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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  Riding in Sporty Barcelona Red - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By randy schott - May 29 - 2:30 pm

  Love this compact SUV! Great exterior styling, quiet ride, maximum storage in its class, wonderful back seat leg room, a navigation/audio package upgrade at a great price point, and end-of-year closeout prices that were eye-popping. And oh yeah... that Barcelona Red got my adult kids attention. Its a great looking ride! With Toyotas reliability and celebrated resale values, this purchase was one I was looking forward to for some time.

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  Excellent car good value - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By ron s - May 29 - 1:50 pm

  Great acceleration. Very good ride.

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  The Minivan for 2005 - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Joyce Georges - May 29 - 3:43 am

  Test drove all the other minivans available and found the Sienna to be superior by far. Others had better incentives, but the Sienna was worth the the difference. The comfort and security that come with this van is worth the extra cost.

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  Yippeeee - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Spirit - May 28 - 10:13 pm

  I purchased a used 2002 Solara, I had always wanted a Solara but had a car so didnt need another one. Once my car hit rock bottom I purchased the Solara. It drives brand new, it handles the road with care, smoothly, gracefully. The person I purchased the car from took great care of it...no scratches on the exterior and the interior didnt look worn at all. As I write this review, the check engine light has came on so Im going to my favorite mechanic to check it out, hopefully nothing expensive but the car is 7yrs old so I guess i can expect a little something. I will let you know if it was something major. Buy Toyota Solara!!!

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  Super reliable, sad to trade in for AWD car - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By cadyn - May 28 - 3:34 pm

  I bought by 2006 Matrix XR new and have loved every day of owning it. Ive never had any mechanical problems, just kept up with regular oil changes (full synthetic) religiously and regular maintenance. Had a main computer issue in 2008/9, but was covered under warranty and was replaced. Fairly inexpensive upkeep. Excellent cargo space, much bigger inside than it seems! Ive been able to fit bicycles, chairs, tables... (not all at once of course). Great for road trips, averages almost 30 mpg highway. Could have better lumbar support. Not great pickup when accelerating uphill, but no complaints. I love this car and am so sad to have to trade it in for an AWD vehicle for my mountainous terrain!

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  owner - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Glenn - May 28 - 4:53 am

  I have only had this vehicle for two months. I like the idea of the good gas milage. The ignition and door unlocking system is nice since you need not dig out your keys. The heater system is slower to warm up than our Camry. The slow heat-up is somewhat a nuisance in Iowa in the winter. The lower part of the hatch where the hatch latch is located seems to collect dirt rather quickly. I am very pleased with the vehicle and would recomend it to people that are conscious about energy consumption.

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  My Second Corolla also did not dissapoint - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By intensor101 - May 28 - 2:11 am

  I love this car! Its fun to drive and its reliable. I had bought an 02 as my first vehicle brand new, and it did not disappoint on gas mileage and reliability, although I had chosen the CE version cause being so young thats all I could qualify for. The 06 is responsive, corners well, and the transmission is smooth enough for its class. The black paint job is beautiful and waxes well. I love the spoiler, and the trunk space is roomy enough for a lot of stuff if you pack it right.

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  The TOY in Toyota - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By Brent - May 27 - 10:30 pm

  I have only good things to say about this car. I just traded it in for a Matrix and I miss my Celica like crazy. The Celica is the perfect car if you want to get somewhere, use little gas and look great doing it. I purchased it as a certified pre-owned and it never let me down once. No major services, just routine service. The handling is amazing and for only being a 4 banger the car has some pep. Friends loved it and I loved it. I hope to go back and buy another 2001 Celica GT in a few years when I can afford to keep two cars. Only down side is for someone tall you need to push the seat back leaving no backseat. My only reason for the trade is that I needed that space for work and more people.

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  Good Small SUV - minor irritations - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By jtv1000 - May 26 - 6:03 pm

  Wife and I bought new RAV4 in May. Got the 3rd row seat option as we have two small boys. Seems like the usual Toyota quality from a mechanical standpoint. Ample power and interior room. 3rd row seats will only work for children in the younger than 10 year range. Not a lot of leg room between 2nd & 3rd row, but lots of different configuration options with 2&3 row seating. Negatives include interior door panels on driver & passenger side that encroach leg space. Some discoloration on the edges of panel because of leg rubbing - very irritating for a brand new car. Dash display button on steering wheel is unnecessary. Top glove box storage bin feels cheap. Good car overall.

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  Great SUV for the money - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By rdurbin - May 26 - 5:56 pm

  I love this suv. It has a smooth ride and looks great. The seats fold down easily and the interior is functional as well as great looking. The MPG is of course what you expect with an SUV about 20 MPG but it makes up for it with the nice features and smooth ride. The interior has numerous well positioned recepticles for all sorts of items ranging from drinks to sunglasses. The rear let down window makes loading smaller items a breeze. I would highly reccommend the vehicle.