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McKinnon Toyota Earns the Toyota Elite Dealer Award

Serving Clanton and Central Alabama with award-winning excellence

We have some exciting news to share: McKinnon Toyota has been named a Toyota Elite Dealer Award recipient, ranking #41 out of 59 Elite Dealers across the entire Southeast Toyota (SET) region. Out of 178 total dealerships in the region, only the top 59 — just the top 33% — earn this prestigious honor. That means two out of every three dealerships in our region didn't make the cut. We did.

Mckinnon Toyota - Toyota Elite Dealer Award 2026

But what exactly is the Toyota Elite Dealer Award, and why does it matter to you as a customer? Let's break it down.

What Is the Toyota Elite Dealer Award?

The Toyota Elite Dealer Award — also known as the SET Elite Award — is presented annually by Toyota Motor Corporation's Southeast region to recognize only the highest-performing dealerships in the country's most competitive regional market. The Southeast Toyota (SET) distribution region covers hundreds of dealerships across the southeastern United States, making it one of the largest and most active Toyota regions in the nation.

This isn't an award you can apply for, campaign for, or buy. It's earned — through a rigorous, multi-faceted evaluation process that measures every corner of a dealership's operations over an extended period of time.

What Does It Take to Earn This Award?

Earning the Toyota Elite Dealer Award is no small feat. To qualify, a dealership must meet a demanding set of standards all at once — not just in one area, but across sales, service, customer satisfaction, financial health, and facility standards. Specifically:

  • Exceed annual sales objectives — consistent, high-volume performance, not just a good month
  • Maintain a Sales Efficiency score of at least 105% for 12 consecutive months — this means performing above Toyota's benchmark every single month for a full year
  • Demonstrate strong customer loyalty through Toyota's engagement metrics, known as Toyota Loyalty Engagement (TLE)
  • Achieve profitability while maintaining ethical and transparent business practices
  • Invest in a well-trained team — from sales consultants to service technicians
  • Meet Toyota's Image USA II facility standards, ensuring customers experience a modern, comfortable, and professional environment

In short, a dealership has to be — as one regional manager put it — "firing on all cylinders with sales, service, customer satisfaction, and Toyota Loyalty Engagement." There are no shortcuts.


Why This Matters for McKinnon Toyota Customers

When a dealership earns this award, it's a direct reflection of the experience you receive every time you walk through the door. It means:

You can trust the team. The award requires investment in ongoing technician training and staff development. When you bring your vehicle in for service, you're working with people who are held to Toyota's highest professional standards.

You're being heard. Customer satisfaction isn't just a box Toyota checks — it's a core pillar of the Elite Dealer evaluation. McKinnon Toyota's ranking reflects real feedback from real customers in Clanton and Central Alabama who rated their experiences highly enough to help earn this honor.

You're choosing consistency. The Sales Efficiency requirement — 105% for 12 straight months — means this isn't a fluke. McKinnon Toyota has been delivering at an elite level, month after month, with no off-seasons.

Your dealership meets Toyota's highest standards. From the facility you walk into, to the financing options available, to the way your service visit is handled, Elite Dealer status means the entire experience has been measured, evaluated, and validated by Toyota itself.

A Community Milestone

For a dealership rooted in Clanton, Alabama — serving Central Alabama families year after year — this recognition means something beyond trophies and rankings. It reflects the trust this community has placed in McKinnon Toyota, and the commitment the McKinnon team makes every day to honor that trust.

From the sales floor to the service bays, this award belongs to every team member who showed up, worked hard, and put customers first. And it belongs to every customer who chose McKinnon Toyota and took the time to share their experience.

Out of 178 dealerships in the Southeast Toyota region, only 59 can call themselves Elite. McKinnon Toyota is one of them — and that's something worth celebrating.


Come see us in Clanton and experience the difference that award-winning service makes. We're proud to be your Toyota dealer.

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Giving Back, One Ride at a Time

At McKinnon Toyota, we believe that giving back to the community is just as important as serving our customers. That belief is at the heart of everything we do — and it's why we were honored to team up with Chilton County Transit for a special outing designed just for local seniors. A Partnership Rooted in Community Chilton County Transit plays a vital role in the lives of so many residents, providing reliable transportation to people who might otherwise struggle to get where they need to go. When they reached out about organizing a special outing for local seniors, we didn't hesitate to say yes. Helping provide transportation for the event was a small way for us to support an organization that does big things for our community every single day. It's a privilege to stand behind the people and programs that make Chilton County a better place to live. Why This Matters to Us McKinnon Toyota has always believed that being a good neighbor means more than selling cars — it means showing up for the people around us. Partnering with organizations like Chilton County Transit gives us the chance to do just that. Seeing local seniors enjoy a day out, made possible in part through this collaboration, is a powerful reminder of why community partnerships matter. These moments of connection and joy don't happen by accident — they happen because organizations and businesses choose to work together. A Heartfelt Thank You We want to extend a sincere thank you to Chilton County Transit for everything they do for the residents of Chilton County. Their dedication to serving our community, day in and day out, doesn't go unnoticed. We're proud to call them a partner, and we're grateful for the opportunity to help make this special outing possible. Making a Difference, One Ride at a Time At McKinnon Toyota, we're committed to being an active, engaged part of the Chilton County community — not just as a dealership, but as a neighbor. Whether it's supporting local transportation initiatives, sponsoring community events, or simply lending a hand where it's needed, we're proud to invest in the people who make this community what it is. Together with organizations like Chilton County Transit, we're proving that even small acts of support can create meaningful, lasting impact. Here's to more partnerships, more outings, and more opportunities to give back — one ride at a time. Interested in learning more about McKinnon Toyota community involvement? Stop by and see us, or follow along on Facebook to stay up to date on our latest partnerships and events.

