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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  Best Truck on the Market! - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Skittles - July 15 - 12:10 pm

  Ive had numerous Toyota trucks and 4runners in my life. I have to say this truck is by far the best, hands down. The interior is very roomy and there are storage throughout. I purchased the top of the line model, TRD Offroad package, with the Bluetooth and reverse camera. AWESOME features that are new to 2009. Love the LED taillights which are essential for the reverse camera at night. I also love the new Magnetic Gray color, which puzzles me why this color was never available on Tacomas before. This truck has exceeded all my expectations and I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone in the market for a mid-size truck. The only negative is the high price.

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  Great car, but for the nav system - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Doug - July 15 - 10:26 am

  This car is quiet, comfortable and great for the environment. It ha lots of great options, features that integrate well together. The Bluetooth and the nav system work very well together. The biggest problem is that most of the operations of the nav system and the phone are disabled when moving. This means that a user has to pull over, sometimes into a dangerous place, in order to operate these features. Older versions allowed for an override, but the current version does not. It should be the consumers choice to operate while driving, or to pull over, whichever is the safer option.

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  MONSTER - 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By monster_tank_elephan - July 15 - 10:00 am

  I will tell you haw it is: Suspension not that smooth, some reviews are telling “riding like on air”, NOT All wheel drive, all the time, eats more gas and that why most are complaining about GAS, but all wheel drive makes this car stable on the turns. Only 230hp, need more? get supercharger from Toyota TRD will give ya +30% hp. Price $55K not worth it get a use one for 30K same thing just same a lot on $$. Stereo system is not that wof- wof put a custom one. And the one that I have, makes wind noise from the from a front window. I thing if you looking for comfort, style, reliability, fun to drive this is the car ya.

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  Great Car - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By drl1958 - July 15 - 10:00 am

  Great ride. Very dependable. Good gas mileage. Comfortable.

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  My review of the best truck ever! - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By SRakaSSS - July 15 - 10:00 am

  This truck has been my favorite of all time. I have always had a Toyota truck and always will. This truck and my previous truck have never let me down. Everything about it is great. The reliabilty of these motors will outlast any motor on the market today. 5 thumbs up.

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  I dont think this thing will ever die - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By Nathan - July 15 - 8:46 am

  I bought this car for $3600 July 2016 with 71k miles on it. I have the 4 cylinder automatic sedan. The 4 cylinder has plenty of power and I never feel wanting for the V6 which consumes more gas by a fair bit. The fuel mileage of this car in the city is rather poor (I get between 16-17 MPG and about 270-280 miles per tank in my regular driving which is all city driving) but the highway fuel mileage is much better. Ive driven 320 miles on the current tank, about 150 of those miles being freeway miles this time around. The car is heavy for the time and rolls around a lot. The brakes are lacking and even driving with overdrive off still results in a bit of a tough time stopping. When I drive other cars I find I end up braking too early. This car is incredibly reliable with the only thing having gone wrong in the lifetime of the car being the drivers door window regulator which Ive replaced 3 times in the last year. Im 18 years old and male and paid about $120 per month for insurance before turning 18 where I now pay about $90 with State Farm. Very easy to service yourself and parts are incredibly cheap. The car is super comfy. I drove 150 miles round trip yesterday and the nice cool A/C and quiet ride made for an easy time with 4 people in the car.

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  I dont think this thing will ever die - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By Nathan - July 15 - 8:46 am

  I bought this car for $3600 July 2016 with 71k miles on it. I have the 4 cylinder automatic sedan. The 4 cylinder has plenty of power and I never feel wanting for the V6 which consumes more gas by a fair bit. The fuel mileage of this car in the city is rather poor (I get between 16-17 MPG and about 270-280 miles per tank in my regular driving which is all city driving) but the highway fuel mileage is much better. Ive driven 320 miles on the current tank, about 150 of those miles being freeway miles this time around. The car is heavy for the time and rolls around a lot. The brakes are lacking and even driving with overdrive off still results in a bit of a tough time stopping. When I drive other cars I find I end up braking too early. This car is incredibly reliable with the only thing having gone wrong in the lifetime of the car being the drivers door window regulator which Ive replaced 3 times in the last year. Im 18 years old and male and paid about $120 per month for insurance before turning 18 where I now pay about $90 with State Farm. Very easy to service yourself and parts are incredibly cheap. The car is super comfy. I drove 150 miles round trip yesterday and the nice cool A/C and quiet ride made for an easy time with 4 people in the car.

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  Best Truck Ever - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Adrian - July 15 - 6:36 am

  This is the best truck Ive ever had. Looks great, runs great and everyone wants one. Increased horsepower and the composite bed make this the best truck on the road.

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  LOVE IT!!!! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By w0lfgh0st - July 14 - 11:30 pm

  I needed to replace my Echo and this is the perfect car for anyone. Its surprisingly sporty in the manual and is far more comfortable than it looks like it would be. I couldnt be happier! Plus, its a Toyota, so you know youre getting something good!

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  Toyota Prius 2004 - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By erwin freund - July 14 - 9:20 pm

  This vehicle has electronic controls and features only found in high end model cars. The hybrid mechanism switches flawlessly on the fly between the gas and electric power. The car drives and feels stable at high speed, up to 90 mph in my case. The MPG is less than the advertised number but that is due to the EPA using a flawed protocol that yield misleading information about all cars. The design appeals to me as it represents a futuristic concept but it is certainly does not have a cool look. The interior is well laid out and practical but sparse. The sound system is superb. I would buy this car again, which sadly is not the case with some of the other cars I purchased.