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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  This hybrid is a Real Car. - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By bobdavisnpf - December 5 - 10:00 am

  Rides nice and high; drivers eyes are above most passenger cars and only a couple inches below most minivans. Interior is very, very quiet. Ideal for folks who must use cellphones (dont forget your handsfree device). More roomy than a Corolla. Easily fits 5 full-size men for a trip to the local lunch spot. Family of 4 is comfortable for multi-hour drives. This car weighs over 3200 pounds. You will not be blown around on the road, no matter how close that semi-truck gets.

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  Cool technology - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By Another Matt - December 5 - 10:00 am

  This car definitely delivers on its mileage promise. Like other reviewers, Ive been getting about 45-50 mpg in regular driving. The most impressive mileage I got was 53 on a roughly 500 mile journey -- did the whole thing with one tank of gas. Mileage seems to vary with weather (the engine runs more in the cold). I looked up a bunch of the patents behind this car. Man those guys are clever. The connection between the gas engine and electric motor is truly elegant.

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  Living up to reputation - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By Muddy Hollow - December 5 - 10:00 am

  I have never owned a Toyota before and have been driving sport-utes for most of my adult life. Toyota has a great reputation and when I finally decided to buy a truck it was an easy choice to rule out the domestic options since their build quality is lacking, Ford would rank second in my opinion. Fit, finish, and driving experience exceed expecation with this truck. More carlike than trucklike and loads of power. Ergonomics are great compared to my wifes Land Rover.

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  Love this vehicle - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Linda Paul - December 5 - 10:00 am

  We have owned our Highlander for just over a month. We can honestly say this is the best vehicle we have ever owned. We absolutely love to drive it. It is absolutely a gorgeous looking SUV. Love the comfort and ride and handling. It has wonderful get up and go and great visibilty. My husband is tall and he loves the leg room. We havent found one single thing wrong with this vehicle - even our gas mileage has been good considering we drive up and down hills all day - 20.5 on first tank - havent taken it on a real trip yet. Also, Magnussens Toyota is wonderful dealershp to deal with.

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  I LOVE IT!! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Liza - December 5 - 8:16 am

  425 miles and i still had a bar left on my fuel tank, this is the best car to have when you have to travel 68 miles to and from work everyday! i even went as high as 60/mpg, oh yes, i put that $4000.00 battery to use baby!!

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  #1 van - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Sam - December 4 - 9:56 pm

  We thought about buying the Honda, but with no All Wheel Drive - why bother? I love this van and I dont even like vans to begin with. This is a superior vehicle.

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  2006 RAV4 Limited V6 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By silverphx - December 4 - 7:03 pm

  This car is very fun to drive. I love the pick-up/speed it has. I love its small size (easy to park/maneuver in traffic, etc), but it also offer a lot of power. I love the 3rd row seat/fold flat capability.

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  2008 Toy - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By A Real SUV!!! - December 4 - 1:23 am

  Love this truck, bought it 500 miles ago. I had a Ford expedition that I got rid of when gas hit almost $5.00 a gallon. I went to a Cherokee sport which was just as bad, then I went to 2009 Toyota matrix, which was beautiful on gas, but I was very unhappy with the limited space. 10 months later I traded in the matrix for the sequoia (best investment I made!). I dont care if gas hits $10.00 a gallon - its worth it & if you put super you can get about 14 miles a gallon in the city.

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  VERY NICE DESIGN - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Ron - December 3 - 6:56 pm

  My wife and I test drove several cars, SUVs, and Crossovers before settling in on the RAV4. We found it easy for both of us to get in and out. I am 511" and my wife is 53", yet we can both slide in and out with ease (dont have to grab handles or anything). In the past my wife has been more comfortable driving smaller cars. However, with the RAV4 we both found the visibility exceptional, as well as being very easy to turn and park. We love the cargo room and the easy-to- open rear door. Since this is a vehicle that both of us drive it had to satisfy both of our needs, and it does.

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  Just Turned 200,000! - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By jeds - December 3 - 4:30 pm

  Normal maintenance, some extra cleaning of rear breaks, regular synthetic oil changes. Had one handle break at 120,000. Replaced it myself. Starter replaced at 140,000. Luv the car.