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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  Toyota Sienna - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Jrmmustang - August 12 - 2:00 am

  After being a Ford owner for the past 15 years and coming off owning a Ford Windstar, I find mt new Sienna a refreshing breathe of fresh air. The ride is so much smoother, the engine is so quiet that I sometimes have to look at the dash console to see if the car is actually running. I find the turning radius is not only superior to any Van I have driven and I had tested quite a few before buying the Sienna, but tighter than many cars I have driven in. That along with the many saftey features than come standard in the Sienna have made me a big Toyota fan. I also would like to thank the Knowledgeable staff for making it an enjoyable experience.

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  Hands down the best on the market - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By bobsacaton - August 12 - 2:00 am

  We looked at all the minivans on the market and settled or final inspection on Nissan, Honda and Toyota. We chose these three because customer satisfaction, resale value, reliability and features of the van. Nissan was quickly eliminated as some of the features on theinterior were cheap in appearance for a van of its price. . We purchased an XLW with DVD system which came with package #16 the light metallic blue color. We were surprised that the dealer actually negogiated a fair price instead of MSRP and located our vehicle.

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  the bomb - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By kevin osborne - August 12 - 2:00 am

  If you had one car to drive before you die that would be afordable it should be the camry,this car is so smooth when i stopped at the light i thoutht the car cut off.I have drove hondas bmw mercedes maxima all the cars because i am a valet,I drive them all.The only car i could compare to this would be lexus,and you guess it thats right its also a toyota.

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  Why buy a Lexus anymore? - 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By kconlon - August 11 - 10:03 pm

  This car is phenomenal – simply put it is the smoothest, quietest ride I’ve tested in the last year, including Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lincoln and yes, Lexus. If youre in the market for any of these, stop and test drive the Avalon before making your final decision. Our test drive so impressed we immediately eliminated Audi, BMW, Mercedes from consideration. Even the base model oozes comfort and confidence. So, to us, the final decision was between Lexus, Lincoln (we waited for the new MKZs release) and Avalon. After the MKZ came out, we made our decision, and it was really pretty easy. So, forget about your preconceptions about Toyota! This begs my opening question, why buy a Lexus anymore?

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  Great car - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By ken - August 11 - 8:13 pm

  I love this car. I suggest upgrading to the navigation/blue tooth phone/ keyless entry option.

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  "PRIUS, PROBABLY PERFECT" - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By warren steinman - August 11 - 7:13 pm

  We have put over 8,000 miles on the car in three months. We have taken several long trips LA to Mammoth. Freeway and mountain driving. My wife uses it as a daily commuter, 80 miles rt. It is a joy to drive. Good power, acceleration onto the freeway is excellent. Passing is no problem. Our previous car was a Mercedes c230 and the Prius is a close second in performance, and, hands down, more comfortable. The heads-up display is excellent. We like the hatch, and, we can fit three in the back seat without squeezing. Finally, we are averaging 45+ mpg with hard driving. "Nuff said"

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  So Wrong! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By teblhasa - August 11 - 6:53 pm

  I love this car! I traded my 95 Celica for one last fall, and there is not one regret! Its fast, fun, sporty, and it is so cavernous! So what if it doesnt get 40mpg - if you want that, get a Prius! I agree with 2% of the ratings out there as far as the odd tranny shifting & paint scratches, but thats it. If you want a solidly built, safe & reliable car that is fun to drive in every condition, get a Camry.

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  everyone wants my car - 2011 Toyota 4Runner
  By Julia - August 11 - 4:36 pm

  I will run this vehicle into the ground and judging my my uncle with a 97 @ 300k ...thats going to take a while. Bought this car pre-owned (64k) almost 2 years ago. I have the limited 4x4 which is AWD all the time. I drive mostly short city trips and then I frequently take road trips (at (89k now). Ive had this car in every weather condition and Im so thankful for that. Last week I got caught in a flash flood on the way to Vegas and while other cars were loosing control in deep puddles, the traction control kicked in/ AWD helped on multiple accounts to keep us center. Handles well in snow, sand, rocks, ect. It handled really well going down a steep curved hill in snow. In high winds, I barely feel it. I can fit more in this SUV with the seats folded down than a Tacoma (length wise). I work at a Toyota Dealership so I can see all the service records, and theres never been a major issue, even while they were certifying the vehicle for resale. I have to admit, its probably due to the city driving, but my MPG has decreased since I bought it 18 down to 15/16. Handles well and can stop on a dime. A month after getting it, another 4Runner merged into me and I barely felt it although the whole right side needed to be replaced. Overall solid car. The navigation is due for an update, and the voice command is really annoying/inaccurate/long. (I recommend a 14 and up, cause they improved it drastically). Overall, Im in love with this car and my friends always beg to ride in it for road trips. 12 plus hours, and youre still comfortable. The 3rd row should not be considered for regular use, and its small and not very comfortable. However, for short, infrequent rides, its a really nice option to have. If youre considering a package that doesnt come with a back up camera, I recommend getting one installed. Regardless of the kind of driver you are, stock this is a tall vehicle. Im 58 and thin and my boyfriend is 62 and has an extremely wide build. We both sit comfortably. Ive had kids aged 4-9 sit in my back seat. The boosters/car seats are super easy because everything is so high up. Although, they all struggle to get inside the car so if you have small kids or youre short, invest in running boards. *a year later update...still feel the same*

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  Fuel Mileage Not as Represented - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Bill Reynolds - August 11 - 12:06 pm

  I now have 2K miles on the FJ and one of my beefs is the very poor gas mileage. It is no where close to 21 mpg on the highway. Im getting closer to 16 mpg on the highway and much less in town. The other beef is these are made in Japan - I took off a part of the bumper in an accident and the dealership said it will take 2-3 months to get the part shipped here from Japan - have to put it on a boat! My rear tire cover was ripped off by a bunch of kids - be sure and lock yours down. Other than that, I am enjoying the vehicle.

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  Reasons to stay with a Toyota. - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By Greg Gunnell - August 11 - 10:00 am

  We have always owned Toyotas. We needed a mini-van with young children. We made a huge mistake - bought new Dodge Mini-van on impulse. Nothing but problems. We went to the Sienna and are very happy. The quality is unmatched in every category. We will never buy anything except Toyota again. Ride, resale, reliability can not be beat especially by a Dodge.