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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  TOYOTA, I GOT THE FEELING! EXCELLENCE! - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By CHOCOLATE - April 1 - 10:00 am

  MY NEW CAR HAS DURABILITY, STRENGTH AND LONGEVITITY! I LOVE IT! IT REALLY IS "OH WHAT A FEELING!" IT IS SO SMOOTH AND BEAUTIFUL!

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  Undercover Lexus - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By HaldolPrn - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Every need is anticipated in this vehicle. A family needs space, entertainment, comfort, toys/performance for dad, compartments and organizers for mom. its has got it all. The navigation is an a great option to spring for. It places the entire audio system on touch screen. However navigation deletes the 6 cd changer. Rich Wood and leather trim really raises the bar on luxury in the minivan category. I think this is the best minivan ever produced. The 60/40 split fold flat rear seat allows you to fold down either part of the seat and still have either 1 or 2 passengers. Other vans that require the whole seat to be folded in.

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  2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4WD V8 - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mike - April 1 - 6:10 am

  Everything on this truck feels well-made. Everything is put together with Toyota-solidity. It looks good, it drives well, its comfortable, it gets a lot of positive remarks, its gas mileage is decent for its size and engine (19mpg-average), and I feel good driving it. Like most SUVs of the past and few today, I feel like I could drive through anything (on- or off-road) and get there safely.

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  Great Car - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Dorman - April 1 - 1:03 am

  Great on gas. I heard some people dont like the looks or its shaped like an egg. Well, think less wind resistance, equals better gas mileage. Its by far the best car or any other vehicle I ever purchased. The money I am saving on gas from driving my Ford E150 is paying for this car. I got the 4 door sedan with power locks/windows, cruise, a/c and they all work great. You cant go wrong buying one.

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  Smooth like a hot knife through butter.... - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By sis112010 - March 31 - 7:27 pm

  This is a great car. The 4 cyl engine is smooth, and has plenty of power when you need it merging onto the interstate. It is also incredibly quiet. The interior is very classy looking and I am loving the touch screen radio and bluetooth. It has 10 standard airbags. Its hard to turn that down when youve got children. So far we are averaging 30 MPG in mixed driving conditions. Im looking forward to see how high it goes on an extended trip. We test drove a lot of other brands but the 2012 Camry stood out as the best in terms of quality and bang for the buck. Highly recommended.

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  Great car but working out the kinks - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By ccollier1980 - March 31 - 1:30 pm

  I bought this car in August of 2006. It is very fun to drive and has plenty of power out of the new V6. It is very quiet and comfortable. I have had issues with the new 6 speed transmission, there is a "shift flare" between 3rd and 4th gear with my car. Toyota is aware of the problem (it is a common problem with the 6 speed transmission) and they are actually replacing my transmission since they cannot figure out what the cause is. Hopefully once I get a new transmission, it will be OK. Other than this issue I have absolutely no complaints with the new car, and Toyota has been very eager to correct the problem for me.

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  My cyclops - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By fred lowe - March 31 - 8:26 am

  Really enjoying my 2009 Yaris liftback. Very quiet inside cabin while driving in town or on highways. Getting about 400 miles per 11 gallon fill up from 50/50 city and highway driving. Very responsive handling and without bending my neck do not hit my head while getting behind the steering wheel. Im 60 tall. Car seems much larger sitting inside than when looking in from the outside. This is the first time I was able to get 2 vehicles inside my 2 car garage and with plenty of room to spare. The lift back door does not hit my garage door when both are fully opened and I can still stand up straight underneath the lift back fully opened with a couple inches to spare.

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  Perfect vehicle - double cab 4x4 TRD. - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Brian - March 30 - 3:33 pm

  I needed a vehicle that can haul 4 people, tow a boat, fit on off-road mountain trails, go in the mud, haul firewood, and still get decent mileage. A full-size wont go where I need it to and 12-15 mpg isnt that appealing. Enter the Tacoma double cab 4x4 with TRD. I took my first trip with it last weekend. We travel with 2 dogs, 2 coolers, and 4 large totes. Our destination is a hunting cabin in the woods which requires traversing a couple miles of tight, rough trails that a full-size cant do without scratches and scrapes. Quite simply, I dont know of any other vehicle that could possible meet my needs any better than the 2004 Double Cab 4x4 w/ TRD.

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  Simple and Reliable - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Andrew - March 30 - 9:43 am

  I wanted to by a Ford F-150, but after having a 97 Expedition that had a lot of electrical issues I decide to get the Tundra. This truck is very practical... Im a home owner and use it for going to the dump, loading up soil and brick for projects around the house. Drives very smooth and has a quite cab. Im not a big person... 510" 210 ... has plenty of room for me. I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old who ride in the rear seats and they have plenty of room. I did have a buy a tonneau cover to increase my storage space (a fold up 3 piece that I can remove to load large items in the back)... now the truck has all the storage that I need. I hope this helps.. no regrets in buying mine.

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  Shes Pretty... But She Works! - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Rick - March 30 - 9:00 am

  Toyota put a lot of thought into the Tacoma and the needs of a light truck owner. Pressed into service as a working pickup truck, I moved the entire contents of my house without a problem. As long as you dont exceed its half-ton rating, just cram everything into the fully lined bed, tie down and go. The Tacoma looks sharp, rides high and solid, and is easy to handle on a congested city parkway or a spacious country backroad. The cab is very roomy, well- appointed, well-upholstered, and the AM/FM/CD is quite impressive for a stock system. The 4 cyl 2.7l engine lights off with a roar, sounding and feeling more like a 6. With gas prices these days, you cant beat its high 20s to near 30 MPG.