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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  Peppy little car - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By RD - June 8 - 7:30 am

  I finally got the car with additional antilock brakes and curtain side air bag for added safety. Got 17 inch after market rims with wider tires for additional traction and stability. It looks great and is really fun to drive and very fuel efficient. Toyotas reliability has a proven tract. I currently own a Sequoia, a Camry, and an 07 LS 460. Im 6 ft 1 and I use this for my daily commute for obvoius practical reasons. I had my fair share of luxury European cars (I wont mention out of ethics) and my ownership experience were not good.

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  Fun to drive! - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By joe812 - June 7 - 10:20 am

  I have clocked about 1000 miles so far. I thoroughly enjoy the ride and it is a LOT of fun. I bought a locking lid for the back and can fit bicycles, golf clubs, beach chairs, etc. in the back with no worries. 4 doors up front allow me to carry 4 adults comfortably. I looked at a few SUVs but realized I would be forced to fold the seats down for my recreation equipment thereby limiting passenger convenience; garage limitations prevent me from getting a behemoth SUV. I LOVE the manual transmission and this is a great truck for my weekend "adventures". I picked it up in February and it was fun to drive in the snow we got in the north east.

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  Best car Ive ever owned!!! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Salem - June 7 - 2:53 am

  Its a great car throughout. Everything works perfectly and it drives far better than turbo-powered Passat I used own. Its very roomy for a small car. I live in New England and it has great winter traction. Its comfortable cruising at 70+ as well (though the gas mileage goes down to "just" 40). I have the GPS/NAV system and keyless entry. Its required no maintenance so far and the drive train is actually simpler than a typical automatic transmission.

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  Third Avalon - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By spencer327 - June 7 - 2:33 am

  Owned 2000, 2003 now 2008 XLS. Only concern going in was the transmission. Since the 6speed replaced the 2007 5 speed I decided to go for it. So far the 2008 excels over the 2003 in almost every respect (trunk has slightly less usable space).

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  Great ride for the money - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Mark in Geneva IL - June 6 - 9:00 pm

  This is our first Toyota from a long history of HondaÂ’s. So far so good. WeÂ’re impressed with the build quality and ride quality as well. We love the easy to use gauges, and ergonomic design of the cabin. The rear seat area is very comfortable and large, we donÂ’t have the 3rd row seat. We opted for the 4 cyl. engine after driving the V6 we couldnÂ’t justify another $2K for the minimal difference in performance. The dealership is offering some great incentives with the redesigned 2007 around the corner.

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  A KILLER CAR - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Gregory - June 5 - 10:10 pm

  Just picked up my new Limited 4 days ago. This is my third Avalon. I tooled around with getting the ES 330 and the IS 350, but this car really has got the room and ride without spending the money on a LS430 to get it. Gorgeous interior design and fit and finish. My friends who are seeing it are flipping out!!!!A lot of value for the money.

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  Toyota Corolla best car I could have ever purchase - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Shayla Murchison - June 5 - 10:49 am

  The car performance great, low price, value of trade in the only thing I dont agree on, but overall a great car that I will be keeping in the family

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  Toyota Corolla best car I could have ever purchase - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Shayla Murchison - June 5 - 10:49 am

  The car performance great, low price, value of trade in the only thing I dont agree on, but overall a great car that I will be keeping in the family

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  Cant hate it, Cant live without it. - 1995 Toyota Corolla
  By Jay Jay - June 5 - 10:00 am

  The corolla is absolutly the nicest car in my eyes. This car has style, comfort, good performance, and the best quality of any car. I think a corolla is better then any civic or other cars. I just went on a trip to nevada, and Arizona. 2 of the hottest cities. Can u imagine what heat can do to a a car? Well not this yota rolla. This rolla was rolling through heat. I never had to fix it and i never had any problems with this car. Simply amazing, im amazed on how toyota does this.

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  WONDERFUL CAR!!! - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By Summer490a - June 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new and have had it 10 years now and just love it. I have had no problems with it at all, and the 4 cylinder engine is fast and shifts smoothly. Ride is quiet and it handles great!!! Great car for a teenager just starting out driving.