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:

• 

  Very nice car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By sujh99 - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I just owned this car for two weeks, I like everything of this car, powerful, roomy, quiet. I felt its much better than Civic.

• 

  Great Car! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By lonewolf - May 24 - 5:53 pm

  I love this car. I have driven a Ford F150 my whole life and this is a big change for me. I drove several other cars and didnt like them as much. The Yaris looks best and drives better than its competition.

• 

  This truck is forever!! - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Big Al - May 24 - 2:50 pm

  I bought the loaded TRD offroad package. Sharp black baja rims. I love the feeling of driving this car. Its smooth, tight, you dont feel pot holes - it seems to glide right over them, it feels like a truck sports car. Its quiet on the road, has organized storage to put things. Make sure you get it with all the options available. You will want them when you own it for awhile. Do not sacrifice comfort - get the upgraded seats. They are great with lumbar support.

• 

  Great car! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Dave - May 24 - 1:20 pm

  I love this car! Im getting 36 mpg city and 42 hwy so far. I just moved and was amazed at how much I could stuff into the hatchback. After reading the expert reviews on this car, I was a little worried, but I went in for a test drive anyway. Handling is great, and it accelerates faster than I expected (manual transmission). Its nimble around turns and quick stops are no problem. The stereo is much better than I expected. I thought Id miss power windows and locks, but its really been no big deal. Im pretty picky about cars, but I have no complaints.

• 

  Wifes Toy - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Virgil Hayden - May 24 - 4:13 am

  I purchased this vehicle for my wife last month. The vehicle gets great fuel economy for in town driving (37mph) and respectable mileage for an suv on the highway (30). It is very roomy inside despite it looking compact on the outside. We are very happy with the vehicle and would definitely buy this vehicle again.

• 

  Best Avalon Yet - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Gary Boswell - May 23 - 6:40 pm

  This is our third Avalon and by far the best to date. Styling and interior comfort far exceeded other vehicles in the same class.

• 

  Best Vehicle Ive Ever Owned - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By crewdawg23 - May 22 - 7:36 pm

  Drives like new car, currently have 206,500 on it, looking forward to another 200K+! Never let me down, probably never will. Regular maintenance, still has original engine and transmission, key to longevity, always use Toyota parts.

• 

  Great all around vehicle - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Erwin - May 22 - 5:11 pm

  I got this 3 three weeks ago and its been great so far. The engine in smooth and quiet. The eco, normal and sport mode works great you can feel the throttle change dynamics. I use the econ most of the time on city driving to save fuel and sport if I want to do passing maneuvers. The steering is how a toyota drives. The suspension is on the firm side but great on the freeway with very little body roll. The cabin is quiet. Drove from vegas to LA and back and averaged 28. I got 25 on mostly city driving. The navigation is great but voice command could be better, sometimes it does not pick up what you are telling it to do. The only missing here is adaptive cruise, forward collision mitigation and a dual chrome exhaust that I wished toyota should have added here.

• 

  "GREAT" Purchase!!! - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Julie Alvarado - May 22 - 3:16 pm

  Its been 11 months since I made a great choice to buy a Matrix XR. I was on the market for 3 months for a Toyota Corolla Sport, and as I walked onto the Penske dealership in Downey, CA I came across the funniest looking little wagon that somehow grew on me and till this day is still growing. I love the interior as well as the exterior. My whole family fits comfortably and I know we will all get to our destination in a reliable and safe manner.

• 

  My mr2 spyder - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By kens spyder - May 22 - 11:03 am

  This is a great sport car. Handles like a go cart. Great gas mileage. Most of all its a Toyota.