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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  2007 Toyota Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Elizabeth - May 7 - 9:10 am

  My 2007 Camry rocks!!! Acceleration, braking, pickup, everything about the car is awesome! The car absolutely wants to fly. I had a 99 Camry before; it was great also, but the upgrades on this one are wonderful. Its quieter, faster, great fuel efficiency, more standard options, more room, the stereo is great. I just cant say enough about it.

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  My 3rd Camry - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By camrygirl2 - May 6 - 8:33 am

  I bought my car a month ago & so far I am LOVING it! This is my 1st SE Model & I really like the style/handling better than the LE model. Its roomy enough for hubby, kids & myself. Very comfortable for long road trips. I love the interior. My legs dont feel crammed. Radio display is nice. My car didnt come with Entunes or navigation but I always use my cell phone for navigation & other apps. The 6 speakers sound great, could be a bit better for a 2013 but Im satisfied. The bluetooth is awesome... loud & clear. I also like how the car display shows you your average speed, mpg & how many more miles you can drive with the gas you have in tank. The trunk is spacious. Great car,great deal!

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  The perfect car! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Bowman45 - May 6 - 8:03 am

  I truly love this car more everyday. Purchased the AWD 6 cyl. Have owned two BMW 3-series, three Vettes, two Eddie Bauer Expeditions, one Acura, two Hondas and I have to say this is the best all around car I have owned in my 33 years of driving. Its the best of both worlds. Handles and accelerates like a sports car but will pull my motorcycle trailer and has plenty of room to haul things. To save money I didnt get the Nav and leather package and Im still not disappointed. The car gets more attention than any thing I have owned. I feel like this car was designed just for me.

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  Happy with my purchase - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By RR - May 6 - 7:34 am

  I have read a lot of negative posts but I am very happy with the 2016 Tacoma. I am averaging 22 MPG and enjoy driving everyday. I will say I do have a lag when taking the truck from reverse to drive and this does need to be addressed by Toyota. I dont feel it is a safety issue but it does take a second for the transmission to kick in when you put in drive. The truck looks great and I get compliments all the time. I drive 37 miles everyday to work and it has plenty of power when I need it. I would recommend this truck.

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  Everything I had hoped for - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Phil - May 5 - 11:46 pm

  I have had for a month and it is everything I hoped it would be. Very comfortable, roomy and attractive. Been getting 22-24 MPG around town. Have not had on the open road yet. Look forward to our first long road trip next week.

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  Fun, Fun and Fun.... - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By RONCOR - May 5 - 10:23 pm

  Smooth and very fun to drive. Fell styling, safer, big and roomy.

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  Cyns new Toy - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By cyncali - May 5 - 1:26 pm

  I absolutely love my New Toy.. It drives like a champ, feels good and looks good as well. I love the Trd package also. I couldnt be happier.. so glad I choose this truck over the others that i test drove.. you just cant go wrong with a Toyota....I also love all the room in my trick.. It has plent of room for my kids, and their friend in the back seat,its a full back seat very comfortable.. I also cant wait to take the Toy up into the Mountains to do some camping with the family.. Yes i must say this is an awesome Truck...

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  The Smart Way To Move Forward - HYBRID - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By YunGunZ - May 5 - 6:33 am

  I just recently purchased a brand new Toyota Camry Hybrid and I am thrilled with the purchase! As a person who has a work commute of 70 miles round trip, I felt the need to consider a hybrid car. A quiet and smooth ride. The technology in the car is great. The dashboard indicators tell you how many miles per gallon you are averaging during the ride. It also tells you when you are using gas and when you are using battery! It definitely promotes better, safer, and more fuel efficient driving. When the car is idle, it is DEAD QUIET in the cabin. There is great pride in ownership. You are driving a car that gets great gas mileage (33-34 MPG) and helping out the environment. Aux input for my iPod!

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  2007 Toyota Tundra - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By pfog - May 5 - 5:40 am

  I absolutely love this truck. I have owned 3 reg cab short bed 2wd chevy silverados w/ the 5.3. I almost bought another but at the last minute, I dedcided to just go check out the new Tundra. I am all about performance and without even driving the reg cab short bed 5.7, I ordered one. I drove the crew max 4x4 and it had more get up and go than the above mentioned chevy. Yeah its got a bigger engine but also a lot more weight. I have absolutely no regrets. The performance is ridiculous. I mean it hauls serious booty. It looks mean, rides smooth, and gets there with the quickness. Its not a work truck and I dont haul or pull anything. So in short I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS TRUCK!!

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  Best Truck on the Market - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By badger - May 5 - 2:43 am

  Previous GMC Sierra owner and this truck is way better. Beat out the F150 on a test drive, too. Once you drive it, all others pale in comparison. Power is tremendous, braking is phenomenonal. It drives like a sports car but is a truck. No complaints after 4000 miles. Very tight, quiet, phone syncs flawlessly, excellent radio. The best features: full back window sliding down and the sunroof. Its the next best thing to a convertible.