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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  Satisfied new owner - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Ronald Troutman - November 4 - 6:33 am

  Only a short term review. Have had the car only a short time, but find that it is very well built as the other three Toyotas we have owned.

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  Little Workhorse - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By JAD - November 3 - 10:43 pm

  I work in TV in LA and this car has been a great worker. I love zipping around in this little car in the city.I say little but it doesnt feel that way until you go to park it.Its built tall so it feels as spacious and has all the cup holders & storage space of a large car, but with the ease of parking and turning of a small car. Ive read complaints about the center mounted dash...all I can say is "Get back on your rascal Grampa!" This car has great storage, great gas mileage, and can comfortably(YES) fit 4 adults (5 in a a pinch). It even handled admirably on snow when I went to Mt High today.I wish I had the 40/60 seats and cruise control but otherwise the Yaris is perfect.

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  great miles per gal - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By deb - November 3 - 9:10 pm

  we got average miles per gal 31.8 on a trip of 3300 round trip over 400 miles per tank of gas. were able to sleep as need.

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  Always Reliable - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Greg Winegarden - November 3 - 7:36 pm

  Since purchasing our Camry Hybrid back in November 2006, we have had absolutely no problems of any kind with this vehicle. The Camry rides and drives just as well if not better than many other luxury vehicles, but with much better fuel economy. The only strike against the Camry Hybrid would be the loss of trunk space due to battery storage, but overall this is a great vehicle if you are looking for good fuel economy and a fun car to drive. I would highly reccomend this vehicle to anyone that still wants the luxury car ride and ammenities, but still gives you good fuel economy.

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  Smooth and dependable. - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Rob F - November 3 - 7:13 pm

  Never had a beef w/ Toyota. This truly is a baby-lexus. Fully loaded, Its a higher price compared to competitors, but worth every penny. My only regret is not opting for manual trans.

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  Great Powertrain!! - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By Slysnakeman - November 3 - 6:36 pm

  Truck has loads of power and a silky shifting 6 speed tranny. MPG has stayed around 16 overall with about 30% of my driving in the city. Truck steers and tracks exceptional and acceleration is effortless. Overall the ride quality is "good" not great. The rear suspension rides jittery and a bit stiff. Its what I expected from a truck with a 1500 lb. payload and 10,000 lb. towing capacity. Ive really enjoyed the nav/JBL with bluetooth, and the backup camera is very helpful in a truck this size.

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  AWESOME! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By michelle - November 3 - 11:23 am

  I test drove every small to mid sized SUV under the 50K price tag; the V6 Rav4 Sport beat anything else out there. A few came close, but they were 15 to 20K more! With 269HP under the hood, its got a lot of pickup, it handles great, and its a very smooth ride. Ive gotten great gas mileage, better than I had expected. Im impressed with everything about this vehicle.

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  TRD Supercharged XRS - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By TRDSupercharged XRS - November 3 - 10:16 am

  I bought the Corolla XRS and as a birthday present my father had it supercharged it for me at the factory($3,190, the same TRD supercharger available for the tC). I now put out 206 hp and 171 lb.-ft of torque. With the supercharger I now get about 22 to 24 mpg city and close to 34 mpg highway. I also love the shift feel of the five-speed gear box,very smooth. In gloss black my Toyota XRS with tinted windows, interior LED light enhancements and awesomely crisp JBL sound system the car has proven fun and stylish.

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  Exceeding Expectations - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By J. Armstrong - November 3 - 10:06 am

  Just a terrific car - reliable, elegant, comfortable, solid, and sexy without a mid-life crisis look.

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  great truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Tom - November 3 - 8:30 am

  Excellent truck, drives like a small truck with the power and dimensions of a larger truck. Another couple of inches of leg room in the back would be nice.