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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  Good decision. - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By CoosBayDave - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Gave my 88 Camry to our daughter with 420,000 miles on the clock, bought a 2003 and love it. We have 72,000 trouble free miles on it. Much more room, more comfortable. Put a hitch on it and often pull a small trailer, mileage goes down to 20, normally its 30mpg. Have had no problems with the car or the 3 Toyota dealerships weve used. You could spend a lot more and not get a better car.

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  Buying The Best - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By CFF - October 31 - 10:00 am

  The Sienna is simply the best Minivan out there as I shopped for a Sienna and an Odyessey. It was close but we are so happy with the Sienna. Unfortunately, our buying experience was not a pleasant one at our local Toyota Dealer but we bought the Sienna in spite of the typical challenging buying experience at a Toyota dealer.

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  Best car for money - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Vic - October 31 - 8:16 am

  Ive had mine only 5 months, but love it so far and consider it to be the most car on the road for the money. It is not a "muscle car" but has more than enough power, handles great, well behaved, and is what I wanted in a sedan. Its a pleasure to drive. I simply cannot think of a single complaint. Id buy it again with no hesitation -- and Im happy with the dealership.

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  Best Small SUV - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Tom - October 31 - 5:33 am

  Quiet, smooth, powerful - excellent fit and finish inside and out. Evaluated all other small SUVs on the market and none really came close. Far and away the best engine. Amazing interior capacity. Averaging 25 mpg combined city/highway driving.

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  Great vehicle - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By merrel - October 30 - 10:26 am

  All my life I drove large luxury cars for business and pleasure. Now retired and gas over $4 gal, sold my Jaguar and love this tiny car. High quality, 38-40 mpg, well built! Slight adjustment getting used to. Very economical and fun to drive.

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  2006 Toyota Solara - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Scoobline - October 30 - 10:23 am

  A fun car to drive, and the car handles and responds very well; so far the car handles and responds very well in the snow. The car has power when you need it, and the fuel economy is better than expected: ~24 City (Winter ~19, car needs to warm up) and ~34 Highway. The car is very quiet, and the ride is great, although the suspension is a bit stiffer then Im use too (Im use to driving a sedan).

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  Fantastic! - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Shane Keenan - October 30 - 7:24 am

  This truck was my first car i had a 2002 Tacoma TRD off-road limited and it ran with 258,000 miles on it until i rolled it into a ditch, and even after the accident the cab stayed intact, i landed upside down and all that affected the cab was the center of the windshield and the sunroof bent in a few inches. Would not own any other truck!

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  First Hybrid, Second Camry - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Dianne - October 29 - 2:20 pm

  I have now driven this vehicle for approximately 10,000 miles. I bought it with all the amenities. The leather interior is top notch. It comfortably seats 4 adults. Not being a techno geek, the blue tooth was easy to set up and is crystal clear. Trunk space is small by Toyota standards, but roomy by other maker standards. The ride is smooth and quiet. Gas mileage great. Sound system and GPS are fabulous. ONE ANNOYING PROBLEM: the gas cap loosens itself and causes the check engine light to engage. I do not top off and carefully make sure the gas cap is tightly closed, but it somehow loosens! When I tighten the cap, the light will eventually turn off. Seems related to air pressure in the tank.

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  If you cant beat them, join them... - 2010 Toyota Sienna
  By MinivanConvert - October 29 - 10:43 am

  I had vowed never to buy one of these but finally broke down because of where we were in life. Went through the Sienna vs. Odyssey torture test and finally decided on the Sienna Limited. The price was right and this was the closest thing we could find to a luxury minivan. Sure, for the first few weeks I felt like an emasculated male driving this thing but I have to say it is growing on me and I can see why these things are so darn popular. Our other family car is a MB GL450 - love it but we are taking the Sienna on our next road trip. Better mileage and more space. The van is just too easy to get to like.

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  great buy - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By de4825 - October 29 - 6:56 am

  Have put 3500 miles on it in 3 months. Loved every mile so far!! Fun to drive. Very comfortable seats both short and long drives. Getting 18 in city and 22 on highway. I have the lighted running boards that light both the step and under the truck. It sits pretty high so would recommend the running boards for the average size person.