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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  Camry Rocks - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By Michael Canning - October 16 - 4:55 am

  Excellent reliable sedan. Great value.

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  Love this Hybrid! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Chris - October 16 - 2:23 am

  Very well rounded vehicle & fun to drive. I put 1000 miles on this car in the 1st week and it saves me $10 /week on gas versus my old car.

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  My Little Red Truck - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Becki - October 16 - 12:56 am

  This is an awesome truck. The new body style is very handsome. I also like that the truck is bigger than before. Fuel mileage is wonderful, especially due to gas prices these days. The dashboard is very nice in appearance & functioning. The interior is quite roomy, and comfortable. The truck handles well and responds nicely when need be. We purchased the LWB and it is very handsome on the truck. The ride is like you are in a cadillac. This is the only vehicle Ive ever had that has the audio controls on the steering wheel and I must say thats a good place for them. I most of all enjoy the fact that I can sit in the drivers seat and reach whatever I need without having to stretch.

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  Got one of the last ones - 2005 Toyota Celica
  By RakNRoll1 - October 15 - 11:46 pm

  I love my Celica!!! Even though the front shimmies at speeds over 80 it handles like a dream. It does take a little "umph" to get up and running due to small engine but once going it runs w/the BEST. I average 31mpg in city and love that even more. I only wish I knew about the side airbag option when I bought it. As for reliability ... its a Toyota, nuff said.

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  Wonderful Vehicle - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Nat - October 15 - 9:46 pm

  Have 22,000 miles on car. Power is great, transmission shifts are smooth and accurate. Gas mileage is 28 mpg on combined and 32 when we were on trip of 100 miles. Had some rattles on dash speaker covers which dealer fixed completely. Tires look almost new at 22,000 miles. Very comfortable car. I am 55 and have owned about 25 new cars. This is one of the nicest and trouble free vehicles I have owned. I highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Great car and value - 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By elker1 - October 15 - 8:44 pm

  With a new business requiring 140 mile round trip 5 days a week, I had to get a vehicle with great gas milage. I am a big guy and wanted something comfortable and able to haul people when needed. Had my sights on the Camry Hybrid and test drove it. Was ok but kind of blah sitting next to the Avalon. Decided to try the Avalon Hybrid as well. Comparably equipped the touring Avalon is about a 5k dollar upgrade but that is a great value! Interior and exterior styling is a huge improvement over the Camry plus some great extra features like the side mirror monitoring that lets you know when car is in your blind spots on freeway or multi laned roads.

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  Great car 2012 camry es - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By Joe Vosilla - October 15 - 4:21 am

  Great gas mileage and very reliable. Comfortable ride.

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  Solid and dependable - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Jeff - October 15 - 3:48 am

  Highs: solid mid size SUV that hauls people and gear effortlessly and comfortably. Tows pretty well too. Reliability is great except the factory JBL started shorting out and drawing down battery. Lows: factory stereo, sluggish steering. Update: the JBL stereo finally failed and had to have it replaced with something far better (and doesnt drain the battery). The vehicle is going strong at 150K miles and showing no signs of letting up. I am very glad I made this purchase 11 years ago.

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  Love it - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By jeff - October 15 - 3:36 am

  Love the truck for the price. Got the base model with automatic. No complaints. Would have been nice if Toyota would have added wiper delay as part of the BASIC package like almost everyone else. That part is annoying. Have bench seats. Would have liked bucket but like I said I got the base model. It was priced lower than any other truck in its size. And hey its a Toyota. It will run forever. Nuff said

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  Toyota Tundra - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By Greg Jensen - October 14 - 9:20 pm

  I have 55000 miles on my Tundra and have never had to bring it in for repairs. Not even a recall! This truck has plenty of power and feels solid as a rock! No rattles or viabrations. Excellent mileage when not towing. Average around 17 MPG.