Overview & Reviews

Toyota is a Japanese brand whose refined, well-designed vehicles have earned it a great deal of popularity. Toyotas also have a superb record for reliability and durability, which goes a long way toward justifying their typically high purchase prices. For buyers who plan on owning their new vehicles for a long time, the Toyota marque is a very compelling choice.

The automaker's name is a variation of the surname of its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. After years of research, Toyoda unveiled his first prototype, the A1, in 1935, marking the birth of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The '40s witnessed the launch of additional passenger cars and even a pickup. By the end of the decade, the automaker had produced more than 100,000 vehicles.

Toyota grew bigger in the '50s and expanded its roster with a slew of new small cars. The company also unveiled the utilitarian BJ truck; this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser. By the end of the decade, Toyota had commenced exports to the U.S. with the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. The first Toyota to be sold on American shores was the Crown; it held the distinction of being the first Japanese car to be sold Stateside.

The '60s witnessed even more growth for the emerging juggernaut. Toyota introduced the Corolla, an immensely popular model that is still in production today. Vehicles like the home-market Publica, the 2000GT, Hiace and Miniace were also launched. The decade closed with Toyota reporting annual domestic sales of 1 million units; cumulative exports also reached 1 million.

Japanese-market cars like the Carina, Light Ace and Publica Starlet were launched during the 1970s. In the States, the Corolla grew in popularity and the Corona and Mk II models debuted as well. The successful Celica sports coupe was also rolled out and would remain in production for more than 30 years. Toyota's shadow had spread far beyond Japan by this point. The decade's oil crisis had made the manufacturer's compact, fuel-efficient models more popular than ever in the United States. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker had exported more than 10 million vehicles.

Toyota expanded its presence in the U.S. market during the '80s, with the introduction of popular models like the 4Runner SUV and the MR2 sports car. The true high point of these years, though, was the birth of the Toyota Camry sedan. Originally known as the Celica Camry in Japan, the car went on to be a hit of phenomenal proportions, earning kudos as America's best-selling car of the year time and time again.

During the '90s, Toyota rolled out the Avalon full-size sedan and expanded its selection of SUVs with the compact RAV4. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Toyota vehicles had been produced in Japan. The company also proved itself on the cutting edge of new technology with the rollout of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The car debuted in Japan in 1997; by 2001, the fuel-sipping sedan had made its way to American highways. Despite the presence of a growing number of competitors in its segment, the Prius continues to boast class-leading sales.

Toyota's current lineup is relatively extensive, including minivans, cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand remains extremely popular among savvy consumers who place a high value on quality and dependability.

User Reviews:

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  An excellent vehicle - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By M. Andrews - March 3 - 1:53 pm

  Have had the vehicle 3 months and driven it 4,000 miles. No problems. Rides and drives much like our Camry. Looked at a Honda Pilot but when comparing them we selected the Highlander even though it was more expensive. Would highly recommend it for those who want a smooth ride and are not interested in off-road driving.

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  Excellent purchase - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By S. Rittiger - March 3 - 10:23 am

  The Sienna is without a doubt the best selection in the mini van class. I was able to find this out during the test drive and my opinion has not changed over the last 8000 miles. It did cost more but I belive it was worth it.

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  Great Mid-Size Pickup - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bob Steele - March 3 - 9:56 am

  Have owned Toyota vehicles for approximately 25-years, including a 1993 Extended Cab Pickup, which was sold to purchase a 2003 Extended Cab Tacoma which was traded in for the 2005 Access Cab Tacoma. What a Truck.... Rides like a Camry with the heavy suspension feel of a truck. Cannot complain about anything to date. New trnasmission is very smooth. Excellent Radio/CD Standard Sound System. The bed is awesome...what an engineering design for a pickup truck.

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  Rav4 Play - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Diane67 - March 3 - 5:33 am

  Ive only had my Rav for a short time, but I love this vehicle. Its got the Toyota reliability going for it, plus its just cute as a button! My first vehicle that I was able to choose all by myself!

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  Die hard for Sienna - 2015 Toyota Sienna
  By Sam Tran - March 3 - 1:50 am

  Own 2006 xle trade for 2014 limited.

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  Love my new Yaris - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Florence Hanlon - March 2 - 9:56 pm

  I absolutely love my new Yaris. It has given me great mileage, actually going more than the promised 39mpg, closer to 41 or 42. I have had it about a month to the day, and have only had to fill it up twice, have put more than 400 miles on it. I would like to know however if the safety tests have been done yet on it. I bought it because I had such good success with my first car, a Toyota Celica, and so I trust Toyota, and so far, have found nothing to complain about. I especially like that the "hump" in the dashboard is in the middle, rather than on the drivers side, obstructing my view. Would still like to know safety rating.

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  The Best Review Ever - 2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By Curnow - March 2 - 3:31 pm

  Comfort, size, economy, all exactly what I wanted!

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  Short but sweet. - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Darrell Leacock - March 2 - 2:13 pm

  2000 miles, not long but plenty of time to conclude that the Prius lives up to its billing. Yes you can accomplish the EPA numbers, but you will not likely drive in that prescribed manner. However, with very little change in driving habits from our recent 97 Camry XLE, we get a solid 45 MPG overall. Very much a pleasure to drive.

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  Great SUV value - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By jazzydev - March 2 - 1:46 pm

  Purchased this RAV after owning a 1998 RAV. So the difference is quite noticeable. This is my daily driver, so I needed 4WD and wanted good/decent gas mileage. The cabin is much larger, both with leg room and shoulder room. Love the look of the Sport (I think it handles tighter with the larger wheels). Gas is about 25 mpg with 80/20 highway/local driving. The road noise is considerably less. The back seat area is spacious, even if youre 62". The 4 cylinder has a nice punch, its not a 6 cyl, but off the line is good with just me in the car. When I test drove the sales guys said that the 6 is too much. Test drove CRV and 07 highlander-liked the RAV better.

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  KJays car - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By KJays Car - March 2 - 1:10 pm

  Excellent ride, gas mileage (45-50 mpg on highway) and super car to drive. Sporty look, everyone wants my car.