McKinnon Toyota Honors Nurses During Nurses Week

Celebrating the Heart of Our Healthcare Community There are people in our community who show up every single day — not for applause, not for recognition, but because someone needs them. This Nurses Week, McKinnon Toyota was honored to acknowledge just a few of those remarkable individuals. Lunch for the Heroes at UAB St. Vincent's Alabama This week, our team had the privilege of providing lunch for the nurses at UAB St. Vincent's Alabama in celebration of Nurses Week. It was a small gesture for people who give so much — but we hope it brought a moment of rest and a reminder that their work truly matters. Nurses carry a weight that most of us will never fully understand. They are the steady hands in moments of crisis, the calm voices in rooms full of fear, and the compassionate presence that patients and families lean on when they need it most. Day after day, shift after shift, they give everything they have — and then they come back and do it again. A Week Worth Celebrating Nurses Week is a chance for all of us to say what we should be saying year-round: thank you. Thank you for your strength when situations are difficult. Thank you for your patience when it's hard to find. Thank you for the compassion you extend to every patient who walks through those doors, regardless of the circumstances. To the nurses at UAB St. Vincent's and to every nurse serving patients and families across Alabama — we see you, we appreciate you, and we are grateful for you. Community Is at the Heart of What We Do At McKinnon Toyota, we're proud to be more than a dealership. We're part of this community, and that means showing up for the people who make it a better place. Healthcare workers like the nurses at UAB St. Vincent's are the backbone of a healthy, thriving community — and it's an honor to support them in any way we can. From all of us at McKinnon Toyota — Happy Nurses Week! 🩺 McKinnon Toyota is proud to serve the Clanton, Alabama community. Visit us at www.mckinnontoyota.com or stop by and see us today.

McKinnon Toyota Gets an Exclusive First Look at the All-New 2027 Toyota Highlander

Exciting things are on the horizon at McKinnon Toyota — and we got a sneak peek before almost anyone else! Our team recently attended an exclusive training event to get a first-hand look at the all-new 2027 Toyota Highlander, and we can honestly say this is the biggest evolution the Highlander has seen in its 25+ year history. We love staying ahead of the curve so we can answer your questions and help you experience the latest and greatest Toyota has to offer, and this one is worth getting excited about. Here's everything we learned. A New Era for a Family Favorite For more than two decades, the Highlander has been the go-to midsize SUV for families who need room to grow, room to haul, and a vehicle they can count on. The 2027 model kicks off the Highlander's fifth generation, and it's a big one: this is Toyota's first-ever three-row battery-electric vehicle (BEV) for the U.S. market, and the first Toyota BEV assembled right here in America. Toyota division GM David Christ put it simply: "This new Highlander is designed to be a stylish, high-tech leader in the midsize SUV segment." Styling That Turns Heads The 2027 Highlander wears a bold new look, featuring: Clean, sculpted lines with broad fenders and a lower, wider stance Full-length LED daytime running lights and Toyota's signature "hammerhead" front-end design Flush, semi-hidden electronic door handles for a sleek, aerodynamic profile An available fixed glass panoramic roof — the largest ever offered in the Toyota lineup Six single-tone exterior colors, including the all-new Spellbound, plus striking two-tone combinations with a black roof Room for the Whole Crew Seating for up to seven (with the available bench seat) means there's still plenty of room for the family, the carpool, or the weekend road trip crew. Inside, you'll find: SofTex®-trimmed seating standard across the lineup, with heated front seats Ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats available on Limited Second-row captain's chairs standard, with a bench seat option on XLE AWD One-touch power-folding third row and more than 45 cubic feet of cargo space when folded flat 18 cup holders and USB-C charging in every row — because everyone's devices need juice Power, Range, and Everyday Versatility The Highlander goes all-electric for 2027, and it doesn't skimp on capability: Up to 338 net combined horsepower on AWD models Manufacturer-estimated driving range up to 320 miles on a full charge* Standard NACS charging port compatible with thousands of Level 3 DC fast chargers 10%–80% DC fast charging in around 30 minutes under ideal conditions New Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology — a Toyota first — that lets the Highlander power appliances at a tailgate or serve as backup power at home during an outage *Estimates only; actual range varies with weather, driving style, and other factors. Tech-Forward, Top to Bottom The cabin centers around a 14-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and the latest Toyota Audio Multimedia system with AT&T 5G connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and enhanced "Hey Toyota" voice assistant response times. An available Head-Up Display, built-in Drive Recorder, and Enhanced Digital Key (shareable with up to five drivers right from your phone's digital wallet) round out a genuinely smartphone-smart driving experience. Safety isn't an afterthought either — every 2027 Highlander comes standard with the newly updated Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, including Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Tracing Assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. Two Grades, Built for You The 2027 Highlander will be offered in two trims: XLE — available in FWD or AWD, with a 77.0-kWh battery standard and a 95.8-kWh battery available on AWD models Limited — AWD standard with the 95.8-kWh battery, plus added luxury touches like ventilated seats, heated second row, Advanced Park, and Panoramic View Monitor When Can You Get One? The 2027 Highlander is set to arrive at McKinnon Toyota in late 2026, continuing into early 2027. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but we'll share those details the moment Toyota releases them. Shop our current inventory of Highlander here. Stay in the Loop We're just as excited as you are, and this is only the beginning of what we'll be sharing about the all-new Highlander. Have questions about going electric, curious about trade-in value on your current Highlander, or want to be first in line when it arrives on our lot? Stop by McKinnon Toyota or give us a call — our team is already up to speed and ready to help. Stay tuned. You won't want to miss this one.

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