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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  Love it ! - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By M. Pickus - October 29 - 10:00 am

  We purchased out Highlander Limited on 10/18/11 and love it. The build quality is fantastic, it drive and handles great. The integrated Navigation, Bluetooth and JBL sound system are fun to use. The power front seats are very comfortable. Deland Toyota did a great job on providing us a great SUV at a Great Price.

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  Really Like The Rav - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By bg1811 - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I just leased a 2010 RAV4 Limited FWD I-4 last week (for my wife). I was concerned about some of the negative comments about this vehicle. I leased it in New Orleans and then drove it 570 miles back to my home in Kentucky. I drove up US 61 through the Delta to keep from driving a constant speed on the interstate. My car is a 2007 Cadillac Escalade and I didnt find this car to be any louder than the Caddy. I got 29.7 mpg which I think is great. I also found the seats to be very comfortable. The interior trim is very acceptable for this price range IMO.

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  An Amazing Camry - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Crystal - October 29 - 10:00 am

  The camry is a smooth and comfortable mid size sedan. It is reasonably priced and it is very classy. The engine is great I have always and only purchased Toyotas. They run for an extremely long time and have minimal problems compared to other brands. I have purchased over 8 Toyotas in the past two years and still own all of them. You cant go wrong with the camry if you want reliable this is the perfect car.

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  By far the best vehicle Ive owned!! - 2014 Toyota Tacoma
  By Brian - October 29 - 9:40 am

  If you want a very dependable truck that will do all the things you need a mid sized truck to do dont look anywhere else. My 2014 Toyota Tacoma is solid. Ive had the truck 3 years and I have 90,000 miles on it. Not a problem with it to date. I think actually it runs and drives now like the day I picked it up off the lot in 2014. I tow a 18 foot bass boat all over the country with it and havent had an issue. Im still on the original breaks with 40% left on the pads. Toyota is all about quality and dependable product. Ill never buy anything else!!

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  2010 better than expected - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By bwilson4web - October 28 - 10:03 am

  Measured MPG: 67 MPG@ 50 mph; 62 MPG@ 60 mph; 55 MPG@ 65 mph; 52 MPG@ 70 mph; 49 MPG@ 75 mph; 39 MPG@ 80 mph. Very quiet with plenty of power; huge interior space; the best car weve ever owned. Comfort, quality, and affordable, we are very happy. It replaced a 2001 Echo and shares driveway space with a 2003 Prius and 1993 Coachman RV. Unlike the Honda Insight, I dont bang my head getting in and feel like Im in a coffin. Unlike the Jetta TDI, the Prius automatic city mileage is better than 65 MPG. Try city driving in a Jetta TDI automatic if you like buying a lot of fuel.

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  Awesome SUV! - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By Susanne - October 28 - 1:16 am

  Sporty and large yet doesnt look like a soccer mom car. Smooth ride and very reliable.

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  V6 Sport Owner in LA - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By V6 Spt. in LA - October 28 - 12:20 am

  Excellent acceleration off the line... Sequential transmission is extremely responsive. This car is very similar to its cousin (IS 300) by Lexus.

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  Best pickup Ive ever owned. - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By mufasa26 - October 27 - 3:16 pm

  I absolutely love this pickup. I had just purchased an 07 chevrolet silverado about 4 months ago, just got this, and am now wondering why I ever bought the Chevy. It has much better acceleration, more stylish, more towing, more payload, and overall better build quality also. I never much cared for the Tundras til this year, when they gave it a face lift. Its now bigger and beefier than ever. Im a big guy, 64" 265 lbs, and I fit in it a whole lot better than I did the Chevy. It has a lot more interior space, and I love the floor shifter.

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  Camry? Wow! - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Realistic1 - October 26 - 9:33 pm

  SE has a great ride, awesome suspension, not as soft as the other trims, but much more fun and definitrly worth it. Good looks and lots of compliments, but that aside, this is a solid car. You can feel the quality everywhere. Plenty of room, power and extras. This is the type of car that you can be impressed with from reading about it, but driving one will sell you on it.

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  It is a great reliable car - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By karina rutova - October 26 - 8:50 pm

  I had it for six years and had only one problem with it. One of the the automatic window stopped working, but repair was unexpensive. The car in general is very reliable. While having it, I didnt care too much about gas prices going up because it is an economy car. I recommend this car.