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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  What a truck. - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By fj80 - June 27 - 4:08 am

  Perfect all around truck, great gas millage and reliability.

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  New hybrid, the future is here - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Mike - June 27 - 1:43 am

  Well, we went to get a used camry as our new 3rd car in the family and we happened to find a prius in the lot. fate had intervened! as a big-time commuter, 80 miles/day, it became a no- brainer; ive been averaging 53 mpg. the interior is very roomy and the large windshield provides excellent sight lines. when its on battery power it feels like im in stealth mode because it is so damn quiet. i cant imagine that in 10+ years, 1/2 the cars on the road wont be hybrids. i feel privileged to help lead the way.

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  The Little Car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By bushleague - June 26 - 8:06 pm

  After taking care of my neighbors 1995 Corolla for 14 years I simply had to buy one. This car is everything that the 95 is and more since Toyota listens. It has more power, an adjustable driver seat, interior and truck lighting.

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  AWESOME CAR! - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Nicole - June 26 - 6:10 pm

  I just got my 2008 Highlander today and Im very excited! I traded an Audi A4 and have never had an SUV. I drove a lot of the smaller SUVs: CR-V, Santa Fe, Rogue and Rav4. None of those got me excited. Then I discovered the base model Highlander is in the same price range as the higher end models of these smaller SUVs and ROCKS compared to the others. Its like night & day. I did have to sacrifice some of the fancy gadgets that I may have been able to afford on the others, but I felt it was well worth it to have a car that I really loved inside and out. The base model Highlander is very well equipped for those on a budget and the gas mileage is about the same as the smaller SUVs.

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  07 avalon limited - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Bill - June 26 - 10:30 am

  Quiet ride. Has much more overall room inside than my previous vehicle (Camry.) More horsepower and I have no initial complaints.

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  Great truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bigcoz43 - June 26 - 4:56 am

  Had a Chev. S-10 that fell apart driving down the road. Traded it for the Toyota and never had a problem. Just oil changes and normal maintenance. What a great truck.

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  Start Saving Money and Have Fun - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Gas Sipper - June 26 - 12:36 am

  I bought the Yaris as a commuter. My Dodge Hemi Pickup now is my "utility" vehicle for trips and weekends. The Yaris has completely surprised me; not only am I saving $200+ per month on gas, I am really enjoying driving it. I have the bare bones model; power nothing, not even a radio. It is amazingly peppy and handles great. It it totally simple and utilitarian, yet safe and fun. Theyre hard to find in some areas, so start looking now.

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  Delighted With Our Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Gail - June 25 - 9:03 pm

  Not a whit of problems with this car. Has not been back to dealer for any reason since we bought it in August. This is the fourth Camry in this family, and this one seems to be the best of any of them. Congratulations to Toyota for another excellent automobile.

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  Rock Solid - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Mike D - June 25 - 6:53 pm

  This is my 4th Toyota (1st Highlander), after 1 Corolla & 2 Camrys prior. All stellar. I am not an impulsive buyer and not made out of money, so researched this purchase thoroughly. With Toyotas build quality, could not see spending big $ on a new one, or even a 3-year-old off lease model. Have only owned for about a month. Car has 52K miles & is ROCK SOLID, much as I had suspected it would be. At 7 years old, it drives like its brand new. Will go to 200K miles no doubt.

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  Great SUV! - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Great SUV! - June 25 - 12:40 pm

  I owned a Jeep grand Cherokee limited and now this SUV. Love the extra room and the 3rd row. Miss the leather seats...guess once you own a limited its hard to give up all those extra options. So easy to get the kids in and out and its not a mini van! Wish that you could down load a picture on the screen for the clock/back up camera.