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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  corolla 2003 - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By lincoln - October 31 - 10:00 am

  it`s my best buy ever

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  Best Heavy 1/2 ton ever! - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By john - October 31 - 9:16 am

  If you wanna turn heads with the trucks sharp looks and impress passengers with its raw power, buy a tundra withthe 5.7L V8. This truck has ridiculous power but should really have a Lexus badge on it because the ride quality is second to none.

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  Nice Solid Car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By megawill - October 31 - 5:43 am

  Seats are comfortable although driving position could be made more comfortable for different body types by having a telescoping steering wheel and a few more notches in seat rail. Most of my driving is on the highway and Ive been averaging between 34 and 35 miles per gallon so far. This is more than most competitors offer with a stick. No problems so far with the Goodyear Integrity tires or crosswinds that others have complained about, although winter is coming. The car feels solid on the and is actually more comfortable to drive than the 2002 Sable that I traded in for it. Very happy so far, I plan on owning this one for quite awhile.

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  Too new to tell - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Skip - October 31 - 4:30 am

  I am very impressed with vehicles performance to economy ratio, although I only have driven it 500 miles. Would like to re-review in about 6 months.

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  3000 Mile Review - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Dennis Baszynski - October 31 - 1:57 am

  This is an addition to my earlier review tiled "2000 Mile Review" shortly after I wrote my review, I continued to improve the MPG of the RAV4. I reached 29.9 MPG and was about to take my first trip in it. I immediately got 30 mpg as I entered the expressway, which meant I was at the cusp of getting there. I suggest another decimal point be added to the instrumentation. After 4 hours of driving I was at 30.1. I ended the whole trip at 30.2 MPG average which I think is great! The dealer originally told me I should get 24-25 MPG. The visibility all around is great. The seats are great because my legs did not go numb or feel any tingling in them like some vehicles I owned in the past. Cargo space was great. There was very little noise the entire way. Acceleration was adequate. I love the cruise control. I can do all the highway driving with that and not have to use the gas pedal for hours. The vehicle does let me know if I am straying out of my lane just because it is that sensitive. Most vehicles I cannot feel it if I am going out of my lane. I also climbed several dirt hills to take a short cut and the RAV4 did just fine. Overall I am still very happy with the purchase.

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  Need to improve build quality - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By eric - October 30 - 10:43 pm

  Only have the car a less than a month, already hear rattling noise right under the windshield; this noise goes away when I press down the panels (panels on both driver and passager sides are loose!!). Very disappointed.

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  Best in its class - by far - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By jsotis - October 30 - 9:46 pm

  What a phenomenal vehicle! All Expedition/Tahoe/Suburban shoppers do yourselves a favor and test drive the Sequoia. The differences will be glaringly obvious including the interior features, the convenience and placement of the dashboard knobs/buttons, the purr of the V8 engine and the sleek exterior design.

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  sharp car - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By wasssupp - October 30 - 4:46 pm

  sharp styling, handling, brakes, and fast-peppy engine

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  Not as good as past Toyotas - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By Nunya - October 30 - 1:53 pm

  Ive had 2 Toyotas in the past, and the new ones are living on that reputation. Its still a great truck compared to the other low quality trucks on the market, but still not even close to the same quality as past Toyotas. The 18 MPG really stinks, especially for a V- 6, the cargo light has to be turned off before getting out of the truck to keep from running the batt. down., the seatbelts seem really cheap, the paint seems very thin, and brittle, the cheap plastic tailgate handle broke and costs a fortune to replace. Its still a good truck, but like others here I just expected a heck of a lot more out of Toyota than this. IMHO we keep buying higher $$$ for cheaper quality. Will we learn?

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  2005 Toyota Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By wayneswhirld - October 30 - 1:16 pm

  This vehicle has exceeded my expectations. Fuel economy is better than I expected (52-54 MPG) considering driving in an often hilly terrain. Quiet and smooth ride. Love the tech innovations. The Consumption display has changed how I drive. In a world where we are faced with issues of pollution and global warming, and reliance on fossil fuels and the related political implications of oil influencing our foreign policy, this car is a great alternative for a better world. Therefore, to me it is so worth spending thousands more for a company like Toyota to reward them for all the developmental costs they put into hybrid technology.