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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  2006 SLE Convertible - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By JayAre - April 3 - 4:10 pm

  Excellent "road tripper". Very easy to raise and lower top. Excellent cockpit layout. Satellite radio a must. VSC also a must. Environmentals are excellent (a/c//heated seats) Exterior design: car resembles the Lexus Coupe - gets many second looks. Performance: good acceleration and passing response. Passenger comfort: very good all seats Trunk capacity: impressive - golf bag plus two duffels fit easily Fuel consumption: a bit off the EPA estimates Brakes: excellent Dont likes: owners manual/dealer recommendation to wash the car by hand installing the tonneau (convertible top) cover - tedious and definitely not a quick donning item

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  Love My Prius! - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Davidnesc - April 3 - 12:23 pm

  Wow this car is like driving the car of the future! I am getting about 53 mpg average. Sticker said 61 mpg but here in Ky we do not have the stop and go traffic to get the higher mileage. It is quiet, smooth, powerful and the interior space is amazing. The back seat is far larger than anyone would imagine from looking at the outside.

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  Best of Cars - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Patti - April 3 - 8:46 am

  My Lexus SUV has been parked over a year now,I LOVE this car.It can make a U turn on a dime with a lane left over.It consistantly gets 47 mpg plenty of power and acceleration on hills.Parking it is great in crowded lots because it is too skinny to get dinged but much more roomy than a Civic and almost as much as a Camry. If you havent driven a Hybrid it takes some getting used to it dieing at a light...and then taking off like a golf cart but totally cool! My parents love my car so much they are buying one.I might add I am 47... worse thing I can say is it is a bit noisy on the freeway and using Bluetooth is a bit rough for the other party to understand you clearly in that condition.

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  First 4Runner X Grand Cherokee Owner - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Rico - April 3 - 8:13 am

  Just took delivery and I love it. I went and drove the new Grand Cherokee first and this truck blows it away. Quiet ride, plenty of style, and great service at the dealership. This is my first 4Runner and I leased it. The deal on the lease also crushed the Jeep by far. Im looking forward to the next 3 years and if its like the first few days Ill be driving an 08 when this lease is up. Drive this before you buy any other SUV. Great value.

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  Good car - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Jason Lynch - April 3 - 5:10 am

  I really am enjoying my Yaris. It is all I expected. I am getting great gas milage, I do mixed driving, getting 34-38 MPG. It is fun to drive and is cute. I first saw this car in Ireland about 2 years ago and was excited to see it State side when I needed a new car. I dont think it well sell well in America do to our lack of logic when it comes to cars. I love the car.

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  Finally! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Dennis - April 3 - 3:56 am

  After a couple of years patiently waiting, I finally found the Solara ragtop for me! The 05 beauty was an off lease vehicle with only 27k miles and was spotless inside and out. It was obviously well cared for during its lease tenure and is still perfect now. Love the heated front seats and the fact that it seats 4 quite comfortably. Trunk space is awesome and it rides/handles much like a BMW 325. (although a bit anemic in the power dept.) I shopped BMWs and Mercedes as well but the Solara is a much better value for the $$. This ones definitely a keeper!

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  Stand-out Performer - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By cb4life - April 2 - 8:40 pm

  We bought the Toyota Sequoia Limited (4WD) to replace a 2006 Land Rover LR3 HSE. We have not regretted it. Pros: Strong engine, quiet/smooth ride, reclining seats throughout vehicle, window shades, leg room for adults in all seats. Cons: Navigation system is not user- friendly, radio controls are hard to reach (have to stretch while driving). Kids love legroom and reclining seats. Wife loves safety feeling, power rear hatch, and power. I love flexibility for storage and comfort on road trips.

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  Great Truck! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By A Campbell - April 2 - 11:03 am

  Just bought this vehicle, my fourth. Really enjoy driving it, although the steering wheel seems a little low. Need to be able to adjust more.The leg room could also be a little more roomier as the brake pedal is kind of close to the gas. Guess Ill get use to it since I traded my 2003 in!

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  Solid value - 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Carl - April 2 - 7:46 am

  This SUV feels like it will run forever. Many people would like to see Toyota spruce the LC exterior up but you should look to purchase the lexus470 if thats more important to you. We love the rugged exterior and simple elegant, durable interior. Beautiful ride. Tight turning radius. Mileage is 15.5 overall so far for blend of city/hwy. The rear compartment could be bigger and the window controls on the drivers side requires your left wrist be double-jointed, but otherwise very pleased.

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  Great Drive - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Buddy - April 2 - 2:36 am

  This car is great on long trips in fuel economy, comfort and performance. It will keep up with the best on the highway.