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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  Killer Truck - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bryan - July 14 - 7:56 pm

  I bought a new 06 in January. I am very impressed, it is my first Toyota. It is so smooth and easy to drive on the highway. At low speeds 50-60 mph it gets awesome gas mileage. I turn heads everywhere. It sounds good and performs excellent. I like how the oil filter is mounted on the top of the engine for easy removal. It wakes up when I ask it to.

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  Im loving it! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By steve - July 14 - 5:26 pm

  I traded in my 16 mpg SUV (GMC Envoy) last month for the TCH with an advertised 34/33 mpg. Im very happy to report that in 5 fill ups Im averaging 39.8 mpg. Two trips on the PA turnpike reduced my overall, but I was using the cruise and lots of hills going west. Five weeks later IÂ’m still perfecting my driving habits, but I have achieved just over 45 mpg. When I purchased my black TCH they seem to be plentiful, now two of my co- workers have theirs on order. The navigation and information systems along with the Bluetooth are both user friendly and entertaining for the kids. Before the TCH I used to dread the stop and go traffic to and from work now Im loving it!

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  Fantastic car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By LKiller - July 14 - 7:00 am

  When purchasing this car, I had no other choices. Im a 19 year old with limited credit, and no cosigners. I hardly even know how to drive a standard. Once I stepped into this 5 speed Corolla, Im not going to lie, its kept me pleased ever since Ive had it. Gas mileage is EXCELLENT, and Ive wanted to master the standard way of driving. Car is great to drive, performance wise, its not STI, but still has good acceleration and power for only 128 horse I think. Car does get a bit unstable in the 75mph mark or on a windy day. Feels too light for its own good. However, car is perfect for someone that just needs to get from point A to point B and have a good time doing so.

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  2009 camry - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Izzy - July 14 - 2:46 am

  I purchased this car with 9500 miles on it and I love it. I compared several different cars before purchasing and basically boiled down to Accord & Camry (I tried the corolla but decided it was to small and as a result lest comfortable). The Camry is by far the most smooth and quiet. I love the ride. I was expecting better gas mileage but now I realize that I was mixing it up with the Corolla. I am getting between 25 - 28 mpg with mostly hwy driving. On a 450 mile drive that was almost ALL hwy I got 29 - 30 but the regular was between 25 - 28. (I would say that it is about 75% hwy 25% city) If you are looking for a really smooth ride and easy handle of a car, Camry is the way to go.

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  Sound idea, design, and package - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By PowerNS - July 13 - 6:06 pm

  Interior design needs darker shades because the dealerships I visited had mostly tan interiors. The brake pedal has an odd feel. The initial acceleration from 0 to 20 mph in ECO mode is slow. And its a Prius I am not going to power mode it all the time otherwise I would have bought a "Only" internal combustion car. Rear seat legroom could use an extra 4 inches. Power seats would be great. The 50 MPG average is a farce. You have to coast and watch the mpg monitor to get 50+ mpg. I get 48 to 49 mpg around town to and from work normally. Otherwise the car is worth $23K and the design and mpg is what sold me. Previous car was a 2002 Infiniti Q45.

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  Serious Solara - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Edmo - July 13 - 3:16 am

  I love my car! When in traffic around town, its smooth and quiet, but when the need arises.. there is power to spare! Its fun and quick. The JBL stereo works great and the convertable top is a champ! I had the sport ground effects added and he look is awsome! Get one today!

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  Extrordinary 05 Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Dale - July 12 - 11:23 pm

  Ive owned 40 cars over the last 45 years and my last one, an FX35, was by far the finest of all until gas prices went up and my annual mileage jumped to near 40,000 miles. Bye went the great Infiniti in came the Prius. This car makes the Infiniti seem like ancient technology. Cant figure out how anybody would prefer to buy anything else. The wait was well worth it. I was perfectly happy averaging between 40 and 45 miles per gallon over the first two months and then the rains came to Southern California. Since the Prius is not exactly a tank I naturally slowed down, avoided fast starts and generally kept a good distance away from other cars. Mileage jumped to 55!

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  Great vehicle - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Jeff F - July 12 - 5:23 pm

  Great vehicle for a family looking for a lot of room and features. Great ride, great power. Everything is where it should be.

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  Great Truck - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mike - July 12 - 12:03 pm

  Awesome truck, no problems at all. Bought it with 130,000 miles on it and it runs like new. Has the rear locking differential which makes a huge difference on snow and ice (not a substitute for 4x4 though). Have around 300 pounds in the bed - havent had to worry about getting stuck in the snow yet. Its a handsome looking truck. Well designed on the exterior. The interior has a few problems, most notably being the location of the clock. The seat belts dont always retract, but thats not a big deal. Gas mileage is about 17 mpg, maybe a little more. Great truck though. It is 2wd but is still a very capable truck.

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  Love the car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Wild person - July 12 - 11:40 am

  Love this car. Fun to ride in and nice looking. Just needs a light under the phone charger to see at night. Nice sound system. And service is great from Toyota. Good choice for long term car.