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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  2011 Camry Rocks. - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By Milo - August 3 - 6:19 pm

  Owned since new. 162,000 mile and still runs like new.

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  First time Prius owner - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By mhocut - August 3 - 3:53 pm

  So far the car is doing a excellent job. The dash read out is excellent, love the fuel mileage, I came out of a Land Rover discovery, 12MPG. I am 6 ft 7 inches tall and fit as as good as I did in my discovery. I would suggest this car to anyone.

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  02 PRIUS - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By sstk100 - August 3 - 2:48 pm

  Weve had the 02 Prius for about 2 years (our first Prius), and our experience has been great. In fact we bought an 08 Prius and gave the 02 to our son to drive to school. I expect we will always have Prius for the foreseeable future. Gas mileage is lower in winter (35-39), and as high as 48 mpg in summer on a 700 mile road trip. Its still weird when the engine shuts down when at a stop light....but thats just money in my pocket ! There have been zero-nada problems with anything. It just purrs along all the time. We like the 08 even better because Toyota updated many things like a a fold down rear seat, better stereo radio, and even more room in back seat.

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  Best kept secret in luxury sedans - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By jwoodruff - August 3 - 1:13 pm

  This is our 4th Toyota in the past 2 years. All have been extremely dependable, just routine oil changes, get great gas mileage, and I think, some of the best looking cars on the road. Also, the interiors of all the cars are beautiful and functional. This is an important part of my car buying requirements. Im a true blue American, but nobody beats the quality of the Toyota products.

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  4 Runner Won Me Over - 2016 Toyota 4Runner
  By Terry Dymek - August 3 - 9:15 am

  looking for a vehicle that delivers better 4WD performance than your typical Crossover? Well the 4 Runner sure fit that bill for me. Looked at EVERYTHING in this segment and found the 4 Runner to be the best overall in terms of comfort, performance, quality and value. Dont be put off by reviews that talk about how body on frame vehicles cannot deliver the same ride and handling quality as the typical unibody. The 4 Runner does not ride or handle like a truck ( I have a 2105 Chevy Silverado so I know what a real truck ride is like). While certainly not car-like, the 4 Runner rolls down the road smoothly and confidently. My main requirement was to be able to drive up a very steep and long driveway during New England winters. Other AWD vehicles (Subaru, Rav 4, etc) could not handle the job if there was more than a couple of inches of snow on the ground. The 4 Runner has absolutely no problems with any snow depth. Sure, I could have bought and Audi Q series but for the money and maintenance costs over the long run, you just cant beat the Toyota 4 Runner

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  All around great suv - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By m a - August 3 - 5:41 am

  Great all around suv. Check if you like the front seats

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  Awesome Car! - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By Dave C - August 3 - 1:20 am

  I really like this car! It is my first Toyota, but not my last one. Id buy another Avalon in a heartbeat. I have always been a big car guy and this small car measures up in roominess and comfort. Good gas mileage too.

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  Good deal for a great car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By N.Virginian - August 2 - 4:00 pm

  My 99 Maxima SE is starting to fall apart @ 78K miles, very disappointed with Nissan. Camry is not as good as Maxima at 1-2 gear, but powerful at 3-4 gear, compatible V6. But other than that, Camry is best. For $2K different compare with what I paid for my 99 Maxima invoice, I got a lot more: leather (heated), ABS, side/head airbag, VSC, 6-CD JBL, and a feel of Lexus luxury and quality. Amazing deal from Toyota in December.

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  Zippy and fun - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By mjmihal - August 2 - 10:00 am

  I drive my 97 Toyota Corolla around town for the most part; about 11,000 miles per year. The car operates wonderfully in town. It has good pick- up and is nimble around turns. It has enough room to fit 4 passengers comfortably. The trunk space is surprisingly roomy as well. It is low to the ground, punches forward when you tap the accelerator, and corners on a dime.

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  One of the best vehicles owned - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By 4Runner lover - August 2 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the best vehicles I have owned. The SUV looks awesome, the relibility is top notch and its a very comfortable family cruiser which handles the road very well whether its in the city or on the highway. The climate control in this vehicle works extremely well.