About this guide: This overview reflects inventory and publicly advertised offers at Toyota of Downtown Chicago as of the publish date below. Vehicle availability, incentives, and lease or finance programs can change without notice, so treat the information here as a snapshot and confirm current details before making a purchase or lease decision.

Right now, remaining 2025 Toyota inventory in Chicago is much more limited than it was earlier this year. Most of our new-vehicle lineup has already transitioned to 2026 stock. If you're comparing model years to decide what to buy, the practical short version is this: 2026 inventory is broadly available across the Toyota lineup, while remaining new 2025 vehicles are limited to individual units. The better choice usually comes down to the specific vehicle, equipment, incentives, and availability on our lot today - not a blanket rule about model year. Call our sales team at 877-413-8672 for same-day availability on any 2025 units still in stock.

This guide walks through what can actually change between a 2025 and a 2026 Toyota, what's realistically still available from the outgoing model year, how incentives and warranty timing should be evaluated, and a straightforward framework for deciding between the two.

Why 2025 Inventory Looks Different in August Than It Did in Spring

Model-year changeovers aren't a single event - they're a rolling process that plays out model by model over several months. Outgoing-model-year inventory generally becomes less available as newer vehicles arrive and individual trims, colors, and configurations sell through at different rates.

That's roughly where things stand on our lot as of this writing. The bulk of our new-vehicle inventory - including Corolla, RAV4, Camry, Highlander, Tacoma, Sienna, and much of the rest of the lineup - is already 2026 stock. That's a meaningfully different situation than shoppers comparing 2025 and 2026 models earlier in the year would have encountered, and it's worth knowing before you build a purchase strategy around finding a particular remaining 2025 configuration.

What's Actually Left in 2025 Inventory Right Now

As of publication, a 2025 Toyota Tundra 4WD 1794 Edition Hybrid CrewMax with a 5.5-foot bed is among the remaining 2025 vehicles represented in our current new-vehicle offers. Any advertised offer is tied to the specific vehicle, eligibility requirements, applicable program terms, and expiration date shown on the live specials page.

Additional 2025 vehicles may appear in general new inventory even when they are not featured on the specials page. Inventory changes as vehicles are sold or added, so if a specific 2025 trim or color is a priority, the most reliable approach is to call 877-413-8672  or check current new inventory directly.

Certified pre-owned inventory is a separate channel worth considering if you specifically want a recent-model-year Toyota. A Toyota Certified Used Vehicle can be compared with remaining new 2025 and current 2026 inventory on purchase price, mileage, equipment, warranty coverage, and overall ownership value.

What Actually Changes Between a 2025 and a 2026 Toyota

This is where model-year comparisons often get oversimplified. A new model year doesn't automatically mean a redesigned vehicle. Many Toyota nameplates carry the same generation forward across multiple model years, while annual changes may involve trim availability, equipment packages, colors, technology, powertrain details, or safety features. Full redesigns happen according to each model's own product cycle.

In practice, that means the real difference between a specific 2025 unit and its 2026 counterpart can range from minor to meaningful, depending on the model and trim. The best way to compare is vehicle by vehicle. Our sales team can review the window sticker and equipment list for a remaining 2025 unit alongside the closest 2026 equivalent so you can see the actual differences.

One point that's important to understand is warranty timing. Toyota's new-vehicle warranty coverage is tied to the vehicle's date of first use rather than simply the model year printed on the vehicle. That means a never-in-service 2025 Toyota does not automatically have less factory warranty remaining than a 2026 Toyota sold at the same time. If you're considering a remaining 2025 vehicle, ask the dealership to confirm the specific VIN's in-service date and applicable warranty coverage.

Chicago-Specific Considerations for This Decision

A few local factors are worth considering beyond the model-year comparison itself:

Illinois trade-in tax treatment

For a qualifying Illinois vehicle purchase, the value of an eligible like-kind trade-in generally reduces the taxable selling price used to calculate sales tax. Lease transactions can be treated differently, so don't assume the same tax treatment applies when comparing a purchase with a lease. Ask our finance team to calculate the tax treatment for your specific transaction, trade-in, and vehicle before comparing final numbers.

Winter timing

If all-weather capability is part of your decision - including AWD availability, ground clearance, or winter tire fitment - compare the actual specifications of the vehicles you're considering. These features are generally tied to model and trim configuration rather than simply whether the vehicle is labeled 2025 or 2026. A newer model year does not automatically mean better winter capability.

Financing and incentive environment

Manufacturer finance, lease, rebate, loyalty, military, college, and other incentive programs can vary by model, region, eligibility, financing source, and month. They may also apply differently to an outgoing model-year vehicle and its current-model-year counterpart. Some programs cannot be combined with one another. Current published offers are available on our offers and incentives page, and our team can confirm which programs apply to the specific VIN and transaction you're considering.

