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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  Cool truck - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Alex Roberts - September 11 - 4:03 am

  Really nice to drive.The 4.0 is really quick. You have to get the TRD off road package to get the real nice interior and features. The four wheel drive is excellent in the snow. I am disappointed with how fast the bf goodrich tires wore in just the first 12,000 miles from all highway driving.

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  How to make this great ride work for you - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Nathan M. - September 10 - 7:10 pm

  I shopped every SUV on the market and after multiple years of ownership I feel qualified to give this vehicle the review it deserves. There were a few drawbacks to this vehicle when comparing it to others, but Ive come up with a few work-arounds: Cargo Space - lower than most SUVs this is easily and inexpensively fixed with the addition of a roof box or hitch mounted rack / storage. Leather Seats - a dealer add on! Confusing 4wd system - just earmark the page the description is on. Once you figure out when to drop it into Lo / lock the center differential / etc., youre going to love driving this thing in the snow. Dash - Youll get use to function over form.

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  SAVED MY LIFE - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By 6paul11 - September 10 - 7:06 pm

  I wrote a previous review on here, and much time has passed since then. My Solara was an SLE, with a 5 Speed Manual. I just want to tell everyone that this car will save your life. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. I crashed into a the back of a stopped car at 65 mph and it saved my life. My baby is gone, but will never be forgotten.

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  Toyota meesed it up - Hood Vibrates - Watch it. - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By and44 - September 10 - 12:17 pm

  Toyota with the RAV created this segment. Instead of improving with every iteration they are down grating on quality, workmanship, reliability and customer satisfaction. I own the 2013 Limited version since April 2013. It has 9,000 kilometers, the main issue is that the hood vibrates while driving on uneven pavement in the city and on smooth pavement on the highway. This is a design issue that Toyota needs to address. Toyota chose to have a flimsy hood for less weight. Two trips at the dealership could not resolve the problem. Toyota is referring me to the dealer, even though the dealer stated clearly there is nothing they can do to address this issue. Toyota is behaving arrogantly.

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  Great SUV - 2007 Toyota Sequoia
  By K Brown - September 10 - 10:03 am

  The Sequoia is an excellent SUV. Reliability has been great. At 25,000 miles repair of the tension control for the fan belt was required, up to 38,500 now and no other repairs. Like the looks of the 2007 better than the new style. Would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for an SUV that is big and holds a lot of stuff. Even got a full/queen size headboard in the back.

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  rollin on dubs - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By BG - September 9 - 4:33 pm

  great SUV

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  Reliable commuter car - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Dave - September 9 - 2:53 pm

  Not the flashiest of vehicles, but definately the most reliable car I have driven. I bough my car used with 23k miles on it in 03, and have put about 25k miles a year on it driving between WA and OR states. Not a single problem. Engine power isnt bad, and fuel economy is awesome. I get about 40 mpg on the hwy with my 5 sp manual.

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  Perfect car for daily routine and small trips - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Anand Vardhan - September 9 - 11:46 am

  This car has Awesome performace and power which only we need..you can ride at the speed of 80 or 90 miles per hour with no problem.. This car is ideal for small road trips even you can go for long trips.. For family with 2 kids this car would be small as it has limited space..

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  Wifes car and she loves it - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By 1st Toyota - September 9 - 11:20 am

  This is wifes favorite vehicle. Downside, horrible roof vibrations if you open moonroof while driving. Rear end failed at 20k. Wheel bearings failed at 38k. Trunk latch stuck and dealer says warranty doesnt cover anything affected by rust, even though salesman said extended warranty covers "everything".

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  2001 Prius - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By A Massey - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Great!, I would buy another one if I could drive two cars at the same time