Toyota’s first American market trucks, the Land Cruiser FJ45 Pickup and the Stout, entered the U.S. in the early 1960s. Thin, boxy, and basic-yet-capable, these pickups didn’t land well enough to celebrate. Case in point:  the automaker only sold four Stouts in 1964. By 1967, Toyota had moved away from Stout and introduced our more familiar ute: the Hilux – Tacoma’s older cousin.

The Hilux, though unarguably better received than the Stout, was still a bit too rough-and-ready for the American masses. After all, it had a metal dashboard and a modest bench seat. In 1975, Toyota released its fourth U.S. market pickup – and this one was all about style.

The Toyota Pickup hit roads in the mid-70s. The country loved its bright colors and “cozy” driver experience. What’s more, the shift from the 1.9L to the 2.0L 20R engine made the truck famous, and new trims gave niche-use drivers something to brag about: In 1977, we got the Toyota SR5 Pickup.

“Tough as a truck, smooth as a car.”

The acronyms you see on the back of any vehicle model, albeit coded, usually mean something fairly straightforward. Toyota even has a dedicated web page explaining trim letters, if you’re curious about them. “CE,” for instance, stands for “Classic Edition.” “LE” is “Luxury Edition.”

“SR5” stands for “Sport Rally Five-Speed.” In 1977, the SR5 Pickup offered an enhanced suspension paired with a car-like ride for those looking to “drive really fast through the backwoods.” Keep in mind that at the time, cars were essentially living rooms on wheels, not the economy-grade rattle boxes we get today. As such, a “car-like” ride was a big compliment.

In 1981, Toyota sealed its already stellar reputation in the mini-truck world by upgrading the Pickup with its now-legendary 22R engine and adding something that “shocked” competitors: 4WD. The automaker took the Land Cruiser’s off-road tech and fused it into its truck and car lineup, including even the Corolla in 1988.

At the time, the “5” referred to the truck’s five-speed manual transmission. The trim carries on today. Now, the “5” in SR5 doesn’t always match the transmission’s available speeds (for example, the 2020 Toyota Tacoma SR5 had a six-speed automatic transmission). However, the trim always means a few extras added to the SR (Sport Rally) version.

For instance, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma SR5 has LED fog lights and a coil spring, multi-link rear suspension on the Double Cab. On modern SR5 interiors, you’ll find slight upgrades, too, like the infotainment screen size and leather trim here or there.

If you’re in the market for a Toyota Tacoma and want to compare available trims, including the SR5, check out MotorBiscuit’s seamless car buying tool to find the best deal near you.