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:

• 

  Can you have refined and fun in same ride ...YES ! - 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By studio1a - June 26 - 11:25 pm

  I shoot landscape Photography and an outdoors type of person, this Ride has it all. The Sun/Moon roof with Sirius brings the Moon right in with the right Tunes. Youve got a class ride with built in luxury coupled with a frame and suspension that can take you Almost anywhere with the world in front of you, so instead of always letting your mind taking you on a trip, why not give your mind a rest, and you take it on a trip, let it rip ! 27.6 mpg city 29+ mpg hwy

• 

  My Baby Celica - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By Rissa - June 26 - 10:00 am

  This car is extremely fun to drive (although some might say you need a 6- speed to fully enjoy it) The cabin noise is a little loud though and bumps/potholes arent taken very well, but this can be expected with a low- riding small car.

• 

  Good vehicle to own. - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By larry leslie - June 26 - 10:00 am

  so far Im very pleased with the performance of this vehicle. Before I purchased it I compared vehicle prices and design, fuel milage, Engine power and handling in somewhat adverse weather conditions such as strong winds and snow covered roads. I was also pleased with the smooth ride. I looked at and test drove 4 other makes and models of SUVs before buying this one.

• 

  Completely Happy with the model - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By Laurence Slane - June 26 - 10:00 am

  This is the third Avalon that I have owned, and all have been outstanding.

• 

  New Member of the Family - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By toyota04 - June 26 - 10:00 am

  Since adding this vechile to our family, we havent had any problems. The gas mileage is better than that on the window sticker and the buying this was a new experience. I knew what I wanted to pay for the car and was able to come within 100 dollars of it. Everyone at the dealership made you feel welcome and not like a lamb being setup for the slaughter.

• 

  Great Car and Ride - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By Philip - June 26 - 9:16 am

  We are still in the process of breaking it in we only have a few miles. We did a lot of looking at other models and the Matrix won us over. The 1.8L I4 EFI engine has plenty of power when needed. The 2009 Matrix has great safety features. The finish is first rate. Have driven other models and the 2009 Matrix has great visbility and it is easy to get in and out of. The seats are very comfortable and the back seat has plenty of leg room. We get lots of compliments. Toyota needs to advertise the Matrix. People with other new models have compliment us and said that they wish they had heard of the Matrix.

• 

  If you drive a lot, youll need this car - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By sw - June 26 - 8:20 am

  I drive close to 40K miles a year and used to go to the pump every other day. I rarely go to the pump anymore since I got the Prius. My wife and I drive it on the weekend all the time since her car takes a lot of gas (compared to a Prius). We both love it!

• 

  GREAT TRUCK - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By chuck - June 26 - 12:30 am

  I love my 2006 Tacoma Access Cab 4X4. This truck is awesome! The V-6 has plenty of power and the gas mileage on 1st tank was 19 MPG mostly city driven. I traded in a 2005 Acura TL and this truck rides smoother than the TL did. I have owned 6 chev Z71s and a 2004 Ford F150 and the Toyota is my favorite.

• 

  2007 Toyota Camry XLE V6! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Chris G - June 25 - 8:10 am

  I am the orignal owner and currently have 40,000 miles. Except for a defective tire, I have not had any problems! My transmission works seamlessly and there are no quality issues whatsoever. I have never averaged less than 26 mpg in the city and typically hit 32 mpg on the highway. The power is phenomenal and the sound system (JBL) is better than any factory system Ive heard (including Bose). Ok, I will admit that it lacks some of the fun-to-drive aspects of some other sporty cars. but it makes up for it in everything else.

• 

  Sequoia - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By cougar - June 24 - 10:00 am

  After owning a 1998 Expedition for the last four years we were ready to look into another large SUV. Because we have already owned Toyotas in the past and were always very pleased with their reliability, we decided to research the Sequoia. The handling of the Sequoia was far superior to that of the Expedition and also the acceleration of the Sequoia was far superior.