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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  Major improvements - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By George - May 30 - 8:06 am

  Ive had the Avalon Ltd since Feb 14 2005. Even though the styling is much improved over previous years its still not a head turner. The interior is fantsatic. Roomy Quiet and has some great features such as heated/ventilated ft seats, 360 watt stereo w/6cd in dash changer, hid headlights, etc. Great performance and gas milage combination when the engine is warm And using premium fuel. With 1300 miles on it Im at 24mpg. With past vehicles the gas milage should be 18-20mpg for that level of performance. I would buy another one if I had to do it again. Oh yeah, its fun to drive. I look for places to go just so I can drive it some more.

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  Im Lovin It - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Ashley - May 30 - 6:53 am

  This car is a dream, it handles so well. At first I was afraid that it wouldnt have the acceleration that Ive been used to but all I have to do is switch it into power mode and I zip along. The only downfall to this car is its blindspots.

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  Id buy another tomorrow...!! - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By John Dick - May 30 - 6:00 am

  Best vehicle Ive ever owned. Only 16000 Kms, but absolutely fantastic so far.. No problems. Great truck man...!!

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  Cool Car - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By Larry - May 29 - 9:23 pm

  This car is cool because: 1) the gas mileage is great, 2) the driving experience tells you that the car uses newer and better technology (for example driving away without the gas engine running and having the gas engine shut down at red lights), 3) the display lets you know how the advanced systems are powering the car and how much kinetic energy has been captured and stored in the battery to power the car later, 4) even with all the gas saving features the car is large enough to be practical for a small family.

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  Love It - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By Love It - May 29 - 8:06 pm

  I have over 130k on my truck and it still runs like a champ. Ive never had any problems with it... not even one. I only change my oil once or twice a year and I beat the heck out of it but cant seem to break it. Ill own this truck until it dies and then Ill buy another Tundra. There are some minor changes that I made. I added a rear leaf springs because the stock one was two light for hauling loads. Also I didnt like the look of the front end pointing downward so I added body leveling rings. Finally I added some tougher looking wheels.

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  First SUV - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Dave - May 29 - 5:06 pm

  Pros: fun and easy to drive. Good ride and is quite. Good leather interior. Lots of storage space in rear. Excellent get up and go.

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  Lovin it - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By AU Taco - May 29 - 3:26 am

  Ive only had it a month, but Im in love with this truck. The V6 is really peppy and overall the vehicle drives and rides great. Build quality appears to be really solid and is what Im used to in a Toyota. I like the design and features of the interior and the seats are nice and comfy.

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  Love this car! - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By dlk6003 - May 28 - 10:26 pm

  Purchased the coupe after trading in a 2006 Honda CR-V. What a difference! The ride, handling, quiet (even with the sunroof open). I am in love with this car!

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  I Cant Wear It Out - No Excuse To Buy A New One - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Marsha S - May 28 - 7:40 pm

  The 2000 Camry is a legend at our house. Other cars come and go, and it soldiers on. You forget that things can go wrong, because nothing ever does. We do a good job of suggested maintenance, but I cant say enough about the reliability and comfort of this car. It wasnt fabulous in deep snow, and we live at the top of the hill, so I bought snow tires for it and that solved the problem. AT 150k miles, the only problem is that it does now look like an older car, because it is one. I think a new one would be good for my "image" but I dont know how to find a new one that will really measure up. Great job, Toyota!

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  Best vehicle in class I ever own - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Harold Barker - May 28 - 12:13 pm

  With the high cost of gas going up and being a loyal Dodge Truck man, I research all vehicles with a outstanding gas mileage and a cost factor I decided on the SUV RAV4 and for the price and the outstanding features I brought the RAV4. I just love the way it handles and also the smooth ride and the looks. It is a fun to drive vehicle.