When most people think of “Toyota,” the first word that comes to mind is “quality.” If Toyota is known for anything, it’s building reliable vehicles that run for years. Of course, inside every reliable car is a reliable engine.

Toyota’s engine durability – from a base model Toyota Camry to a Lexus LFA supercar – is top-notch. Many Toyota engines have won the coveted Ward’s 10 Best Engine Award, and analysis from the Long Term Quality Index shows Toyota (and Lexus) as the top-tier brand. 

In honor of Toyota’s excellent engines, here’s a completely subjective list of the 10 Best Toyota Engines of all time.

#1. The 2ZZ-GE

The 2ZZ-GE is a 1.8L inline 4-cylinder engine in production since 1999. It was produced by Toyota through 2006, and Lotus continued to build the engine through 2011 (more about Lotus below).

An all-aluminum engine, the 2zz-GE was used in a variety of Toyota vehicles (the Matrix and Celica GT-S being the most common). Depending on the model year and vehicle, the 1.8L 2ZZ-GE engine could produce up to 190 horsepower.

2011 Lotus

The 2011 Lotus Elise, offered with the 2ZZ-GE.

The engine’s awesome horsepower to weight ratio caught the attention of British sports car company Lotus. Lotus used the 2ZZ-GE in the Elise and Exige, adding a supercharger and upping the max output to as much as 240hp.

2ZZ-GE engine

With an optional supercharger from Lotus, the spritely 1.8L Toyota engine could produce as much as 240hp.

The 2ZZ-GE has garnered a bit of a cult following, as it’s easy to source, easy to upgrade, and powerful despite its small size and displacement. The engine is often swapped into the 2000-2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder.

#2. The 2JZ-GTE

The 2JZ-GTE is the Toyota Supra’s famous turbocharged inline 6-cylinder. Extremely durable, it features a cast-iron engine block, aluminum heads, and perhaps the smoothest acceleration ever found in a twin-turbo engine.

red Supra turbo twin

Produced between 1991 and 2002, the engine is highly desirable. Many are imported from Japan and swapped into custom vehicles, from late-model Scion FR-S coupes to BMW sedans.

#3. The 22R-E

The 22R-E helped solidify Toyota’s reputation for building tough, reliable trucks. First produced in 1982, the 22R-E became the standard option on Toyota pickups and 4Runners in 1984. Toyota continued to offer the 22R-E in their pickups and on the 4Runner through 1995.

The 22R-E was the final version of Toyota’s R Series of engines, which were first produced in 1953. Much like Chevrolet’s small-block V8, the R Engine Series has a long, storied history (which we tell some of in this article). The 22R-E was a fitting end to one of the longest production runs for a Toyota engine.

#4. 1LR-GUE V10

The 1LR-GUE is found in only one vehicle: the Lexus LFA. Toyota’s newest supercar, the LFA is a technological tour-de-force. Wrapped around the amazing 1LR-GUE V10, the LFA was limited production and assembled by hand.

V10 cutaway

Like many of Toyota’s high-performance engines, the 1LR-GUE was co-developed with Yamaha. Designed to race, the 4.8L 1LR-GUE produces 553hp. Packed inside the 3,200lb LFA, the engine propelled the car to a top-5 Nurburgring lap time in 2011. (7:14:64).

#5. 4U-GSE

The 4U-GSE engine powers the Scion FR-S (aka GT-86) rear-wheel-drive coupe. A horizontally opposed 4-cylinder, the 4U-GSE was co-developed with Subaru. The engine combines Subaru’s proven reliable “boxer” design along with Toyota’s innovative D4-S combination port and direct injection system.

Scion frs

Designed to rev, the engine produces 197 horsepower at 7,000 RPM. Placed in the 2,800lb Scion FR-S (aka Toyota GT-86 aka Subaru BRZ) and paired with a 6-speed transmission, the engine is highly regarded among enthusiasts.

#6. 1GR-FE And 2GR-FE

The 1GR-FE and 2GR-FE are two variations of the same basic aluminum V6 design. Both engines feature aluminum heads and dual overhead cams.

The GR Engine Series is arguably Toyota’s most common contemporary engine, and they can be found in everything from a Toyota Camry to a Toyota Tundra. Toyota’s wide use of this engine is a testament to the design’s power and durability. A couple of trivia notes:

  • For a limited time, TRD offered a bolt-on supercharger kit for the 4.0L1GR-FE that added approximately 65hp and 60ft-lbs of torque.
  • The 305hp direct-injection version of the 2GR (the 2GR-FSE) was a Ward’s 10 Best Engine award winner four years running.

Learn more about the GR Series in this article.

#7. 1GD-FTV

One of Toyota’s newest engines, the 1GD-FTV is a super-efficient 4-cylinder 2.8L diesel engine. Producing 174-horsepower and 330 ft-lb of torque, you can find the 1GD-FTV on Toyota Hilux trucks and Land Cruiser Prado SUVs.

The 1GD replaces the 1KD, producing 25% more torque while also being 15% more fuel-efficient. With the use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR), NOx emissions are reduced by 99%. The 1GD-FTV is arguably the most advanced diesel engine available, and this video from Toyota helps to explain why.

#8. The T Engine Series

Produced between 1970 and 1985, the T Series Engine basically powered Toyota’s rise to global juggernaut. With bulletproof reliability, excellent fuel efficiency, and decent performance, the T Series was offered in the Corolla, Celica, and Corona. The engine’s reliability is exceptional, and many examples can still be found on the road today. (More about the T Series here.)

#9. The S Series

The S Series of engines was produced from 1980 to 2007, with too many variations to list. All engines featured a cast-iron block, aluminum heads, and 1.8 to 2.2 liters of displacement. Some of the highlights:

  • The 3S-GTE, a turbocharged 2.0L engine offered in the Celica and MR2, produced 200hp.
  • The S Series of engines were offered globally and were found mainly in the Celica in Japan, Europe, Australia, and the United States.

Much like the T Series of engines, the S Series is part of the bedrock that Toyota’s reputation for quality is built upon. We talk more about the S Series in this article.

#10. The 2B And 3B Diesels

60s land cruiser

The Land Cruiser 60 Series was offered with the 3B diesel. The 3B and 2B are basically the same engine, with the 3B having a slightly lower compression ratio and cleaner emissions.

Last but not least, we need to mention the incredibly reliable B-series of diesel engines. While not the most powerful engines Toyota ever offered, the 2B and 3B are known to last half a million miles. Found mostly on Land Cruisers, 2B and 3B engines offer surprisingly good fuel economy even by today’s standards. 30mpg is not unheard of, even in the brick-like Land Cruiser.