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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  Great buy - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By pat mcardle - April 11 - 1:33 pm

  Great buy

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  2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By KingCruiser23 - April 11 - 10:43 am

  I have only had my FJ a week but I already have 1200 miles on it, forded the Meramec River two times and cracked the windshield once. It is an awesome tool and one that I am taking to BadLands Indiana 4X4 off road park in two weeks. Mine is Diamond Black and I have Procomp lift kit and Xtreme 33s on it. I am working on a winch and will install lights on top. I wish there was more leg room in the back seat also. My family and I are going to Gulf Shores in August and I am going to look and see about getting it out on the beach but not the ocean. The FJ forded the river in 33" water with no issues!!

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  Camry XLE for comfort and decent mileage - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By pjdxxxwa - April 11 - 12:33 am

  Smooth ride, large seats, roomy, huge trunk, easy access to controls.

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  Awesome - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By sparkyhh - April 10 - 8:03 pm

  I absolutely love my prius. I will never buy anything but a hybrid again. I cannot even think of anything that I do not like about my car. A sunroof would be nice but then you might lose the aerodynamics. And who wants to give up the miles per gallon you get for a sunroof. Not me. Everyone that ridess with me loves it too. I have the navigation system and it is great when I travel. This is a great car.

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  Great all around vehicle. - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Bill - April 10 - 7:30 am

  The original set of Yokahama tires wore out around 32,000, and were replaced with a better set of tires. I had the steering knock issue, and Toyota was aware of the problem, and fixed it at no cost to me. Also a oil hose was fixed at no cost even though the warranty had expired. The RAV4 is one of the best vehicles Ive ever owned.

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  All Smiles - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Stasch - April 9 - 12:06 pm

  I have been wanting this vehicle for the longest time. The heavy snowfall in Erie sent my wife and me over the edge and we got the Tacoma. Simply love it. Tons of room in the cab for me (Im 63") and a car seat in the back. This truck handles amazing in the snow and ice. I have yet to get stuck... and I have tried! The safety features Toyota put into this truck are really impressive and allow it to handle great in all conditions. Lots of power, gas mileage is not the best, however, its much better than other trucks out there. All in all, I am very happy with the Tacoma.

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  Great - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Sandy - April 9 - 1:36 am

  Im averaging 34 mpg and enjoying all the advantages of Camry reliability and comfortable driving for the models long life. Get 40-41 on the highway and find that town driving depends on how heavy my foot is.

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  TundraCrewMax - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By TundraCrewMax - April 8 - 10:50 pm

  Great truck. Excellent build quality. Fun to drive. Tight turn radius. Plenty of storage. Good gas mileage for such a big truck.

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  My XLS Avalon 2005/06 - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Just Me - April 8 - 3:13 pm

  This is my fourth Avalon. By far its the best. My last one was the 2004 XL. This new XLS style is more refined and elegant style. At times Im not sure the engine was turned on, its so quiet. I only have around 450 miles on the odometer but it seems that I will get over 30 MPG on the highway. I already got over 23 MPG in the city. Thats better than my 04. It is a wonderful automobile that offers so much comfort as I travel down the road. It may not have the Lexus name plate, but it sure feels and handles like one, yet cost thousands less. Its spacious inside and offers a silent retreat from the stresses of the day because everything works so well, all the buttons are at your fingertips.

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  Everybody is lookin... fun vehicle - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By James Evans - April 8 - 3:10 pm

  The vehicle performs and handles very well. I am always looking forward to every driving experience. It is an attention getter, and seems to magnetically attract attention.