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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  slightly underpowered - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By suresh - February 26 - 12:26 pm

  Bought my rav4 sports basic edition for $23,350 OTD after much hangling. I found the vehicle to be slightly underpowered (0-40 miles).But who needs a V6 with $3 a gallon prices.

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  My TCH has been magnificent - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By daveosborne - February 26 - 9:30 am

  Ive loved my TCH. I bought it on 04/21/07, have just under 15,000 miles on it, with mileage at 36/39. Ive had no build or performance issues. No rattles, squeaks, crunched bumpers, or any other concerns. Absolutely nothing has gone wrong with the car. I love the quiet, smooth ride. The CVT, electric steering and gas pedal make this car just glide. The power and torque, when the internal combustion engine and electric motor combine, are more than a human needs.

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  Speedy - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By HD Rider - February 24 - 5:40 pm

  We bought this car for my wife. We wanted a safe, reliable vehicle. I believe we got one. We looked at all of the different competitors in this class and far and away liked the RAV4 best. This car has a lot of get-up-and-go! I wanted to get it before Toyota realized they gave this thing too much power. If you look at the power/weight ratio, it beats most everything but a ‘Vette. I will say the accelerator is very touchy taking off. It slings your head back and you have to consciously step on the gas pedal softly.

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  Great Car - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Jason - February 24 - 3:13 pm

  Corrolla gets 33mpg driving alot of small trips. Anyway this car has a lot of pep for engine size/fuel economy. Also, it looks cool. The body kit really makes it look good. The interior is preety cool in black and a leather steering wheel. Features are are great for an entry level car. Lots of room.

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  Good Family Car - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Harry - February 24 - 8:46 am

  I got this for the family and work. Got it with all the bells and whistles. Love the Red Rock leather. Comfortable ride. Not bad gas usage for a V8. Very comfortable ride with a vehicle height adjustment for when stopped and loading/unloading. Acceleration a little slow but manual option allows for better acceleration control. Looked at Escalade, Yukon, Mercedes Benz and decided this was best bang for the buck. Also, handling/steering seems better and quality is good. Interior better looking than the GM cars. Also, back seats automatic and fold flat, unlike the GM cars. Storage minimal when using all 7/8 passengers but most SUVs like that. Perfect for 4 person family.

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  Awesome truck, despite a few minor flaws - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bryan - February 24 - 7:24 am

  I will start off by simply stating that I LOVE THIS TRUCK! It was everything I was hoping it could be and more. However, considering that this is an informative review, and that anyone reading it is considering a hefty investment, I should probably be as objective/critical as I can. Lets dive in! The Good The drive quality is fantastic! The Bilstein suspension really is worth the money. Not only is the ride quieter, it is smoother overall (this refers to both street and offroad driving). The cabin is quiet and you really feel like you are in control of the vehicle. The features at your disposal give your drive a combination of sporty and luxurious, which I think is a really nice quality. I cannot begin to discuss how cool the Entune system is. Essentially, you are turning your phone into your entire entertainment center. The system functions via Bluetooth and syncs basically everything. You can use Pandora, Facebook, and other random applications AND still have solid phone capabilities (the ability to program speed-dials in the car itself is a big plus for me). The Heads-Up-Display behind the steering wheel also offers some cool and useful features. The "Bad" I put "bad" in quotes because what I am discussing is not necessarily bad, but it is less preferential that I would like. I received running boards with my truck. They seem like they get in the way more than they help. Granted, I am 61", but they seem like they are too high on the frame to be useful. The front seats are fairly comfortable, but you do get stiff when you sit for too long. I am taking this with a grain of salt though. It could simply be that the truck is brand new and they need some time to break in. The interior storage is a bit of a bummer. I used to have a Tundra and had a ton of storage under the back seats. Toyota has opted to turn it into a cargo box, eliminating 60% of the space you could otherwise have. Its not devastating, but the bit of extra space would be useful. My only complaint with Entune is that the bluetooth is a bit glitchy, I guess is the best word. Once everything is connected, it works great. However, sometimes my phone wont connect automatically and it is a pain to get synced again. I also know that my phone is a bit older, so it could very well not be the trucks problem. Overall, I can say that the Tacoma is a joy to own. It does everything that I want and was looking for with several bonus options. I would recommend it to anyone who inquired hands down. It is a combination of practical, luxurious, and sporty. I would encourage you, the reader, to be as informed as possible. Even though I love this truck, personal preferences and needs differ. Do your research and compare models/trims. Hope to see you out in the dunes!

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  Great Convertable - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By R. Culp - February 24 - 2:33 am

  The Solara convertable is the best buy for the money of any convertable in the 30K-60K range. It has eye catching looks comfort and performance and is fun to drive. I looked at them all and the Solara is the best.

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  Buy this car! - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By stacey - February 23 - 1:43 pm

  GREAT MPGs - 38.1 mpg combined (per dashboard computer) - I drive 90 mi/day (mostly hwy) @ speed limit. Speeding reduces MPG. Pluses: not expensive, nice looking, comfortable seats, roomy, high quality everything. Easy shifting, Fog lights, Auto light on, Clock, Trip calculator, Exterior, Ro braking, VSC, Traction Control.

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  Still solid and comfortable after 3 yrs. - 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By southern California - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Though it will never be a sports car, it handles quit well with the full time 4WD. The 4WD enables hard cornering with limit loss in momentum, but major loss of rubber. Feels solid and is very quiet doing 80+ mph on the freeway. Not the best-looking SUV, but it has Toyota reliability so far.

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  awesome - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By big bird - February 23 - 2:00 am

  this car is awesome! its very cheap, and extremely nice