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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  06 Solara - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jashrt - April 23 - 6:23 pm

  Very enjoyable to drive. I like very much not seeing a lot of Solara on the road. While driving on the freeway at about 70MPH a truck in front of me lost part of its load. I had to make a quick move to the emergency lane and back on the road the car handle great!

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  2014 4R 4x4 Ltd - 2014 Toyota 4Runner
  By myogi - April 23 - 10:28 am

  Have my 4R for almost 4 months now. Very happy with it. Excellent SUV. Looks great, drives great. Glad to have bought it.

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  Great car - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By G chen - April 23 - 5:57 am

  This is my second Camry, only repair work after 100K mileage was replace spark plugs, ignition coils and engine manifold gaskets. Overall I love this car. May buy another Camry or Avalon.

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  Great car - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By G chen - April 23 - 5:57 am

  This is my second Camry, only repair work after 100K mileage was replace spark plugs, ignition coils and engine manifold gaskets. Overall I love this car. May buy another Camry or Avalon.

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  Best auto I have ever owned - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Harold Grueskin - April 22 - 8:50 am

  The Avalon just fits my needs beautifully. Its comfort, roominess and performance are terrific.

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  1st Sienna - Previous T&C Owner - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By 1stSienna - April 22 - 2:26 am

  Overall pretty satisfied. Plenty of power. Very tight turning radius makes it easy to park. JBL surround sound system works great with DVD player. Wireless head phones sound good and are comfortable. Mileage around town only 16-17 but engine not yet broken in. Hopefully will improve. Ride is comfortable and quite but a bit on the "soft" side, would prefer tighter more responsive suspension. Power sliding doors have to be turned either on or off, and if on, manual operation is not possible.

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  Whats wrong with Toyota - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Pam - April 21 - 3:30 pm

  I dont understand why Toyota does not advertise the Matrix. Its a wonderful little car and all the other companies are now coming up with their version of this same size. I have never seen a commercial for a Matrix. Not everyone wants a vehicle to decide if "theirs is the biggest" and not everyone wants a sedan. This little car is sporty, handy, economical and I traded in a Camry to get it. I love it. Yes it took me a little while to get used to the lower power but now we work well together.

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  This is a great car - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By kathy - April 20 - 9:33 pm

  We have three boys and two dogs and this is the perfect car for us. It rides like a car, but has so much power. We have towed a travel trailer across 5 states with it like a breeze. We are a tall family (my 15 yr old is 65") and this Sequoia is very comfortable for all of us to ride in. Even the 3rd row seat has adequate leg room. We have been very happy with this SUV.

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  Resale Value through the roof - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By Sam Casino - April 20 - 3:48 pm

  In 2017, if you have an unabused Pre-runner, better hold onto it. Its like gold in your hand. These trucks are bullet-proof, extremely reliable, durable and just keep rolling along with no issues. Ive had mine since it was new, have put over 300K miles on it, and it runs like new. Off-roading is a breeze. I can take it anywhere. These trucks will be hard to find, and will hold their value and more - just like the old Toyota FJ.

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  BEST Car for your $ $ ! But BE Sensible! - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By chasms - April 20 - 9:20 am

  This is my second Camry and so far its just as impressive as my 2006 Camry Solara was. Only now its been improved upon since then. IMO, there is little reason to spend money on a Cadillac when the XLE is as close as youll get for a fraction of the cost. BUT...a person cant expect V8 performance from a 4 banger, and still expect good MPG. The car is as perfect as I can expect for the money - and a whole lot better than that! To all of those who do love the car, please hit your glass against mine!