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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  05 Corolla S Impulse Red - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By crw - December 30 - 9:36 pm

  I love my Corolla! I can only think of two things I would make different. The O/D on/off and the ground effects are a bit cumbersome if you are not used to having them.

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  Great Ride - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Dave - December 30 - 5:53 pm

  This is my first truck and I only had about two weeks but so far its great! It has a lot of power and a comfortable ride. The double cab provides enough seating for the entire family although parking can be difficult with the extended cab. I still prefer the look of this to the short cab which seemed somewhat disproportionately stubby in the back. It is a good looking truck both on the inside and out. The interior is roomy and there is ample storage space for accessories and water bottles. The MPG is pretty low but should increase as I break it in.

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  SIlver Hoss - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By SIlver - December 30 - 5:10 am

  Very becoming lines. Sits high on 17 inch wheels/Michelins with heavy duty tow package. 2 wheel drive with stability control (like positraction). Great towing power, traction and stability in a 2 wheel drive. Ride is firm and well-dampened. Feels great fully loaded, towing, and empty. Excellent interior appointments. Very high build quality.

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  Loved my Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By jpj1707 - December 29 - 1:10 pm

  Had to part with my beloved Camry SE V6 yesterday. Need a truck for the utility but hated to let the Camry go. This car served me well for 3 years and 82,000 miles without any serious trouble. I will miss this car because of the compliant ride, handling of the SE suspension, fuel economy, and comfortable cabin. It was one of the best cars I have ever owned and I am sad to see her go.

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  My New 09 Camry - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Iqbaldhillon2 - December 29 - 5:53 am

  I recently bought a 2009 Toyota Camry due to the fact that I had a Tundra, and Expedition plus a Lexus; I needed a economical car, I chose the Camry! The ride is very smooth, the gas mileage is where is shines with nearly 6000 miles on the odometer the car is getting me between 26 and 33 MPG! I am very satisfied with the Toyota Camry, it is not only fuel efficient, but also practical.

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  Great Car!!! Check it out. - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Brian - December 29 - 1:50 am

  I bought the Corrola S this car has exceeded my expectations. Roomy intereior. I love the leather wrapped steering wheel. Very smooth ride and good handling. Id advise anyone to test drive this car. I think Im falling in love with it. If youre buying in the Columbus, GA area check out Jay Toyota. They were very friendly and helpful. I also feel that I got a pretty good deal on the car.

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  51-54 MPG for first 5000 miles - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By itchmd - December 28 - 11:10 pm

  Owned an SUV for 60000 miles and liked everything but 13-17mpg. $100 fillups; so I traded for the Prius due to $3/gal and going higher. My wife states that I have slowed down trying for best mpg and am a much safer driver!

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  BMW traded for Family Car - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Canuck - December 28 - 12:13 pm

  Well, traded in a 4 year old BMW 3 series for the highlander and I love it. More headroom, baby can actually fall asleep in the plush ride, and change her diaper in the car. Third row is used when grandparents are riding with us. But that means cargo capacity is down and the stroller cant fit with the third row up. Need to get smaller stroller or kick a grandparent out. Wanted a smooth floating boat with lots of room and that is the Highlander. Its fast too, but takes longer to rev up.

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  Overall great truck - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By whynotyoko - December 28 - 10:04 am

  Purchased my 2010 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 Long Wheel Base (SPORT PKG) in January 2010 and have driven 64,000 miles with no major issues. I have had one small annoying issue (blower fan). The blower fan has a chirp but cannot be fixed and the unit has been replaced by the dealer 4 times. Its simply a design flaw because they use cheap bearings and not good sealed bearings for the blower fan. Ive driven from Canada to Florida and repeatedly from Tennessee to Michigan for family and business. It blasted through 20 inches of snow the weekend I purchased it. The Dunlop tires were so-so, but I replaced with Michelin LTX AT2 and it provided great dirt, road and snow performance. Highly recommend!!

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  flip7016 - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By R Brant - December 28 - 8:10 am

  extremely happy with overall operations of the vehicle well built would definitely recommend this vehicle