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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  Chevy/Benz Fan, But Toyota=#1! - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By MemphisBenz - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Toyota offers the best of everything, for the best price. Hence, value! You get performance, safety, economy, extras, and downright bulletproof reliability in the quality of the car. Too much to list! I like the fact that this car is built in Japan (95%). Toyota is efficient, and their employees are hard working and dedicated, so work tends to be superior to American-made autos. Ive owned Mercedes and Chevrolet, but Toyota has the competition beaten decisively. The runner up in my decision was the Chevy Silverado, but it was more $, and older technology, not to mention, bad gas mileage. Dont buy anything till you test drive the 4Runner!!!

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  Awesome MiniVan - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By DutchIrishCouple - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Purchased this vehicle for my wife. We both love it. Excellent quality, ride and comfort. Drove from LA Area to Oregon and back. Wonderful drive. Great fuel economy on the highway. Mixed fuel economy in the city.

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  ? - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Lenny Conticelli - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Bought my 2003 Corolla in April 2003. I love this car. Gas mileage is fantastic, the style is rich looking, great in snow.

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  Its Just Great - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By gary frost - May 13 - 6:16 am

  Have owned this vehicle for a couple of months, but were thrilled with it! A hot rod its not, but it has very good power, and corners and handles very well. Plus, the seating and stereo are fantastic, and the fit and finish of this car is well above average.

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  2005 Toyota Tacoma - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Carl Miller - May 13 - 3:23 am

  Soild, smooth, quiet, great power, toyota quality, inside and outside. MPG is good-21 to 22. Great seat and ride comfort. Great sound system. Have not had any problems at all and this is the second toyota we have owned.

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  Raving bout my Rav - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By Happy Hiker - May 12 - 7:51 pm

  If youre looking for a SUV that handles and drives like a sports car, this is your whip.

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  Love my Camry - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Tami - May 11 - 8:30 pm

  My car was shot after 8 years and since I hate change I decided this next purchase should be something that will last over 10 years. Therefore I got it loaded with everything I love. What a car! It drives so smooth. Feels so safe. And all the research shows the Toyota Camry was the most dependable and trusted sedan to go with. The ride is so smooth and luxurious that we almost fall asleep while driving (which can be dangerous!). I LOVE automatic headlights, timing wipers, lumbar seat contols, roomy comfortable back seats, magazine holders in back doors, milk holders in large trunk.

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  Dream Truck - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By D john - May 11 - 5:40 pm

  I use the truck for daily driving. It is rock solid. I also drive 270 miles to family several times a year and the trip is comfy. I travel in fields while towing and travel down poorly maintained dirt roads. So I cover a lot of different terrains and the truck functions. Interstate travel is quiet, the transmission shifts smoothly. Off road and dirt roads the truck performs well.

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  Mileage report - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Lowsidr - May 11 - 11:33 am

  I purchased this truck used with 15K on it. I traded in an 89 4runner w/200K 13 mpg. The primary reason for buying a small truck was the fuel economy. Fuel prices seem to be on the rise once again, who knows what will happen in the years to come. I live in S.W. FL. and commute 20 miles each way a day. Mostly at 45 to 60 mph, mixed city driving mostly. My first tank returned 25.8 MPG! I "babied" the truck trying to keep the RPM under 2K. I did spin it up when needed. You can get great fuel economy out of this truck and still be courteous to others.

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  My 2006 Toyota is AWESOME! - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Gordon Whittaker - May 10 - 9:50 pm

  This is the first Toyota I have purchased and I wonder why I waited this long. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this car. It is incredibly fun to drive and extremely comfortable. The acceleration, steering, braking, etc. are better then anything I have driven since I started driving back in 1964. I love this car!