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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  Great SUV - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By HotCorner14 - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Bought the 4Runner at the end of December, couldnt be happier. Excellent vehicle. Had the pleasure of driving in 2 snow storms now and the vehicle handled excellent. Great drive.

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  good but not perfact - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By eshao99 - March 1 - 2:00 am

  I have driven this car for three months, 3900 miles.The 3.3 engine is not powerful as I thought, compared with my 2.3 super charger V6 and 4.2 V8 engine(may be 4AW drive). 5-speed auto transmission is smooth but jump when climb hill in cruise control mode. And sometimes you can feel low gear change when you slowly stop. Its difficult to close the moonroof precisely (shouldnt put tilt and open devices together). There is no way to drive with window or moonroof open (too much noise bounce inside. may be box interior shape?) Car suspension system is good on rough road. Standard stereo system is bad with ugly antenna (you cannot go to auto wash garage).

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  So far sooooo good - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Seminole Fan - March 1 - 2:00 am

  After driving a 2000 Nissan Altima I was so excited to move over to a Camry. I have admired them for years and cant believe how well this one drives. Even though I have only owned it for a week, I can aleady tell we are going to be good friends for many years to come. I like how quiet and smooth it rides. My husband drove a Ford Explorer and the Camry has more room in it than the Explorer. Our family can have a conversation and everyone can hear it. So far...soooo good!

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  I love this car! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Marian - February 29 - 10:40 pm

  Ive had my 2007 Yaris for a year, and I love it. My drive to work is 65 miles round trip per day, so I really needed a fuel efficient car, and this is the perfect fit! Initially I was drawn to the car because it was cute and small and reminded me of the SmartCar, however I was pleasantly surprised by all of the perks! Ive been stopped on multiple occasions by strangers intrigued by the car & can do nothing but brag about it. The backseat leg room is unbelievable, the amount of storage (including all 3 glove boxes) is amazing, & the gas mileage is wonderful. My only complaint is how sensitive the car is to wind on the highway. I love the car!

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  Retired drivers love the Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By kim Padgett - February 29 - 6:23 pm

  My wife and I are both retired and this model fit right into our lifestyle. We love taking trips and our Prius has performed better than we had hoped. It is comfortable and of course economical, and a joy to drive. With gas prices approaching $2.25 a gallon, we are overjoyed at the mileage we are afforded. The seven month wait for delivery of our unit was well worth the wait. I just installed a bra to the front of our Prius yesterday and it looks great.

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  I love my RAV4! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Christine - February 29 - 10:56 am

  I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone! I test drove the Honda CR-V first and it was nice, but too small for me. I test drove the RAV4 and it was PERFECT!

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  Great MPG for half price of Hybrid - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By WantMPG - February 29 - 9:56 am

  I bought this for MPG but got so much more. Great stereo also plays MP3. I am getting 37 city & 46 highway because I drive really S L O W. If I wanted to, I could cruise at 80 miles per hour in silence & comfort & still get great MPG. Absolutely nothing to complain about after 4 months. Quality of construction is like a Rolex. I am so lucky to save so much money with the purchase & mileage. I expect for gas to hit $6 per gallon or more & I am so lucky to be ready.

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  Avalon Review - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Brad Wyatt - February 28 - 11:16 pm

  Best car I have ever owned. Very comfortable, gobs of room, and lots of high tech stuff. In effect it is the makings of a Lexus LS 430 at about half the cost without all the flash. Same people make it and it gets better MPG, uses regular gas, and is only 10 horsepower less. Unless you have money to burn, get this car not an LS. (Although if I had money to burn I would consider the LS.)

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  Hell Yeah!! - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By J. Hawkins - February 28 - 9:20 pm

  I have owned everything from Expeditions to Volvos and I am more pleased with this than any other. The ride is great and at 64" and 300 lbs I am plenty comfortable. Even the 4x2 handles very well off road and can get more places than larger 4x4s. Great for traveling. I have been from GA to WV, NY, and Key West with friends over summer vacation and we were all comfy. Costs about $50 a tank to fill and I get about 365 miles to a tank. One heck of a bang for your buck!! I will be buying another very soon.

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  Excellent - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By fcarre2 - February 28 - 12:04 pm

  Previous Odyssey owner but needed AWD. The difference between the Honda and Toyo products are a wash...+ and - to both...hard to believe people make out the difference to be greater than it is. Owned an Escalade ESV before the switch to minivans and cant believe I even thought the Caddy was a great family car. My wife came around to minivans following the Escalade debacle and never looked back...she is very happy. Minivans are incredibly flexible and easy to live with especially when it comes to parking (good luck parking Escalade in tight spots). Better performance in mtn driving than expected secondary to a well balanced suspension. 6 tall and seats are great