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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  More power than I expected - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By rheumom - December 15 - 10:00 am

  So far, nothing but nice surprises from my Prius. Much more get-up-and-go than I expected. Im averaging 50 mpg. No problems. The contols are easy to use without taking your eyes off the road. The navigation system is wonderful.

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  Mike review - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By resq17312 - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Outstanding quality and reliablity.....never had a problem yet

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  Get the Best - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By MBRII - December 15 - 10:00 am

  With all of the top ratings from CR, Insurance Institute, Government Crash Tests, Motor Trend, etc., this vehicle was definitely worth a look. After taking a good close look, I could not help but BUY.

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  2009 Toyota Corolla is a Good Value - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Timbo - December 15 - 8:46 am

  This is my 5th Corolla. It does not disappoint. I average about 34 mpg. The controls are very easy to operate and make this a very convenient vehicle. The design of this car is very attractive. I have received many compliments. In a world where gas prices are peaking out into outer space, the Corolla is a very good buy.

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  Good small SUV but not perfect - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By JJ - December 15 - 2:53 am

  I needed a 2nd car that is easy to take my 85 year old Mother back and froth to the doctors, shopping and so-on. I looked at the CRV and Forester but the V6 Rav4 Sport with the Sport app Pkg missing the UGLY wort of a spare tire hanging off the back door. I would have passed if it had the spare on the door. Anyway, I ended up getting 3k off sticker price and must say it was worth it. My first car is an Audi A4Q and I had no idea how cheap the poor plastic everything Toyota builds car out of was, my Audi is light years ahead in build quality and dash layout. If you drive easy the 4wd V6 Rav4 gets decent MPGs, I always get 20 in the city and 26 to 29 Hwy. If your heavy on the gas youll pay.

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  Making my commute FUN! - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By pardreamer - December 15 - 2:33 am

  I have been wanting to get a Prius for the last 5 years but the waiting list and the concern about the battery longevity kept me from getting one. Now there is no more waiting list and reliability records prove that the Prius is THE most reliable family car out there (Consummer Reports) in addition to the 150,000 miles warranty on the battery in California I finally bought it. I wish I have done it sooner. The car is so much fun to drive I look forward to driving it. I consistently get 52-60 MPG on average. Actually my 2 months lifetime average is 54 MPG and it is going up.

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  Super Prius - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Paul Harding - December 14 - 10:15 pm

  Its all about MPG and comfort. Both interior and exterior redesign exceed expectations. MPG is well above the posted ones.

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  2005 Tundra review - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Don Miller - December 14 - 4:16 pm

  This truck lives up to the toyota build quality. This is my third toyota in two years , and the first truck , any problems have been minor and fixed by dealers without question about where the vehicle was bought.

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  I still love my Highlander! - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By Dawn Cicco - December 14 - 5:44 am

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  great car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By jimmy - December 13 - 9:23 pm

  Great car