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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  2013 FJ Cruiser 4x4 - 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By fj_reaper - September 23 - 2:35 am

  So far this has been one of the funnest vehicles I have owned. There is plenty of function, mixed with a handfull of play! Between the ample off road capabilities and the smooth ride on hard surfaces the FJ is a joy to drive.

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  Love My Solara Convertible - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Marty - September 22 - 11:40 pm

  This is my second Solara Convertible in two years and my ONLY problem with it is that the rear seat headrests create major blind spots when the top is up. Thankfully the top is not up very often :^)

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  owned a short time, but quite happy - 2012 Toyota Prius
  By carbuff50 - September 22 - 8:54 pm

  We purchased a four with sunroof, and added the 17 inch wheels to it. Drove one with the 17 inch wheels and it made a wonderful difference in ride/handling. Mileage so far is 51.9 avg.. The car is truly a tech. marvel. The inside is a little noisy but I think some of that is due to the standard toy size 15 inch tires that come on it. The sunroof is terrific and well worth the money. This car does not feel anything like our prior older Prius which felt like a much more base/utilitarian vehicle. We also have a high end MB and I am finding myself driving this more than it-because it is fun.

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  You need to drive one yourself - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By stephanie - September 22 - 11:50 am

  This is my first car, I bought it about 2 years ago and am in love with it. Ive had to deal with maintanance (tune up, tires, oil, brakes) and what not, but for a 12 year old car that is expected. It is SOLID and drives smoothly. In the snow, it holds its own and you feel safe in it. The v6 engine is awesome and I hope Ill never have to descend down to a v4 ever. After driving one, you wont be able to part. The appearance could be better, but it looks ahead of the game with a late-90s look. Dependable, reliable, simply common sense.

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  Big Surprise - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By J.Bal - September 22 - 11:33 am

  I bought this truck out of necessity. My old truck had broken down. I have been very happy and surprised with the Tacoma. I am getting 20 mpg with the A/C on and hauling as much as 1100-1500 lbs. of payload. At first it was a truck I needed not wanted, but I like it more everyday.

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  1999 TRD - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By Icepuck72 - September 22 - 10:00 am

  Excellent Toyota Quality. My truck has over 95k miles on it and has never seen the shop. I am still on the original clutch.

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  Super Sequoia - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By bbgunnman - September 22 - 10:00 am

  A WONDERFUL vehicle the only drawback is the gas mileage (which for this type of vehicle isnt really that bad)

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  A Mini Land Cruiser - 2012 Toyota 4Runner
  By ixuonrahm - September 22 - 4:51 am

  Owned vehicle for 3 weeks. So far no problem, hope in future too. Like its tall trim, off-road capabilities and features. The cabin needs some improvements though - stereo isnt as good as my previous Audi A4s one, a little too much of plastic. The navigation screen is way too tiny, yet useful. Entune is a great feature, yet needs to be filled with more usefull apps. Bluetooth iPhone integration is another nice feature. The leather trim is very comfy. 2nd row provides plenty of space for passengers. 3rd row will also be needed one day, so its good to have it. Very happy with it, so it wont disapoint me in the future.

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  Very Quiet Ride! - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By bobkath - September 22 - 4:40 am

  Just returned from a 1300 mile trip to CA from AZ one wk after purchase. Very quiet, comfortable, and a sweet ride. Plenty of power from the V6 and no problems passing the slower 65 mph cars. Impressed with the mileage of 25.2 overall. Two-thirds of the trip were on the open road. Awesome Bluetooth and easy to use. Trunk is huge and more than enough room if you remove the boot cover. Slight shaking at low speed on a bumpy road. Hard to see sound sys. display in daylight wearing sunglasses. Looking for reasons to drive this great car. Not many of these on the road. You will love this car. Built solid.

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  Killer looks, performance and reliabilty - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By oragon - September 21 - 4:46 pm

  Performance: *10* Im not a rock crawling, mudding, 4x4 expert, but Im not new to this type of vehicle. Being an owner of both GX 470 and LX 470, I can honestly tell you that this new 4.0 v6 is a beast STOCK! Passing in the highway is a breeze. COMFORT-*8* while my FJ doesnt ride like my Lexus(s), it still rides and drives better than most SUVs that Ive test driven. FUEL ECONOMY*8*- I get 19 mpg average, not bad for a 239HP - 278 pf of torque V6!! FUN to drive? Darn right it is **10**. On or off-road my FJ handles it with ease. Top it off with Toyotas legendary reliability. What more could I ask for?