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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  This is The One! - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By H - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle. No negatives. Design and workmanship superior. Dont wait for anything better---this is it!

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  Excellent lil sports coupe - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By Chrissy - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I havent gotten a celica...yet... I have only brought it for a test drive. As soon as I have enough to pay in full so I dont need a loan, dont worrie baby...that coupe will be sitting in my drive way, awaiting to be driven. Amazing Car for under $30,000!!!

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  Top Notch! - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By Zonker - July 12 - 10:00 am

  This is my second 4Runner. It is much improved over my 1990 model (although I never had any problems with my old one). I just hit 60,000 miles and I have not had one mechanical problem, not even a minor one. With normal maintenance, it always seems to run like new. .

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  V-6 5 speed - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Stu2001 - July 12 - 10:00 am

  The car is almost perfect. I have a special order V-6 5-speed with cloth seats, side airbags, power driver seat, 15" aluminum rims, and CD player. Great power, although the springs are a little soft and cause some wheel hop on hard acceleration. Smooth and quiet and you would swear you were in a Lexus. Great build quality. Runs 15.5 secs in 1/4 mile with 2k miles on it.

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  Nimble Driving - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By one-eyed - July 12 - 1:16 am

  The 2001 Toyota Celica GT is a fun to drive, stylish, and fuel effecient vehicle. It has great fuel economy which makes a long commute easier on your wallet, but with sleek styling that doesnt tell others that your driving the vehicle to cushion your savings account. It handles extremely well in navigating sharp turns, and dealing with the various obstacles inherent in city driving.

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  Impressed for my first Toyota - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Greg M - July 11 - 1:13 pm

  This is my first Toyota purchase. I have only owned Hondas before. I wanted to try something different and found the 08 Highlander to be that vehicle. It rides nice and has all the bells and whistles. I like the push button start and the power rear door. The rear door is great when shopping, just push the button and the rear hatch opens. I love the look of the 19 inch wheels also. The JBL stereo sounds awesome.

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  145,000 Miles and Going Strong - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Rod - July 11 - 7:00 am

  Original Owner of my 2001 Tacoma, 145,000 miles no issues at all. Oil changes every 4 to 6,000 miles always used Valvoline 10/30. Live in ABQ so no rust issues. Pre-runner (TRD) with rear locking differential, great for snow and mud. Had some early issues with the front brake rotors but went back to Toyota original parts and issue was resolved. This is a GREAT truck and would recommend it to everyone, they are however very hard to find ($8,000 to $12,000 price tag) now since the 2004 and newer Tacomas are having the accelerator problems with the Toyota recalls. 300,000 mile old school Toyotas will live forever!

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  Smartest and Most Impulsive Decision - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By My Pree - July 10 - 10:46 pm

  I am absolutely in love with my white Prius. It was an impulsive buy on my part. While other dealerships are running wait lists of over a month for the Prius, I found my car sitting in the dealership lot. Within 24 hours, I traded in my 3-year old VW Golf that was giving me more headaches for a brand new Prius. I drove away very happy with my impulsive buy. I am still in awe with my car after 3 weeks!

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  My Second RAV4 - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Linda Kirwin - July 10 - 7:04 pm

  This is my second RAV4 after driving a 2005 RAV LE for 12 years. I had no problems with the car and decided the flexibility of this model was worth continuing into my next car. I bought a CPO RAV4 2015 XLE. Lots of additional features on this one of course and the same solid vehicle I am used to. Visibility is slightly worse in the newer RAVs since they changed the design to eliminate that rear door and replace it with the lift gate. I am still adjusting to some of the changes but overall this is a great and reliable car. The seats now fold almost flat in the rear to create a cargo hold rather than having to remove them entirely. This is a plus. The rear seats also recline, it may be one of the most comfortable back seats out there. The ride is smooth (although in my case the shocks are also newer, have to consider that!). Cup holder is better, it is deep well works fine and does not have any parts that need to be adjusted around your cup. Many added safety features compared to the 2005 and this is something I really like too.

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  I love my Rav4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Sandy - July 10 - 5:26 pm

  The engine is super responsive. I have chosen 3rd row seat for the occasional use with friends or grandkids. Getting anywhere between 21.5 and 23.5 miles per gallon dependent on weather, highway etc. We have had good results with past two 4Runners and Tacoma so I trust Toyota as a good value. We were looking at other brands until they changed the design of the Rav4 that met my needs exactly! I Love my Rav4