What Toyotas are unibody?
Most Toyotas sold today use unibody construction, especially passenger cars and crossovers; the brand’s trucks and larger, traditional off‑road SUVs rely on body‑on‑frame designs.
Unibody construction, in which the body and frame are integrated into a single structure, is the hallmark of most modern Toyota models. Toyota has leaned into unibody architectures—often under the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) umbrella—for improved fuel efficiency, ride quality, and handling across a wide range of vehicles. However, some models aimed at heavy-duty use continue to use a body‑on‑frame chassis, which favors durability and towing in rough terrain.
Unibody Toyota models
The following Toyota models are built on unibody platforms, spanning compact cars, crossovers, minivans, and electrified options. Availability can vary by market and model year.
- Camry
- Corolla
- Prius
- GR86
- Supra
- C‑HR
- RAV4
- Corolla Cross
- Venza
- Highlander
- Grand Highlander
- Sienna
- bZ4X
- Crown
- Mirai
In practice, this unibody lineup covers virtually all of Toyota’s mainstream passenger cars and crossovers, including several electrified options and performance models.
Body-on-frame Toyota models
The following Toyota models use body-on-frame construction, a layout favored for ruggedness, towing capability, and off-road durability. These are primarily trucks and larger, traditional SUVs.
- Tacoma
- Tundra
- 4Runner
- Sequoia
- Land Cruiser (latest generation, used in many markets since 2023–2024)
These body-on-frame models are designed for tougher conditions, higher towing capacities, and easier field repairs, appealing to buyers who regularly encounter challenging terrain or heavy-duty use.
Summary
Toyota’s current lineup leans heavily on unibody construction for its everyday cars, crossovers, and many electrified models, enabling efficient packaging and comfortable rides. A dedicated subset of models—the Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser—retains body-on-frame architecture to maximize durability and capability in demanding environments. This dual approach allows Toyota to serve a broad spectrum of customers, from urban commuters to serious off-road enthusiasts.
Is the RAV4 a unibody or frame?
The Toyota RAV4 is a unibody vehicle, meaning its body and frame are a single, integrated structure, which is characteristic of a car-based crossover SUV. This is in contrast to traditional body-on-frame SUVs and trucks, which have a separate frame on which the body is mounted.
- Unibody design: This construction is lighter, offers better fuel efficiency, and provides a more car-like ride with improved handling for everyday driving.
- Benefits: The unibody design allows for a lower center of gravity, resulting in a more comfortable and stable ride.
- Limitations: While great for daily use, this design is not ideal for heavy-duty off-roading or heavy towing, as a body-on-frame SUV is better suited for those tasks.
Are Toyota Tacomas unibody?
No, the Toyota Tacoma is not unibody; it is a traditional body-on-frame truck. This design is known for its ruggedness and off-road capability, distinguishing it from unibody trucks like the Honda Ridgeline or Ford Maverick.
- Body-on-frame construction: The Tacoma has a separate, robust frame on which the body is mounted. This construction is traditionally used for trucks and SUVs to provide strength for heavy-duty tasks and towing.
- Advantages: This design offers durability, higher ground clearance, and better performance on rough terrain.
- Comparison to unibody: Unibody vehicles, like the Honda Ridgeline, have the body and frame integrated into a single structure, which can result in a more car-like, comfortable ride.
Which Toyotas are unibody?
This structure allows the car's weight, suspension, and wheels to be supported together. You can find unibody frames on these Toyota in Clermont, FL, on the Toyota Corolla, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Sienna, and more! This is different from body on frame, since it is all one car body structure.
What Toyota cars are body-on-frame?
Toyota currently manufactures the most body-on-frame SUVs with the 4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Land Cruiser Prado, Lexus GX, and Lexus LX, followed by Nissan with the Patrol, Armada, and Infiniti QX56/80. Austin A40 Sports, ca 1951.
