Toyota models

Toyota Dimensions: A Legacy of Practical Design

Toyota is famous for making cars that last, but their real secret is efficiency. Founded in 1937 in Toyota City, Japan, the company started as a loom manufacturer before building its first car, the 1936 Model AA. This history of "weaving" things together led to the Toyota Production System, a way of building cars where every millimeter of space is used perfectly. At DriveSize, we look at how this history of smart design helps Toyota pack big utility into sensible footprints.

The Hybrid Storage Secret: TNGA

Most modern Toyotas are built on a system called TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture). This is a smart way of building cars that lowers the center of gravity and moves parts around to create more room for you.

Where the Battery Goes: In many hybrids, the battery takes up boot space. Toyota’s TNGA platform puts the battery under the rear seats instead. This means models like the Toyota Prius and Toyota Corolla keep a large Min VDA cargo capacity without losing depth to electric parts.

RAV4 Hybrid vs. Plug-in: Our data shows how Toyota balances power and space in the Toyota RAV4. While the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) has a much larger battery, the Max VDA cargo capacity remains very close to the standard Hybrid, proving you don't have to sacrifice much room for better fuel economy.

Finding the Right Scale

Toyota offers a range of sizes designed for different needs, from city streets to off-road trails.

Sedan Legroom: We compare the compact Toyota Corolla to the larger Toyota Camry. While both are easy to drive, the Camry uses a longer wheelbase to give rear passengers more legroom and deeper cargo capacity.

Family SUVs and the Land Cruiser: For large families, the Toyota Highlander provides a long, wide body with a lower "step-in" height. However, if you need to go off-road, the Toyota Land Cruiser prioritises ground clearance to crawl over obstacles. We list the width for these larger models to make sure they actually fit in a standard 2.4m parking bay.

By checking the length and turning circle in our guides, you can see exactly which Toyota fits your garage and your lifestyle.