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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  buy a toyota, or get beat by a toyota - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By kgrgunman - May 6 - 4:16 am

  2002 Toyota Tacoma TRD off-road, TRD Supercharger, TRD air and oil filters Fast as hell...nice all around truck, and cheap, for what you get

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  New 2005 Avalon XLS - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By doc - May 5 - 4:46 pm

  After looking at the Infiniti G-35 and the Acura TL as well as the Avalon, I went with the Avalon. These three vehicles are all around the same price range. The Avalon as equipped in the XLS package is just more car for the money. It is considerably larger than the other two vehicles. It is considerably more roomy for four passengers. The new styling isnt as boxy as the previous models. I had leased an Avalon in 1999 and thought it was one of the best cars Id driven. It is also a very reliable and comfortable vehicle.

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  First Impressions are Everything - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Gawain - May 5 - 9:33 am

  First day impressions (07 RAV4, 3.5L, AWD Sport): This is an excellent vehicle. Tight as a drum build quality, straight forward controls. Very intuitive. V6 performance is amazing. The transmission likes to down-shift to get moving in a hurry (sometimes its too eager). Mixed driving averaging 22-mpg (based on first 100 miles). Even with the AWD model, some torque steer is noticable under hard acceleration, the engine is a free rev gem. Steering is precise, well weighted. Middle-end sound system is very good (6CD/MP3/Aux). Gauges are very easy to read. Accessibility for drivers/pass/trunk area is excellent. Seat comfort is very good, not quite a "10". Will submit a longer-term review soon.

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  Review Toyota 2001 Highlander - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By rod wadman - May 5 - 4:16 am

  Has a nice style to it. Rides smoothly for an SUV. We are amazed at the performance of this four cylinder engine. When driving in the Colorado rockies, if you take it out of overdrive, it climbs as well as any larger engine.

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  Perfect for my needs - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By Minneapolis Su - May 5 - 3:50 am

  Bought a used 2000 Echo with 33,000 miles on it. Best car Ive ever owned, besides my 1990 Prizm. My Echo is zippy, peppy, handles like a dream and looks cute and sporty. Huge trunk, plenty of interio space, comfortable seats. I like the speedometer/instrument panel positioned in the middle of the dashboard, as opposed to being right in front of the steering wheel. Very easy to get used to! Great gas mileage: 35-city and 42 on highway. (I laugh at SUV owners when I go to the gas station). Great heater, AC, radio. My only complaint is that because the car is so light, it tends to get buffered around on a fairly windy day. But otherwise, I love my Echo.

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  good car and dealer - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By rpd12 - May 4 - 10:06 pm

  Comfortable and very good handling. I leased it at World Toyota in lakewood NJ and was impressed with the efficiency & honesty of the dealer and the price. The whole process took 2 hours. I realized later I was charged for the 1st months payment which was suppossed to be included. I emailed the sales mgr and he agreed to refund the payment without hesitation.

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  My other two cars are Lexus - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Jim S - May 4 - 8:36 pm

  My daughter has a 2014 Highlander and after driving it several times, I knew I eventually had to have one. The many included safety features was a big plus for me and there are times the eight seats helps with grandkids. My mealage on highway is 28 and I take many long trips. The ride with the big tires is comparable to Lexus and I think it is better looking than the RX.. Toyota reliability is legendary, so I plan on keeping it a long time.

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  CRUISER - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Cruiser - May 4 - 5:06 pm

  I am pleasantly surprised with my Cruiser. Comfort and handling far surpass the Xterra. I am interested to see what the 08 Cruiser will offer (colors, sunroof, leather).

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  A Fine Auto - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Dan Doyle - May 4 - 11:36 am

  We enjoy driving our Prius past gas stations and on the open road. Able to keep up with the traffic on the express way as well as an easy and reliable drive in the snows of the UP of Michigan. Come on US auto makers catch us if you can. We would love to buy American, and will when they can match the quality of Toyota.

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  Love this car - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Vinny - May 4 - 8:30 am

  Bought the vehicle used with 15k now at 38K. I keep up with maintenance with battery replacement just done. This has got to be the best vehicle I have every owned, reliable and fun to drive. Just the right size for city driving and parking with excellent gas mileage. I agree with other comments regarding engine underpowered on hills and steep inclines but in total a terrific vehicle. Bottom line I would buy it again. Too bad the new ones are so much larger.