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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  Why did I wait so long - 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By jb - August 22 - 7:30 am

  I was always intrigued by this car but living in the Northeast didnt think it was very practical to buy. What a mistake. I LOVE driving now. Cant wait for spring to fire it up again and hit the road. It is a blast to drive. Its like the go-cart you had as a kid... on steriods! Toyota quality at a great price!

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  My 2011 Camry - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By John Harrod - August 22 - 5:10 am

  I just traded my 2011 Camry for a 2014 Camry, didnt care for the appearance of the 2015.I drove the 2011 for 60,000 miles with no repairs, just maintance an a new set of tires.I was very satisfied with this car.

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  Great car - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Johanna - August 22 - 4:46 am

  Like the car. You have to push it thru corners though, not a natural feel. Nice interior, very roomy. Average 27 mpg. Good trunk space. Drove in northern Vt. this winter and handled well on all-seasons . Nice surprise.

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  Great Truck - Worth the Price - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By rmd0311 - August 22 - 4:23 am

  I looked at this and the Frontier. While the Frontier would have been a good 3k cheaper, I like the Tacoma much more. There is nothing not to like. Drives like an SUV but I have a truck bed. Perfect combination.

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  2007 Toyota Highlander Ltd Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Annie Mouse - August 21 - 8:06 pm

  The reason we chose this car over the Lexus SUV hybrid was the cargo size. The nav system is primitive and not user friendly, works sort of, the passenger seat doesnt have adjustable lumbar support so on long trips gets tiresome. The good part is fuel efficiency and room for all kinds of stuff including kids, pets, groceries, plants and necessities of life especially on long trips. The third seat is a waste in my opinion. For our particular needs, the car fits the bill. Of all the hybrids out there with cargo room this is in my view the best choice and nicely appointed.

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  Expect great gas mileage for the RAV4 XLE AWD - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By baby boomer - August 21 - 7:27 pm

  Husband has owned Toyota trucks for 20 years. We averaged 27 mpg on a 2000 mile trip through Colorado and New Mexico, with several mountain passes. It gets the job done! Our RAV has 21,000 miles now and its great for everyday use. Bought it for the AWD for winter weather. It handles very well in snowy slippery streets. Disappointed it only had one car charger for our cell phones and garmin, plus the 1 usb port. Our first long trip was a 12 hour drive to south Texas this spring. That was when we realized the seats felt terrible. I drove 2 Honda Civics for 100K+ miles each and never felt the discomfort/pain that we have with this suv. When the opportunity comes, Im going back to driving a Honda.

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  My family fun suv - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By vivaldo - August 21 - 3:36 pm

  I purchased our Sequoia in March, a few days later we were on our way to Pismo Beach. I really enjoyed the smooth ride and the level of comfort on our trip up North. My kids got to enjoy the DVD system and my wife and I enjoyed our Siruis sat. radio. We were going to buy an Armada but when we saw the Sequoia it just captured our heart and our wallet. Sorry Nissan!

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  Great vehicle - Good in snow - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By brianjv99 - August 21 - 12:26 pm

  I love the new rav4 I got. It is great in the winter weather, traction control, stability control and 4WD make it almost impossible to slip. It handles in snow great and Im zipping past other cars that are sliding all around.

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  2004 Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By strata - August 21 - 10:20 am

  My 2004 Prius was bought in Oct 03 because of the claim of outstanding mileage, the federal tax incentive and I was driving a large crewcab pickup. Mileage range from the high 30s in the coldest (below -0 F.) months to the low 50s once the weather gets warmer in the spring. It gets the best mileage in city driving about 40 mph. It is fairly comfortable in day to day commuting. The hatchback feature is very useful with the extra room with the rear seats folded down. The biggest gripes are the light beige cloth upholstery that show dirt easy and the couple of times that it left me stranded with computer glitches once at dealer when they were doing a recall and once 300 miles away.

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  Why Not To Buy A Sienna - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By Very Unhappy Toyota - August 21 - 10:00 am

  We have broken three passanger handles. We cannot get the vehicle to align we tried 3 times. We have been thru 3 sets of tires and three brake jobs. None of the above are covered by the extended warranty. (Never buy an extended warranty from Toyota) All work was done by dealer with exception of the last brake job was done by a shop that carries a lifetime warranty.