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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  Sienna review - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By KidzHave4 - May 25 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car in March of 2003, after having had a terrible experience with a Ford Windstar. Love most everthing about this car, although we have had some trouble with both passenger sliding doors. One is electric and the other is not, but we have had to have them looked at 3 separate times for loud squeeking noises in both doors

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  Camry XLE` - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Lurich - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Very good luxurious sedan

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  The Best of Toyota - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Z-MAN - May 24 - 4:06 pm

  This car is worth every penny... and that isnt much to pay. The quality of Toyota is everywhere within this car. The gas mileage is great, it looks great, and performs the same way with the Toyota dependability. It is roomy enough for family travel, great leg room! Load it up and go. Whether youre going around town or on a long trip, you cannot go wrong with this vehicle. I now know what my next vehicle is going to be!

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  Love my car! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Christine - May 24 - 3:33 am

  This car is sporty and fun to drive. The rear seats have much more room than any convertible Ive ever ridden. Its a wonderful car to drive daily in the south. Vacations in the car have been wonderful.

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  I love my Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Dawn Lietz - May 23 - 9:00 pm

  I live in the No Nevada area where there are a lot of mountains and long distance driving. I average between 39 - 41 MPG! Plenty of power, fun to drive, excellent vehicle!

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  Love the 2005 - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By CChappell - May 22 - 11:56 pm

  This is my 4th Avalon and it is clearly the best. Handling is much smoother and you get more features for the money. The new engine provides quicker acceleration to negotiate in heavy traffic. Best year by far!

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  greatest SUV - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By joe - May 22 - 2:06 pm

  When I first saw this SUV, I thought "oh great, another retro vehicle that will be popular for about a year, and then lose all its appeal." I drove this toyota for fun and fell in love with it. It has great looks, plenty of highway cruising and passing power, and is very comfy. It also has a quiet ride that is on the stiff side but is not at all jittery. I love and will for years to come.

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  From Rags to Riches: Upgrading to Camry - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By AnnieP - May 22 - 6:53 am

  Im 62 and like room when I drive, so when we moved from AZ to the east coast we decided we would take a road trip. However, we had a 2001 corolla and there was no way it was enough room for our trip. We traded it in for the 2005 Camry and had the most amazing road trip. It drives like a dream and 3000 miles was an easy task behind the wheel of this car. It gets great gas milage too! The Camry vs Corolla was a great transition into an "adults" car- it looks sharp and is a commuters dream. Even the backseat is comfortable...I dont have a single complaint about this car.

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  Nice and Fun SUV to drive - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By happy999 - May 22 - 6:50 am

  I bought a 2005 limited and absolutely am loving it! I dont think I will ever go back to a car. I have put almost 3,000 miles on it and enjoy getting into this vehicle to drive it everyday!

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  Great Car - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Jim - May 22 - 2:10 am

  I wanted a hatchback with great mileage--hence the Prius. I was prepared to put up with an expensive "economy" car, but have been pleasantly surprised. The car is quiet and roomy (more rear leg room than my wifes Volvo S60). Visibility is excellent except of a couple of blind spots in the rear. Interior and exterior finishes are excellent. It came with a lot of bells and whistles. I dont find the backup camera particularly useful since it has such a wide angle lens that you cannot use it to accurately judge distances. I really dont have problems with rear view vision in this car. Power, while not great, is adequate. Great handling in the snow. Gas mileage only 40 mp