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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  Best Crossover - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Robert S - December 2 - 11:50 pm

  My wife and I fell in love with this car the moment we saw it. We liked the Blizzard Pearl exterior paint the best. Great styling,Very pleasant ride, and the interior is designed very well. I could hardly believe the way it handles the road. Our Camry was OK, but this car is far and away more fun to drive. We also enjoy being able to enter and leave the vehicle without any hassle, owing to the added height. I would say that this is the Best Crossover on the market for the money.

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  Motor Rocks - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By RF - December 2 - 11:50 pm

  My third Tundra (2001 SR5, 2005 SR5 4WD Crew). The motor simply rocks, its quiet, smooth and incredibly powerful. I tow a 5000 lb boat and you dont even know its there. The tranny works well while towing, but has trouble finding gears at slower speeds when not towing, especially when taking off from a light. Other than that, its my least favorite Tundra. It just doesnt feel well put together, the throttle is very punchy, I have several rattles and have had to replace the radio, oh and the little gas pedal recall. I commute and can routinely get 19 mpg if I use cruise control, which is awesome.

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  Value for Money - 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By h_sam - December 2 - 7:58 pm

  Have had a fully loaded version of this car for 18 months now. Mileage varies from 37/38 in spring fall, but drops to 34/36 on hot or very cold days. I drive reasonably well, and am not a hypermiler. Comfy and quiet ride. Interior is OK, GPS not as good as a Garmin. iPod interface can be improved (but but he sound system is great). Cupholders suck - have had coffee cup topple over twice on sharp turns.

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  Awesome place - great service and cars - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By Danielle C - December 2 - 7:27 pm

  My family and I loved this place! We went to purchase a new car since my old one was crappy. Sam was the absolute best, he walked us through the cars I was interested in, showed us all the background information on each one, was straightforward with all our questions and was overall a great person to work with. Perry was also great and Ismael helped with financing so much. We will definitely be back for the next car and will recommend to friends!

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  Good Truck - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By Luke - December 2 - 12:00 pm

  Truck handles great and I have damaged it a lot and never any damage to the tough frame. Toyota has made a very reliable truck, I have put 80000 miles on it and have had no damage to any parts or engine, all damage has been cosmetic due to me. The only thing you have to do is change the oil and brakes. I would recommend this truck to anyone.

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  We Picked The Right Car For Us! - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By showskyline - December 2 - 7:47 am

  We have leased 2 Toyotas previously to this one, and really shopped around for the best deal and best car for the money. We had a Matrix, and wanted more leg room, so the Camry was the natural choice. Toyota beat out ALL other companies on price, and we are very pleased with the quality of the car. Sharp look, smooth ride and handling. Wonderful gas milage too! For an entry level model, it has a lot of extras, and I really dont think its a boring ride at all. Love the car, and cant think of anything I dont like. Leased it the end of Dec.

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  Best investment ever - 1996 Toyota Corolla
  By Kelly - December 2 - 6:26 am

  I bought this car with only 17,000 miles on it and drove it into the ground with 180,000. The only thing I replaced outside of nomral oil changes, brake discs and tires was the radiator and that was at the very end of the life of this car. I t got amazing gas mileage and it zipped in and out of traffic. It does not have a lot of get up and go, and it is a very basic design but this is a great starter car for a new driver!!

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  Best! - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By Will - December 2 - 6:20 am

  This is the best van on the market today hands down. It has a powerful engine that gets good gas mileage, about 21-22 mpg mixed city and highway driving with up to 26 mpg on the highway. The JBL system is amazing. The dvd player is great and it shows clear. The navigation system is great with a nice review camera. The power folding 3rd row is wonderful. The seats and ride are extremely comfortable.

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  Toyota Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Dolores Reig - December 2 - 6:16 am

  I am delighted with my experiences driving the Prius. It drives like a much larger car. I feel as if I am driving a computer assisted vehicle which intuits my needs. I had a very close call when a car suddenly pulled into my lane in front of me without warning. I did not think I would stop before impact. With the Prius, I felt as if the tires were velcroed to the ground; it stopped immediately without any fishtailing or any sidewise movement. I do not believe my Nissan would have stopped so quickly or made me feel so secure. I have been driving Nissans most of my adult life (my other car is still a Nissan) but after the Prius, I am now a convicted Toyota advocate.

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  This is a keeper! - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By bluesguitar - December 1 - 7:50 pm

  We bought the base model, which is where the value is. Its the same car as the much more expensive version without the overpriced dvd player, blue tooth and GPS (we have our own for that one time a month we need it). This car is clearly superior in features to the 2008 Honda Pilot which drives like a truck to both me and my wife. It replaced a Honda Odyssey but still has the ability to seat 7 people comfortably (and looks way cooler!). We love it!!