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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  Good solid truck - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Toyfan - May 11 - 10:00 am

  I boutght mine new about a year and a half ago and still love it. Fun to drive, excellent performance and the mileage really isnt bad to me. I get over 20 on the highway and about 15 around town.

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  It Really is that Good! - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Charlie K....NJ - May 11 - 9:20 am

  This car IS fun to drive and gets outstanding mileage, and gets better every week. I got 48 mpg on my first tank of fuel. Im now getting an honest 52 mpg even with running the AC most of the time. (Never got less than 48 mpg.) Love the car so far!

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  Tacomas really are indestructible - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By haus - May 11 - 7:23 am

  I love my Tacoma. I dont think there is any other truck that can do what this has. I have 185000 miles on mine and havent replaced anything except for the brakes and timing belt.

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  Awesome - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Doug - May 10 - 11:46 pm

  This car is awesome in nearly every detail. Power to spare, great gas mileage. Only 1 complaint: Base model upgraded stereo system leaves something to be desired. Display does not scroll so you cant see XM info, which is unacceptable since XM has been around for a long time now. Speakers do not sound very good. Way too much bass. Everything else about the car rocks. Seats fold flat with the pull of a lever from the back end. Makes it very convenient to load stuff for hauling. Pulls my fishing boat with power to spare. Ride comfort is great, seats very comfortable, handles great, bluetooth attachment great. Tinted glass on rear window makes auto-dimming mirror unnecessary.

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  Excellent - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By PRINCESSDIAZ - May 10 - 5:10 pm

  This is a wonderful car for either a single person or a family. Very roomy and has a lot of space to work with.

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  2006 LE - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Bob - May 10 - 12:53 pm

  This is a nice vehicle to drive. Quiet comfortable, and relatively good power for mountain driving. Has one serious flaw and that is the Brake Assist. This is a saftey hazzard waiting for an accident to happen. It engages the transmission and engine on hard braking especially going down hills and then wont release when I remove my foot from the brake. Must either step on the gas or shove the shifter into neutral to disengage the transmission. Ive driven for 54 years with out a computer controlling my cars brakes and either Toyota finds a way to turn it on and off manually or it will be in some other manufactures used car lot. Radio is very poor.

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  Wow! - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By john 4th - May 10 - 12:50 pm

  I have had my 2010 prius for 10 days, and it has exceeded my expectations. First tank of gas 53.0 mpg, computer, 51.3, manual calc., in mix of highway and D.C. crawl. Prius is quiet and handles great. I actually enjoy my 85 mile commute. I love all the displays and gadgets. You become very involved in your driving. A great car, plus 50 mpg. You just cannot beat it.

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  I love it! - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Albert Bigelow - May 10 - 7:23 am

  Detailed like a Lexus but not as pricey. A significant improvement over my 2000 Avalon. Limited version has ventilated seats which are great for long drives. Navigation system has voice-activation, but the operation isnt always that intuitive.

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  Great Ride - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Dan Barrett - May 10 - 1:20 am

  Exceptional vehicle, it is a solid 12 on a 10 point scale. No disappointments, just a pleasant ride, excellent performance and good fuel economy.

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  Happy to be downsized! - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By COZigs - May 10 - 1:10 am

  I love this car. We downsized from a Grand Caravan (talk about a lemon!!) and had the requirements of high gas mileage and serious reliability with enough cargo room to carry a labrador... this car fits the bill for sure! Two months later and I love it. It handles well (helped me lose the minivan-mom image), has gotten 29 mpg the last two tanks (combined driving but mostly city) and with the Toyota name on the back I know it will satisfy my need to not dump money into expensive repairs. The cargo area is all plastic, which works great with the dog and my husband wishes he could pull the super-comfy seats out of my Matrix for his Scion XB.