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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  Nice Ride - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By DVP - January 23 - 11:03 am

  Originally looked at the Highlander, but needed more cargo room. The 4Runner joins my wifes Solara in the driveway because of the quality in her car. The quality and attention to detail is second to none with Toyota. Price was slightly up from the Highlander Limited, but the additional room and selectable 4 wheel drive made it an easy choice.

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  Ol Reliable - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By ThirdGear - January 23 - 10:03 am

  Awesome vehicle! After 128k miles, no problems. Engine and cruise control work perfectly. Interior components have started to rattle a bit, but that is to be expected on a truck with so many miles. Good gas mileage, good power in V6 model. Speakers arent great. Back seats dont have enough room for passengers (but space is good for cargo). Front seats also a little uncomfortable, especially if youre tall.

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  Tacoma is a great vehicle to own. - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By TacoMan - January 23 - 5:30 am

  This is my first Toyota, and is my first Tacoma as well. I am VERY pleased with my purchase. Will not hesitate to buy another one in the future. Very fun truck to drive, and very capable. Ive been very surprised at the terrain that Ive been able to get through on in this thing. Also, this has been the most reliable vehicle that Ive owned so far. Only problem I have had so far is the battery cable got loose once. Other than that, never had a problem or a breakdown.

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  Excellent car! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By bzktnkorn5 - January 23 - 5:26 am

  My familys had a 96 Rav4 for 10 years now, and we love that thing, but now that the new ones have arrived, we love this one even more! Its fun to drive, and its a lot more comfortable than the older model we own. (Ive found that on long car trips my legs start hurting because the seats are so stiff, not a problem on this model!)

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  One fun truck to drive/own - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By jdw174 - January 23 - 3:53 am

  One very fun truck to drive. With the V6 engine, this thing runs like a scared jackrabbit! Comfortable seating and even the standard sound system is better than the Bose I had I had in my last truck. However, I do find the engine to be rather noisy at times, especially under hard acceleration, and the gas mileage is lower than I expected, currently running about 16.5 mpg around town. Hopefully this will improve as the engine gets broken in more.

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  Nice - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By JPM - January 23 - 2:06 am

  Finally found a Limited 4WD V6. Great little SUV.

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  The Lexus of Minivans - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Rich - January 23 - 1:23 am

  Sitting in this vehicle is surrounding yourself with all you need and more. The features and amenities are the epitemy of luxury.

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  Difficult to buy gas cars in the future without co - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By James Eng - January 22 - 7:37 pm

  Drives like a normal car

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  Reliable little truck - 1996 Toyota Tacoma
  By IAGuy - January 22 - 2:20 pm

  I am the original owner of this truck with 100k. The only non maint. item was the starter. 30mpg, tight turning radius. Downside: bland looks, cramped interior, terrible seats. Also has high wind/road noise and is easily blown about by high winds.

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  Poor Quality - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Denver - January 22 - 5:56 am

  I have had this Camry for almost a year, and have put nearly 25K miles on the car. I realize that I purchased the basic model, the LE, but the quality of this vehicle is extremely lacking. Just a few of the issues: - the plastic covers on the sides of the seat are coming off - the automatic lights come on and off in the bright sun light - the radio speakers sound horrible - the gear shifter is not very rigid and easily slides into other gears when shifting - the drivers window squeaks and sticks All of this is on top of all of the recalls. This was my third Toyota, and will be last for a while. I would not recommend purchasing the newer Camry model.