed to have a glut of high-performance models by the end of the 1980s. Completely different than the MR2 or Supra, the Celica All-trac Turbo was a rally car for the road. With a turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 190 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque, the All-trac sent power to all four wheels through a viscous coupling central locking differential. The compact Celica could surprise a lot of unsuspecting sports cars in its day, especially when the roads became slippery.

1989 Toyota Corolla Sport GT-S (AE92)

Grade: B