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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  WOW! Amazing Vehicle - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By nissa - January 18 - 2:00 am

  This is my first SUV, so I took my time to research all the possibilities. In my search for a quality vehicle, the Sequoia was several notches above the rest. I would suggest the Sequoia anyday if you could afford it! But it is well worth the money.

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  Best Truck (Vehicle) Ever Owned - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By polliar1 - January 17 - 7:03 pm

  Besides trying to boost the value of my Toyota Tacoma, I thought Id let you know this is by far the best truck Ive ever owned. 82K miles and still drives better than the day I purchased this used vehicle.

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  I LOVE My Toyota - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Arlene - January 17 - 1:40 pm

  The fabulous thing about the Corolla is that although there have been exterior design changes the manufacturer had the great sense never to change the interior layout. There isnt that fumbling around trying to locate thing on the dash board and controls, everything is right where it was on your last Corolla. All you have to do is drive and enjoy!

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  Best Truck Ever 2018 Sequioa Limited - 2018 Toyota Sequoia
  By W Joyce - January 17 - 11:16 am

  Almost 5,000 miles not one problem. Gas is a little better than my 2013 Sequioa. Only one problem with my 2013 and 80,000 miles the door hinge got broken when a Hugh gust of wind hit the door. Toyota should make a heavy duty hinge. Back to the 2018 I like the design and the handling, preformance and quality. I had 6 Chevy Suburbans that fell apart after 50,000 miles. I get 17 MPG Suburban driving and approx 18 MPG HWY. I did get 20+ on one tank HWY driving must have been the wind pushing me. All in All love my truck.

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  A+ - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By tony22r - January 17 - 10:00 am

  Easy to drive, effortless power steering, great view from the drivers seat even for short drivers. Seats 7 comfortably with room to spare. The CE is fully loaded with all the creature comforts; power windows, power locks, power side mirrors, keyless entry alarm, front/rear AC, dual sliding doors, roof rack, CD/cassette, 6-way adjustable seats, tilt steering, cup holders everywhere! The whole 9 yards! Plush suspension offers luxurious ride, yet handling is nimble and quick. 3.0L DOHC V6 can easily pull the Sienna up long steep hills at 100mph loaded with cargo and 7 passengers. Reliable, roomy, oozing with high build quality, features, and Lexus-like ride.

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  So Far - So Good - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By bleubyu - January 17 - 5:50 am

  Although I have not had the HL for very long, I know I made the right choice. I was previously considering the CRV and new RAV4, but the HL flat out blows them into the weeds in terms of comfort and utility. The Limited Model with leather seats and a few other options is basically a Lexus 330 for $12k less. Toyota is aggressively pricing these puppies. Materials and workmanship seem excellent. Sound system is very good. I needed one totally practical vehicle in the line-up and the HL nails it!

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  The Ecology and Economy Car! - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By chinoloco93 - January 16 - 9:56 pm

  When gas prices hit 4 bucks a gallon in San Francisco area, that was it. Bye bye Lexus, Hello Prius. Since I am a Lexus owner, was already familiar with Toyota build and quality. I learned to drive without the lead foot and after a week, I am still at 51 mpg. It is important to use the cruise control when trying to coax a few more mpg on the freeway. My wife and I find the car very fun to drive. We look at the energy and the consumption gauges frequently and try to stay over 50 MPG. Love it.

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  I LOVE My Corolla! - 2012 Toyota Corolla
  By wolf_buck - January 16 - 4:10 pm

  For someone on a budget that wanted a "new" car, the Corolla fit the bill perfectly. The cost of ownership is extremely low. Almost zero maintenance required throughout its life. The interior is relatively spacious for such a small car. I dont find anything to feel "cheap" though almost everything is plastic. My interior is black so maybe that helps make it look more classy. The ride quality is superb. The cabin is QUIET and the car soaks up most large bumps. Mine is a 5-speed so maybe that helps with the fun factor. I also have the S model (black exterior) which really improves the cars appearance. Im VERY happy with my purchase! Dont let these bad reviews put you off!!

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  Good lil Truck - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By tacoma nerd - January 16 - 7:13 am

  I downsized from a full size truck with a V8 to the single cab Tacoma 4 cylinder - I lost interior room but gained great resale value and good exterior styling. The 2.7L has plenty of power for everyday use plus good fuel efficiency, averaging around 22MPG. I got the stripped down model w/ manual transmission - which is fun to drive around town and felt a lot smoother than the Automatic transmission. Overall very happy to be back in a Tacoma.

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  The most wanted SUV - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ron - January 16 - 12:46 am

  I can see why EdmundÂ’s voted it most wanted. I waited almost two months to get the color combination I wanted. As soon as one hit the lot it was sold the same day. Well I finally got one and it was well worth the wait. It rides great for a rear axle SUV and the engine performance far better than my old Jeep. It has so many standard features IÂ’m still learning them. I really like the fuel economy. So far IÂ’m averaging 20.9 miles per gallon city/hwy. IÂ’m glad I got it.