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If you’re shopping for a Toyota, then chances are speed isn’t on the shortlist of deal-breaking features. That being said, Toyota does have its racing division (TRD), and they’re in the game of tailoring Toyota cars to fit enthusiasts’ needs. Currently, Toyota makes four different sedans, the Corolla, Prius, Avalon, and the Camry, and each one has been graced by the wrenches of TRD. The Camry is the fastest of them all, but the Avalon gives it a good run. Here’s how the non-hybrid sedans fared against the mighty Camry.

The Corolla gives it an honest try at 118 mph

Toyota Corolla Apex driving down the street
Toyota Corolla Apex driving down the street | Toyota

In a less-than-fitting homage to Initial D, Toyota named the performance Corolla the Apex. It sports the same drivetrain as in the SE and XSE but features retuned suspension, upgraded wheels and tires, and a body kit. Under the hood remains an unchanged 169-hp 2.0-liter inline-four. Toyota limited the Apex to just 6,000 units, 120 of them with a manual transmission. The Corolla is reportedly very sporty and light on its feet yet doesn’t quite live up to its name. The fact that it’s front-wheel-drive may have something to do with it.

The Toyota Avalon is the runner up at 130 mph

Toyota Avalon TRD driving through the hills
Toyota Avalon TRD driving through the hills | Toyota

The Avalon TRD makes a giant leap over the Corolla in both horsepower and top speed. The Avalon is a large family sedan, and one of Toyota’s more expensive models starting at $36,275. The great news is, that price includes its most powerful engine. The Avalon uses a 301-hp 3.5-liter V6 which helps the car top out at 130 mph, a far cry away from the Corolla’s governed 118 mph. 

The TRD variant comes with black accents throughout, black wheels, a black spoiler, and a big red “TRD” badge on the trunk. The Avalon has also been lowered onto 19” wheels for a lower center of gravity. TRD Avalons include active cornering assist, which is another term for torque vectoring, and large front brakes. Despite its vague orientation as a track car, Toyota offers the Avalon TRD with only front-wheel-drive.

The Toyota Camry is the fastest at 135 mph

Toyota Camry TRD driving on track
Toyota Camry TRD driving on track | Toyota

While some owners are dissatisfied with their purchase, the 2021 Toyota Camry TRD serves to impress, many praise the 2021 Toyota Camry TRD. The Camry TRD also uses the 301-hp 3.5-liter V6, but the Camry tops out at 135 mph, according to Car and Driver, making it the fastest sedan from Toyota currently. For a commuter, 135 is nothing to sneeze at.

The Camry TRD comes with black wheels, a black spoiler, and a black roof that blends with the quarter panels. The front looks aggressive and mutated, like the Predator. TRD gave the Camry stiffer suspension, and it only comes with an automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive. 

Toyotas aren’t built with raging speed in mind, however if you need a commuter and it absolutely needs to be a Toyota, and you need to take it out every once in a while to rip up some corners, then make your purchase a TRD. It’ll do everything the regular models do, and better. The Camry TRD starts at just $32,360, so there are really no excuses left.

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Brian Grabianowski

An automotive journalist since 2008, Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from San Francisco State University and eloquently speaks on all manner of cars, from classics to new technology, reliability, and recalls.

Brian’s mechanical inclinations afford his work a first-hand lens on the ’90s automotive market and mods. Neither his first nor last project car, a 2002 Ford Mustang GT in True Blue Metallic, his third Pony, will keep him busy when he isn’t writing, with a new suspension and final drive ratio change on the to-do list. He’s also built a racing seat for simulator video games.