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 Gets It Right - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By 1972ck - July 31 - 8:20 pm

  This will be Tundra #3 for me. While I enjoyed my last Tundras this one is by far the most capable. Excellent acceleration, braking. Cant wait to hook it up to my travel trailer and see how she tows! Like the comfort and conv. items in the interior. Turning radius is awesome! Special ordered mine took a bit to get but worth the wait. If youre in the market for a full sized p/u, youve got to give the all new Tundra a look. I drove the others and found the Tundra to be superior. The Dodge was cheap looking int., the Ford rode terribly. The Chevy was a close second but reliability scared me away. The Titan is a joke, no payload.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By huey - July 31 - 6:13 pm

  4x4 TRD Sport DCab LB in silver. This truck is awesome and so surprise that my mom actually likes it too(she hates trucks) but since its so smooth/quiet, she loves it. Lots of power and handles great.

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  too early to give accurate review - 2015 Toyota Avalon
  By tom - July 31 - 6:07 pm

  have the car about 1 month- i believe most people will be satisfied- i think it looks good, has a nice interior for its class and was reasonably priced- it seems to me it is truly a car that is really not a luxury car but is also a step up from the ordinary

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  I love my Matrix! - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By WeatheringC - July 31 - 11:06 am

  I had a little Honda before I bought my Matrix. When it came time to purchase a new car I had a tall list of things I wanted. I wanted to get my skis in the back, the ability load it up and haul things, and great gas mileage was essential since I was making an 800 mile round trip at least once a month. The Matrix was the only car to satisfy all those needs. I looked for a month before I found a hard to find used Matrix in my area! As soon as I test drove it I knew it was the car to get. The enginering of the interior is exceptional and makes it very versatile. I show it off to everyone. Its enginered well and the styling is classic. I love my Matrix!

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  A bunch of 4s - 2014 Toyota RAV4
  By billiebad - July 31 - 10:43 am

  1500 miles and three weeks since purchase. Black with Terra Cotta - I like the interior colors versus all black. Just finished a road trip. Milage since purchase 26.8 - estimate highway at close to published 29. It is not a race car but I knew that. Wanted the range of milage we are getting. Enjoy the wide storage in the rear. Better than competition. Front seat comfort is good - visibility is good using mirrors. Interior style is appealing. Challenges - none of which would change my decision. No Homelink - even in Limited trim. Didnt realize and would like. No rain sensing wipers - spoiled with this on another vehicle - and had a very rainy road trip.

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  Fun, reliable car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Doreen - July 31 - 9:10 am

  Im happy with my Camry. Coming from mini-vans, this is like a sports car for me! The V6 seems like it is a "must" for this particular car. It has a lot of get-up and go. I just had it serviced at 20,000 miles and was told I needed an alignment because my tires were wearing unevenly. I do mostly highway driving and have not hit any potholes, so were not sure why this happened. I see from other reviews that there are problems with tires needing to be replaced at 20,000 miles. Also, my son has a 94 Camry and the engine runs so quietly. The 2007 is a lot noisier.

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  We Love our Avalon - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Donna - July 31 - 4:10 am

  We love our new Avalon! It drives and handles beautifully. It is extremely quiet inside the vehicle and there is plenty of room for my three children in the backseat.

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  Great Ride! - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By Roderick M. Martin - July 30 - 7:33 pm

  Bought this demo from the dealer with 2300 miles on it. After driving Camrys all our lives we wanted a SUV for the winters in Michigan. Twice we have been in snowstorms and one blizzard and felt very comfortable driving in the snow. We barely felt the shifting when it went into all wheel drive. The only complaint we have is that somehow the sides of the front seats are beginning to wear and when I have checked out other Highlanders I notice the same weathering. I like the fact that I can sit higher and see better out any window and the gas mileage for this 4cyl SUV is closer to 30 on the highway. We will be looking for another Highlander when its time for a new car as we love it!

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  Silver beautiful - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By TONY23 - July 30 - 7:16 pm

  The Matrix is an owners delight to own. It handles great, fuel mileage is wonderful, my wife just wont let me have it. Guess I gotta get another one lol. Great job Toyota. Highly recommend this car for anyone on the car market looking for room and fun.

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  3 door Yaris review - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By roger olson - July 30 - 6:46 pm

  I like my Yaris and dont regret buying it for a second. As gas prices go up I feel good everytime I fill up my tank. I am glad that Toyota decided to bring this to the USA.