2025 Leftover vs. 2026: A Straightforward Way to Decide

The key point is that an older model year is not automatically a better deal. The meaningful comparison is between the specific vehicles available today: transaction price, applicable incentives, equipment, financing or lease terms, warranty status, and the configuration you actually want.

Buying vs. Leasing During a Model-Year Transition

If you're comparing a remaining 2025 vehicle with a 2026 vehicle, remember that the lease term is measured from the date your lease begins - it isn't shortened simply because the vehicle belongs to an earlier model year. A 36-month lease remains a 36-month lease regardless of whether the vehicle is labeled 2025 or 2026, subject to the specific contract terms.

What can differ are the lease program itself, residual assumptions, money factor, incentives, mileage allowance, amount due at signing, and vehicle-specific eligibility. Compare the complete transaction rather than focusing on model year or monthly payment alone.

Current Offers at Toyota of Downtown Chicago

Toyota of Downtown Chicago currently publishes vehicle-specific lease and finance offers across portions of its new-vehicle inventory. Because these programs are tied to individual vehicles, eligibility requirements, credit approval, expiration dates, and other terms, we're intentionally not reproducing a long list of monthly payments in this guide.

The most current details - including any remaining 2025 vehicles, current-model-year lease programs, financing offers, and available inventory - can be found on the dealership's live pages:

• Current new-vehicle lease specials
• Current APR, rebate, and incentive offers
• Full new inventory search

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there still new 2025 Toyotas available in Chicago?

Yes, individual new 2025 vehicles may still be available, but selection is much more limited than current 2026 inventory. Availability changes as vehicles are sold, so check current inventory or contact the dealership for the latest status on a specific model or trim.

Are remaining 2025 Toyotas automatically cheaper than 2026 models?

No. A vehicle doesn't automatically become less expensive simply because it belongs to an earlier model year. The actual transaction depends on vehicle pricing, applicable manufacturer or dealer programs, trim and equipment, financing or lease terms, and the specific VIN you're considering.

Will a 2025 Toyota be considered outdated compared with a 2026?

Not necessarily. Many Toyota models continue across model years without a full redesign. Differences can range from minor equipment or color changes to more meaningful updates depending on the nameplate. Compare the specific 2025 and 2026 vehicles rather than assuming the newer model year is substantially different.

Does a 2025 Toyota have less factory warranty because of its model year?

Not automatically. Toyota warranty coverage is tied to the vehicle's date of first use and applicable mileage limits. A remaining 2025 vehicle that has not previously been placed into service may therefore still begin its applicable new-vehicle warranty coverage when first placed in service. Always verify the in-service date and warranty status of the specific VIN.

Does buying a 2025 model affect resale value later?

Model year can be one factor in a future appraisal, but resale and trade-in value also depend on mileage, vehicle condition, service history, trim, equipment, market demand, accident history, and other factors. If you plan to keep the vehicle for many years, those factors may ultimately matter more than the one-model-year difference.

Should I wait for remaining 2025 inventory to get cheaper?

There is no guarantee that waiting will produce a lower price or a stronger incentive. Remaining inventory may simply become more limited. If a specific 2025 vehicle fits your needs, compare its current total transaction with the closest 2026 alternative and decide based on the numbers and equipment available today.

Can I combine an incentive with a trade-in?

A trade-in can generally be part of the same transaction, but incentive eligibility and combination rules vary by program. Some manufacturer programs cannot be combined with certain other offers. Ask the dealership to confirm all applicable programs and trade-in treatment before relying on a projected transaction amount.

Talk to Our Sales Team About What's Actually in Stock

The most reliable way to compare a remaining 2025 Toyota with a 2026 is to look at the specific vehicles available today. Our sales team can check live inventory, review equipment and window stickers, confirm the in-service and warranty status of a particular VIN, and explain which current finance, lease, or incentive programs may apply.

Sales Department: 877-413-8672​​​​​​​
Sales Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Saturday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Sunday Closed
Toyota of Downtown Chicago · 1561 N Fremont St, Chicago, IL 60642 (Lincoln Park)

Vehicle availability, pricing, manufacturer programs, dealer offers, and eligibility requirements are subject to change without notice and may vary by VIN. Lease and finance offers are subject to applicable program terms and credit approval. Taxes, title, license, registration, dealer fees, and other charges may apply. Incentives may not be combinable unless specifically stated. Warranty coverage and remaining coverage depend on the specific vehicle's in-service date, mileage, and applicable Toyota warranty terms. Confirm current inventory, vehicle pricing, incentives, warranty status, and complete transaction terms with Toyota of Downtown Chicago before making a purchase or lease decision.