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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  very happy - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By markkkkss - September 26 - 10:00 am

  great dealership- low cost to maintain

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  My Tundra - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Al Sulsona - September 26 - 10:00 am

  My Toyota Tundra has been the BEST Vehicle I have ever owned!!!! Ford, Chevy or Dodge can not hold a candle to its performance, workmanship and above all its reliability. I have owned Ford Chevy and Dodge and I am sorry to say that they have a long way to go before they can produce a vehicle that will not fall apart with in a few years. Let me make it clear, I DO NOT ABUSE my vehicles, I guess all Im trying to say is that our domestic trucks may be beautiful machines but they just dont hold up!! Sorry for being so honest. Im just sharing my experience as a consumer.

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  euphoria - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By miguel a. - September 26 - 10:00 am

  i just bought this vehicle and both myself and my wife are overwhelmed by its performance,beauty,and comfort. i hope it it not let me down!

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  Evans Toyota - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Evan R Wernecke - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I think that this truck is one of the best vehicles that I have owned in my history of driving. If you would like to have a vehicle that is fuel effcient and is fun to drive then get a new toyota Tacoma today

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  Reliable, Comfortable and Roomy Sedan - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By S.T. - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is American made Lexus 300. I saved $10,000.

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  I love this car!!! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By asrebnack - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I just got this car and I absoultely love it! It is so cute and so fun to drive! I did have a 2001 Alero which was a lemon. I am much more relieved to be in a Toyota. These babies run forever. I get so many compliments and am so glad that I chose this car!

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  Better Than a Prius - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By DB - September 26 - 4:46 am

  My Yaris gets 42 mpg on average and no problems. I have 20k miles on the car. The bad thing about the car is my wife loves it so much because its fun to drive, carries all her stuff, its zippy around town, easy to park and she looks great in it. I have to plan the time when I can use it. We are purchasing a 2009 5 door in January.

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  My Toyota Camry - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By cinnamonbay84 - September 26 - 12:33 am

  I love my new car, it is very spacious inside and considering I cant handle small spaces it is wonderful.

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  2005 Toyota Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Eleanor Hare - September 25 - 11:23 pm

  We bought this car because we wanted to drive a car that did as little damage to the environment as possible. It has surprised us by how luxurious it is (compared to our last car). The seats are really comfortable. There is leg room for both front and back seat passengers. We have another car that we will be replacing in two years. As of now, we are planning for that car to also be a Prius.

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  Chevy owner turned Toyota - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By Marty - September 25 - 9:13 pm

  After a month of thorough research I narrowed it down to the Frontier and Tacoma. The Tacoma was roomier. It does have some spongy brakes that need to get used to (TRD 4x4). Interior is an A+! Good power and ride. Very comfortable seating. I have owned Chevys all my life. This is the first Toyota that I have purchased. Sold my 04 Colorado Z71 crew cab. This blows it away hands down. Even though I bought the fully loaded Colorado, it just feels cheap to drive when compared to the Tacoma. Great job Toyota! Some additional lighting for the 4x4 and various other switches would help. Also, I had to order a cabin filter. Toyota makes the slot for one but does not place one in there? Cmon.