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:

• 

  Wow - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By B Humphreys - August 5 - 2:00 am

  This is my second RAV4 my first one is still kicking from 1997. I like the extra power this has over that one. The little quirks have been worked out and the car rides wonderfully. Small engine, 5 speed, L package is the way to go...

• 

  Excellent choice - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Dallas Bumgarner - August 5 - 12:36 am

  Glad I bought the auto.

• 

  Still going - 1998 Toyota Tacoma
  By GJ - August 4 - 11:53 pm

  I have owned this truck for nearly eleven years. I have had to replace the starter and the catalytic converter. Just replaced the shocks, struts and front brake pads yesterday. The AC is still strong and overall the vehicle runs great. Mainly, I have only had to do the regular maintenance. It has only been back to the dealer once to replace a faulty sensor in the first few months that I owned it. I bought this because of Toyotas reputation and have not been disappointed in any way.

• 

  2 Sweet Celica GT-S - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By phatz - August 3 - 9:40 pm

  The car is sweet, sexy, cool. Acceleration and handling is awesome in the GT-S trim. The VVTL-I is unmatched at 180hp from a 1.8L motor - truly impressive.

• 

  Love this XLE - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By rev4 - August 3 - 7:40 pm

  This XLE is just a great car. Quality. Ride. Fuel Mileage. Comfort. Style. I bought this not for a "drivers car"...but for comfort, quality, ride, style... and it excels in all categories. I highly recommend this car for someone looking for all the above qualities. It is a "compact Camry"...btw...My other car is a 2002 Camry XLE...

• 

  The Perfect Truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Gozz - August 3 - 1:40 am

  The V6 6spd manual has fulfilled every expectation I had excluding the lack of floor tie downs at the front of the bed. I have been getting 19-20 mpg, which is fantastic considering my last vehicle was a 1500 Dodge Ram that averaged 12-13 mpg. The truck has a great ride and plenty of power when you ask for it. If you are looking for a great truck, and considering a Tacoma, you are looking in the right direction!

• 

  I LOVE "MY CAR" - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Rhonda Champagne - August 2 - 4:26 pm

  We recently traded in my Grand Am, looking for something more fuel efficient. We had looked at several other cars and read up on each of them, and the Camry caught my attention and kept it! I love the design of this car, it has a classy look and a smooth quiet ride. Not only did we get a nice looking car we got the fuel efficiency we were looking for. I also wanted plenty of room and comfort and the Camry came through on that as well. I love the controls right there at my fingertips,and the in dash lighting makes everything clear to see. The Camry sits high enough to where its easy to get in and out of (not too low). Weve recommended this car to everyone!

• 

  Love my Sequoia - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Warrant_ero - August 2 - 7:16 am

  Just bought our Limited 4x4 Sequoia on 1 Jun. Love driving the big beast. For a big rig it drives like a small car. MPG been around 17 city/highway combined. The interior is nice although I would think there would be less plastic. Very quiet when on the road, love all the power. Looking forward to many great years of service.

• 

  Best Small SUV - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Allie - August 2 - 4:03 am

  This is my third Toyota, and my second RAV-4 - I previously had a 2003 2WD model and decided to upgrade to the 2005 4WD "L" model. I couldnt be happier! The engine was improved in 2004 providing more horsepower which completely removed the "gut-less" reputation the RAV-4 had. This vehicle has plenty of get-up-and go for a 4- cyl. SUV! Stylish and fun to drive, while achieving high safety and reliability ratings. The standardization of anti-lock breaks and the additional air bags make the "L" model a top choice!

• 

  Excellent - 2007 Toyota Sienna
  By rvboom - August 1 - 3:00 pm

  This Sienna is a very smooth running minivan with minimal wind and road noise. It has excellent power, especially at highway speeds. The Xenon lights do an excellent job. The cruise control has 2 modes: regular and laser controlled and I am happy to have a choice. I dislike the 5 MPH speed increment on the cruise control and would much prefer a 1-mph adjustment. In the first 2,500 miles of gentle driving, I averaged 19.4 mpg (was hoping for a bit more).