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In the ongoing discussion of the confusion caused by the proliferation of vehicles, Toyota has done its part to add to the confusion.

As a corporation, Toyota stands at the pinnacle, and has ever since the Camry, Corolla, and Prius led the way in the marketplace. Add in the Lexus upscale models, many of which are based on Toyota models, and the strong success of SUVs led by the RAV4 and 4Runner, and Toyota’s arsenal remains potent. 

But now it seems as though Toyota engineers might be colliding in the hallways as they make their way to their own cubicles. Their vehicles remain among the very best for durability and dependability but to meet the current trend of sedans tending trowed SUV-like attitudes and SUVs getting both bigger and more compact, there must be some confusion even among Toyota folk.

I had the chance to test drive two very impressive vehicles from the Toyota ranch in recent weeks. First came a sleek and nimble Lexus RX350 — a compact SUV that is a luxurious cousin that sprung from the Toyota RAV4 attributes and size.

The RX350 I test drove was the F-Sport model with all-wheel drive, and it came in “Grecian Water” for a paint color. And I’m here to tell you — and show you — why Grecian Water is my favorite color in Toyota’s palette. Especially when I ran into a storm that blew across Duluth and headed for the South Shore of Lake Superior along the Wisconsin shoreline. That allowed me to catch a perfect rainbow after I hastily parked on the North Shore to capture a perfect rainbow as an outline of my RX350.

Shortly after that, I had the chance to spend a week with a new 4Runner, which always has been a dependable midsize SUV. It has grown into an expanded identity as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of its beginning, and some significant alterations signal the new model, such as the optional addition of a third-row jumpseat at the rear, suitable for small children more than adults.

What is most obvious to set apart the new 40th Anniversary edition is the addition of what is  either high-style or amazingly childish striping. Two enormously long decals run down from the roofline then veer forward all the way to the front end, and in fact they wrap around the front and drape themselves over the leading edge of the hood. These stripes are brilliant yellow and almost-as-bright orange, which contrasted amazingly well with the deep Barcelona Red paint job. They are very attractive, if you’re old enough to remember when such strips were popular 30 or 40 years ago to stylize your ride in a personal manner.

Toyota is only going to market 4,040 — get it? 40-40 — of the 40th Anniversary Special Edition models to the U.S., in our red, black or white. The sticker price is $41,095, with no options that escaped the standard Special Edition features.

Mechanically, the new-generation 4Runner makes the big step up to qualify as a TRD off-road model, getting skid plates underneath and the trick trail-busting off-road suspension system used in other serious off-roading members of the TRD clan. Inside, all the controls are easy to operate and stick to the tradition and heritage established by 4Runner when it spent 38 or so of those years being a straight, family-hauling SUV. The engine is a 4.0-liter dual-overhead-cam V6 with 270 horsepower and 278 foot-pounds of torque.

If that power and ruggedness enhances the 4Runner’s image as a potential off-roader, it also gives up great fuel economy in the compromise, with EPA estimates of 19 highway and 16 city miles per gallon. We got just less than 17 in virtually all citified driving up and down the hills of Duluth, Minnesota. With a tow-hitch set-up and toughened 5-speed automatic with part-time Active TRAC all-wheel drive, and the third-row seat folded down to haul stuff, we enjoyed the firm ride of the 4Runner.

Back to the RX350, we see that Toyota has armed its Lexus midsize SUV with all sorts of nice features, and limits the powertrain to a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, with an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Its seats are firmly bolstered and comfortable, as long as you don’t prefer a softer cushy ride.

The bi-LED headlights are brilliant, and the handling is crisp on the 21-inch alloy wheels, although I would like those Toyota engineers to take a few rides on rough roads and realize that such large wheels with such low-profile tires mean every road irregularity is a jolt. A set of 18 or even 17-inch wheels with all-season tires might be preferable in the real world, but the larger size fills the wheel wells, which is good for image and for dry-weather handling.

The base price of the Lexus RX350 is $56,600, but it skyrockets to $64,395 by adding the load of options, led by the panoramic sunroof, which Lexus calls a moonroof, and the Mark Levinson surround sound audio system and the expanded 14-inch info display.

Toyota fills all the niches if you want a compact SUV or a large SUV, and both the Toyota and Lexus dealerships have varieties of similar vehicles, in case these aren’t confusing enough. You can even hold the stripes.