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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  No Other Truck Compares - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Bill Hinman - April 25 - 3:16 pm

  Bought 2007 Tundra new for significantly less than I could have bought a comparable Hemi Double Cab. I currently have 181,000 miles on it and the only fix was the water pump which Toyota covered on warrantee at 96K miles. I have towed an 8K camper from VT to SC twice and although the mileage was terrible (8MPH) no issues to date. I have replaced the brake pads twice and rotors once. All other people I know that own ford, chevy or dodge have replaced wheel bearings, tierod ends, and brakes every 25k miles. This truck is the real deal no matter what anyone says.

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  4 runner - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By NC007 - April 25 - 11:20 am

  SUV is all around fun to drive, I used to own a 2000 4 runner limited. Its literally like night and day, especially the past two winters. The VSC and traction control make driving fun in the worst weather. The SUV is roomier and the ergonomics are great.

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  Car of the Future is here - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By xkater - April 25 - 10:00 am

  The Prius is amazing. It uses the best combination of engine, electric motor and battery to propell the itself. It recovers energy during braking and it minimizes engine use while stopped. I average 45 mi/gallon in the city and about 50 miles per gallon while traveling long distances. It is gentler to the environment and to my pocket.

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  MY BEST CAR - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By NEWBABE - April 25 - 10:00 am

  EXELENT CAR AND ECONOMIC IS FUN DRIVE THIS CAR

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  Best Car I have ever owned!! - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By Liz in MD - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle after owning 2 previous Toyotas that I was very pleased with. This is my favorite Toyota YET!! I am constantly told what a comfortable vehicle the Highlander is by all of my passengers. I recently added a baby to the family and the carseat works so well. Other friends are always complaining about how difficult it is to get their carseat in correctly and how the front seat has no room once the babyseat is installed. I have NONE of these problems with the Highlander. I bought this car from Jerrys Toyota in Maryland and the dealership was so great to do business with.

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  TOO MANY CAMRYS - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Elxtra - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Just got tired of seeing Camrys. I purchased my 2004 Solara SLE 9-1-03. I am very pleased with the car, it is quiet and smooth. Turns corners tight. Plenty of room and driver seat adjust nicely. Center console is large and two- tiered. Interior is sweet. All the fancy stuff. I know 3 days is not enough time to provide a in-depth review, Ill be back......

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  Worth IT!! - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Doggs - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Great truck. But it is a truck, not a cute car with big tires. Rides great. No need for the V 8 unless you are towing somthing big. The V 6 has some serious pick up... Great gas milage for a 4WD V6 - We are getting about 21 MPG...

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  Better Than the Lexus - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By jmarcus - April 25 - 10:00 am

  As a Lexus driver I was disappointed in the RX330 as it has a new engine and new transmission and absolutely no low-end torque. Trying to merge onto the highway is almost impossible. The 2003 Toyota Highlander had the exact engine and transmission combination that I enjoyed in the RX300. The interior is even nicer than the RX300 interior and the purchase price is about $10,000 dollars less. If you look under the hood you couldnt tell which car was which.

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  Good Car so far at only1050 miles total. - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Frank M. - April 25 - 1:00 am

  Since our 99 Civic was totaled while stopped at a red light, I decided to look around at other brands of cars: After examining everything on the market, I bought a new 09 Corolla LE. Why? Toyotas reputation for reliability is seldom matched, and competing brands werent outstanding. Its a solid feeling car that performs as well or better than almost any other economy vehicle. The mileage is superb: with about a half-and-half mix of heavy town traffic and mountain driving, it has averaged 35.8 MPG! Much better than advertised. I dont shove my foot through the gas pedal, but it keeps up with traffic just fine. The "Hot Car" magazines may pan it, but average drivers will be happy.

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  Love - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Sbw - April 24 - 10:26 pm

  I just got it and Im in love! The very first thing I noticed was the blind spots but I will deal since I have the rear sensors. Mine is loaded and its perfect! I was surprised at how smooth and comfortable it is. I cant wait to get it off the road!