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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  Superb SUV - 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By crk - November 24 - 9:53 am

  This Land Cruiser is our 4th Toyota and I just cant say enough good things about this vehicle. We bought it with safety being our top priority and I feel very safe driving it; there are airbags everywhere and the car drives very stable. In turns, it does not feel top heavy and it accelerates well for the size of the vehicle. We have NEVER had any mechanical issues and that says a lot for a vehicle with some many extra luxury items; EXTREMELY reliable. I concur with the majority of the reviews, paying a few extra dollars in gas per tank is an insurance policy for reliability and safety!

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  4running wild - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mark Maggio - November 23 - 1:50 pm

  I am now a converted Toyota owner. The feel of the vehicle is excellent and the quality and finish are top notch. It is a fun ride that handles like a champ in the snow and the mud. Driving has not been this fun in a long time.

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  This is my 15 year car! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Jason - November 23 - 3:43 am

  I have had this car for 2 days and love it. I am 6’2” tall, and I fit in the back seat fine, I own the car of course so drive in it. The car is zippy. I call it my little Buzz Buzz. No problem in corners, acceleration is nice (I have the 5 speed manual) and I do not think the price can be beat. It is everything the Echo should have been (and could have been since it shares the platform with the Echo and the Scion xA). For weighing less than 2300 lbs, it does not feel terribly light, but I have not driven it in a wind storm yet. I commute about 30 miles a day and no problems. The interior build quality is fantastic! Not to mention I get 3 glove boxes, a little waste bin, and 5 cup holders.

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  Great Truck!! - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By John M. - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 1997 2WD extended cab Tacoma brand new in Jan. 97. The truck now has 210,000 problem free miles. My truck has been super reliable. The 2.4L 4 cyl. doesnt burn any oil, and the original clutch still works perfect. I highly recommend the Toyota truck.

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  One good car - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By devil dog - November 23 - 2:00 am

  The Avalon is a great vehicle, all the comforts one would want and the drive a car should have. Wife an daughter love the look.

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  Hate it or love it - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By gorav4 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Love the car in terms of the inter/exter design and handling. Hate the price of the car and initial quality. Maybe I care too much about the quality, but that is one of the major reasons I bought the car. It is not fun to bring car back to dealer even for warranty services. In addtion, this car really need a V6 engine to be perfect although 4 handles majority of the task really well. Hum, maybe I should nt make that wish since mpg was the other reason I bought RAV4. Or I should be smart enough to get a Hightlander or RX300. Anyway, compare to my old buddy - 94 camry, RAV4 is much better.

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  AWESOME CAR!!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By judge_a - November 23 - 2:00 am

  This car is awesome! i love it!!!

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  Extremely Impressed! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Dr Memory - November 23 - 12:33 am

  What a vehicle! Why would you purchase a Lexus when you can have this at thousands less? This is the most well- rounded car for the $ you are going to find. Smooth, quiet, fast and comfortable, with Toyota quality to boot. Im extremely picky when it comes to cars and I havent found much of anything that is an issue with this one. Test drive one and youll see what I mean.

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  hybrid holiday - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By bill prinz - November 22 - 9:33 pm

  Its not overly responsive but quick and friendly, fun. Small turning circle very easy to manage down the road. No real issues looks great. I find myself trying to manage great mileage numbers and therefor it slows down my driving a tad. No lack of acceleration.

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  ECONOMICAL - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By RICHARD ROSAS - November 22 - 9:04 pm

  GREAT ON GAS AND PICKUP NOT COMFY NOR ROOMY BUT WONT LEAVE YOU STRANDED!