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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  my truck - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By me123456789 - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Great reliability and gas mileage.

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  airbags do not work!!! - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By kerston vaughn - May 10 - 10:00 am

  I rearended someone in my toyota celica and totaled the front end of my car. I had passenger and driver airbags and neither one of them came out. This car is very dangerous if you rely on your airbags as protection.

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  BEST MIDSIZE SUV - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Frank - May 10 - 4:30 am

  In my experience I cannot say anything bad about this SUV. Very reliable, owned for close to 3 yrs. never had any problem what so ever. Good on snow. Performance wise I cannot complain it had enough power for me when passing or high speed highway driving.

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  Toyota Quality - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By JDA - May 9 - 8:50 am

  I bought this truck new, and it has served me well, quite well. I highly recommend this truck to people who need a truck, but dont need the truck for heavy-duty use; I am a suburban male with dogs, camping equipment, skis, mountain bikes, and I used to have a ski boat. The only problem I have had was with brakes and belt replacement, and the cup holder broke, but was replaced under warranty. There is not much room in the back of the cab, so if you want more room, you should choose a newer model. I have heard this truck referred to as the "Lexus of Trucks" and I have to agree. The most negative aspect of this vehicle is the gas mileage. I average 12-13 in city driving, and 17-18.

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  Happy with My Tundra - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By Jango Barks - May 8 - 12:06 pm

  I bought my Tundra following a terrible front-end collision. Well beyond its crash rating, my Tundra meets my needs beautifully.

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  Above average returns on investment - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Larry - May 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought the vehicle brand new. No major repair bills until now. Ignition coils all need to be replaced - this is a pricey job. Do your routine maintenance and car should be fine, but suggest that you get an extended warranty if you plan to keep it past 5 yrs and 80,000 miles

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  Great Car Corolla S auto. no moonroof - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By ant - May 8 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased this car from dealer in GA for $16,300 included tax/dealer fee. Great car, very reliable just have 100 miles on it.

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  Expensive Repairs - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By David Brandt - May 8 - 3:56 am

  I bought my Avalon two years ago. On the whole, I do like it, but I am not impressed with little things that break, or more to the point, my dealerships response to it. Ever since I bought it, the lever that controls the steering column keeps slipping out of place and steering wheel gives way. Just now, after two years of ownership, the lock assembly on the trunk broke. Because my warranty is on 3/36, I have to pay $450 to have a lock fixed. If Toyota quality is so great, why doesnt the company stand behind its product with a more substantial warranty? Also, why should such a small problem cost so much to fix. A two year old car should not be having these problems. I am not impressed.

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  Best Midsize Truck On The Market - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By beeline - May 5 - 9:40 pm

  Toyota hit a home run with the redesigned Tacoma for 2005. The quality and standard feature set is just fantastic. This truck fits my needs perfectly. Please consider this truck if you want a well built fine looking and great driving vehicle.

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  Extremely dependable - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By premdela - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Weve had this for 6 years, and nothing - not even the smallest thing - has broken or failed on it. There are no rattles, squeaks, or noises that would normally come about as a car breaks in and ages. I am really impressed with the dependability/reliability of this vehicle. So much so that when it came off of lease (a 3 year lease), I bought it instead of trading it in.