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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  Highander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Jimaam - November 24 - 10:00 am

  A great car that handles and drives wonderfully and it is very easy to manuever in parking lots. It has traction control and AWD and it works great on slippery roads.

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  best bang for the buck - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By jward - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car for 7 months and have put 19,000 miles on it. It has great acceleration and is fun to drive. For the money, so far I am very happy with the car.

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  From Caddy To Camry - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By c3domn8 - November 24 - 10:00 am

  We had a 97 Catera for a year and a half, enough about that mistake. My wife was scared about purchasing a 4 cylinder after a bad experience with a 87 ford rustang. I let her test drive it. I had already drove my aunts 2002 Camry and was impressed. She loves it and wont let go of it.

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  Finally a competitor for the Odyssey! - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By mitchg - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Theyve take the best from the rest, and and made a super mom-mobile!

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  Just bought it today - 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By KKlintKC - November 24 - 5:26 am

  Ive had it for 6 hours. Though its still early to rate everything, what a spectacular and fun car. Im trading down on horsepower, cargo space, and creature comforts and have no regrets. The performance of this little economic engine is surprisingly peppy.

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  dependability - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By richard - November 23 - 9:20 pm

  I bought this car brand new. Its has been very good on gas, reliability, good performance overall. Its a 5 speed so I do get good mileage.

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  Great SUV - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Great Vehicle - November 23 - 7:26 pm

  I bought this SUV the end of March 2010 and since then have put 23,000 miles on it. I travel for work and find this vehicle so much more comfortable and versatile than my 07 Chevy Impala LTZ. It gets great gas mileage; best Ive ever gotten is 28 mpg, but usually average around 25 per tank. The back seat is extremely spacious, even for me measuring in at 65". I find the in dash information center to be very user friendly, even though it could have a bigger display. V6 acceleration is excellent for size and weight of vehicle. Handling is car-like with the sports trim level. Only major complaint is the lack of a compass for the price tag of this model.

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  Awesome! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Bub - November 23 - 3:06 pm

  I am getting 45 mpg in hot and humid conditions, expect better when the weather turns cool. I park in the garage to keep prying eyes away! Love it. I have 4 cars, and this is the one I drive the most now.

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  Natural road test in P.R. - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By pedro - November 23 - 6:10 am

  In Puerto Rico actually this is one of the best vehicles on the road. The floods and the roads here are a test for any vehicle in the market.

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  Hard not to like! - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Really Picky - November 23 - 12:53 am

  Ive driven Explorers, 4runners and Grand Cherokees, this is by far the most car-like ride quality of any mid-sized Sport Ute. Its also the best average gas mileage Ive ever had with a Sport Ute. The rear seats are some of the quickest to lay flat that Ive encountered.