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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  My Avalon - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Redregal - October 3 - 3:56 pm

  This is the finest car that I have ever owned in 60 years of driving. My only complaint has been the odometer and cruise control position readouts. They cannot be seen during daylight hours when wearing sun glasses. At night the dash is beautiful and easily read but they dimmed the odometer and cruise control lighting and you cannot read the information. Other than that this is an A1 car. Great performance and luxury. Its my "Lexus" at a bargain price. The active cruise control is the greatest accessory ever.

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  Great truck - 2015 Toyota Tundra
  By Hugues - October 3 - 1:07 pm

  Great truck, only draw back no automatic light or power rear slider unless you purchase the limited edition with the 5.7 engine. Cruise control switch awkward to use. Except for that great truck. Plenty of power for the 4.6l compare to Ford 5.0l. Average mileage 18mpg.

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  Phenomenal Car, Except... - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By kennyd - October 3 - 6:00 am

  This car is fun to drive, primarily with the top down. With the top up it is tough to see anything behind you. But I love the handling, fuel economy, navigation, quality, ease of using the convertible top and the silence when the top is up.

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  2004 Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Donna - October 3 - 1:13 am

  Best car, by far, that we every bought. Unbelievable handling and turning radius. Gas mileage? I get 48 to 55 MPG. Rides like a caddy. You cant tell when it shifts from gas to electric and back. Smooth, keyless entry, keyless starting, is great. Bluetooth interfaces with my cell phone, voice commands, GPS system, very high tech, like your riding in a Jetsons car! Stopping power is great, the anti lock system stops the car on a dime. We will buy another next year, will never buy an all gasoline car again.

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  New 2007 Avalon XL - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By ABM - October 2 - 11:03 pm

  The best car I have ever own as far as performance, room, comfort and sporty looks. Car is fun to drive and is very quiet.

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  awesome car, not so awesome fuel economy - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By collin - October 2 - 9:03 pm

  This is a great car, I really like the aux. Input, and the sound system in general, the bass makes my mirrors shake! (I do have the sub-woofer) I love the interior and exterior design, it is classic and unique, also the manual transmission is smooth and fun. Overall, this is a very good car, it is reliable ( I have yet to have any problems after owning it for about 2 years) and fun to drive. I really hate the gas mileage though. I have a rocket box on mine, and I generally get 12-15 miles per gallon in the city, and 19 on the highway. It is absolutely awful to have to fill the tank every 3 days.

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  Great First Car - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By newyarisowner - October 2 - 9:53 am

  This is my first stick shift. I love the look of this car. After looking at multiple used cars I decided that it was a better deal to get the yaris. I have found it to be very easy to learn how to drive a manual on this car, and it definitely gets up and goes when you tell it to. I only drive about 15 miles to work but the mpgs on this car are amazing and save me a lot of money on gas. Overall the inside does feel cheap, but thats what you get in an economy car. Overall a great little car.

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  Great Family Car - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By AutobahnSHO - October 2 - 8:43 am

  We replaced our 1999 Grand Caravan with the 2004 Sienna this month. It drives great and the "utility" level, with the disappearing rear bench, deep wells behind that rear bench, and 8th seat, is Fantastic!!

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  My first Toyota - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By LB - October 1 - 9:40 pm

  We traded in my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited V8(loaded). I loved, no, cherished, that car, but due to a long commute, we grudgingly began looking at Civic, Elantra, Focus, Fit and Yaris. After 2 months of test driving, comparisons and negotiations, decided on the Corolla S. I fully expected to feel disappointed driving it, but you know, its actually fun to drive! And its a great looking car too! We got the under and rear spoilers, alloy wheels and the sporty dark charcoal interior with blue accents (MUCH more attractive than the standard ash or beige velour) We are getting 38.5 MPG average (60% hwy/40% city) I dont even miss my Jeep! Happy with our choice!

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  A Great Sedan - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By t. wagner - October 1 - 4:20 pm

  My Avalon looks and drives very well. It has many "creature features" and I feel good driving it. I was looking for a fresh style in the largest, most dependable sedan I could find. I also wanted performance. The new Avalon fit my criteria and price point. Cost of ownership and value also impacted my decision. Acceleration is strong and smooth, with a bit of torque steer on harder acceleration. The control panel covers give the dash a futuristic appearance, and I feel the controls are easy to use I have experienced some rattles the first two months of owership that have caused the vehicle to be out of service for a few days. Other than that this vehicle has been problem free.