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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  Toyotas kick ass - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By MBMisHERE - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I have owned 2 Toyota Corollas the first was in 1995 and the second was purchased in 2003. This car has good get up and go a good size engine and basic maintenance is a piece of cake. The gas mileage is also good on this car. I do a lot of in town stop and go driving as well as long distance driving and have had very few problems with preformance. I did have to have the rear seat cover replaced and the cd player but it was warranty work so no big deal. I would suggest this car to anyone looking for a fun sporty car with plenty of room for four adults.

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  Great van - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By rrds - June 19 - 10:00 am

  We drove all the rest this one was the quietest by far the Oddysey was the worst. where do yhey get such a high rating. Toyota has grear styling plus every thing you would want in a van.

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  A Happy Dad - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By timandlorene - June 19 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is quite possibly one of the best values on the market today. The list of standard features is impressive; the options make it even better. Best of the best is the airbags. Two up front, two in the seats; and two side curtain airbags are an option. Pre-tensioners in the seatbelts take up slack......if you get hurt in this car you were probably going WAY too fast! 174 horsepower, 6-speed close ratio transmission, 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds. 90 plus mph in the quarter-mile, and a governed top speed of 130 make this one seriously fun ride. A taunt sport suspension and 4 wheel ABS disc brakes bring this pocket rocket back to earth in short order

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  debs review - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By debashis bose - June 19 - 3:06 am

  the car has a very nice interior and has excellent driving comfort. The car comes with some excellent features, like height adjustable driver seat, 6- CD changer, wooden type interiors etc. One of the features that I would havbe liked the car to have is the Anti Lock Braking system. At present it is an optional feature.

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  Our first SUV - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Grape - June 19 - 1:56 am

  The larger sized tires on a smaller frame makes for a big difference is ride, as compared to our Sienna LE. Positives: Our first SUV like vehicle. We expect high quality and longevity, low cost of ownership. Great AWD, Nav, sunroof, and power liftgate. Negatives: driver door power window buttons difficult to reach, obscured by the door handle. Stereo sound quality is worse than our Sienna LE.

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  Reliable car for your money - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Jenny - June 17 - 8:10 pm

  After getting into an accident with my Kia Sephia, I needed a car bad. I decided on a Toyota Echo and have never felt a shred of buyers remorse. This little car is quite deceiving with its roominess and and overall handling. Under the hood looks just as nice -- everything labled and easy to reach. I highly recommend this as a first car or one to replace a gas-guzzler!

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  Enjoyed this car a lot - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By Carrie Fogarty - June 17 - 7:27 pm

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  97 XCAB 4X4 - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By oldster - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Have not had the truck long but am very pleased with it. Had 86K on it and just had the 90K service performed with the dealer saying the truck is mechanically almost perfect. This is our 5th current Toyota and continues the tradition of great value.

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  My new GT-S - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By ant - June 17 - 2:00 am

  this cars packs a hugh punch. I love driving a sporty vehicle. The excitement of it all is rarely over whelming. My wife drives it more than me now. I keep getting stuck with the small SUV that we purchased a yer ago and I think Im about to trade it in and buy another Celica. This time, in black!

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  I love this car! - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By ajay - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I had an accident the day I left the dealer ship. My vehicle... after pulling of the lot was totaled and I still retained 91% of its market value. Needless to say after my insurance paid off the car which was totaled, I purchase a new 2003 model just yesterday. vooooommmmmmmmmm......