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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  Top Notch - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Susie - July 7 - 3:33 pm

  Vehicle was inherited from a family member in 2005 with about 35,000 miles on it then. It has performed extremely well and have put another 36500 on since then. The Camry is used mostly for driving within a 45 mile radius but has been driven on several 4000 mile trips over the last couple of years. It is not garaged since it is a third car, but the finish still looks good. Had to replace the catalytic converter a few months ago and the drivers window sometimes has a problem staying on track. Interior is flawless. Other than that nothing but normal maintenance.

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  Good Value - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Robert - July 7 - 12:16 pm

  Terrific for scooting around town. This is my first Toyota & Im very impressed. Exterior is sharp. Interior is clean and functional. No wind noise from sunroof. Civic is state of the art in compacts. Maint. schedule basically change oil & rotate tires every 5k miles, simple and low cost.

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  Toyota always moving forward! - 2013 Toyota Sienna
  By Anonymous - July 7 - 8:12 am

  I am a auto technician and I buy Toyota because at the end of the day I dont want to work on my own car. With Toyota I rarely ever need to, besides routine maintenance. I have owned other brands, but Toyota have always been the most reliable.

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  Camry 2006. - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By kss - July 7 - 7:36 am

  Smooth ride, roomy interiors. All in all a perfect mid size car with a good value for money.

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  i love this car!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By so4reelz - July 7 - 4:00 am

  This is my first SUV and my first Toyota. I have been driving this car for 3 months now, and Im still loving it. Ive made a couple snowboarding trips up the Rocky Mountains with 4 adult passengers and luggage, and the RAV did better than I had expected for an I4. I look forward to many years with this car.

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  Love My 2003 Camry SE - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Love my Camry - July 7 - 12:20 am

  I have owned the car from 2003 until 2009. I have put about 80000 miles on the car. It is fun to drive and can boogey after an initial realization pause. The only complaint I have is that the tires and suspension are a bit of a worry because it causes the steering column to shake if tires arent perfectly inflated and the weight on the axles isnt great; itll cause you to almost wreck. The car also has a very loose suspension, causing it to "scratch." Most of the time I felt very safe in my Camry... when it was being stubborn, possibly due to a bad mechanic at the dealership.

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  Great car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By The Shadow - July 6 - 3:20 pm

  Fantastic car. Much better looking design compared to older models. Not fast or anything, but I live in the city and gas is expensive so it really doesnt matter. One of the best looking/feeling "budget" cars I ever been in. I have the S version and it black w/ black interior. Most people I meet think its a Lexus.

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  Too many little things. - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By mookie - July 6 - 2:50 pm

  Ok, this is going to sound nitpicky, but bear with me. Youve got to know about this before you buy. First off: The car looks great, drives great, handles great, build is great. BUT There are so many annoyances that I feel like Im losing my mind. 1). Cannot get comfortable: always reaching for the wheel. 2). Blinkers are always on - because they dont click loud enough to remind me to shut them. 3). Speedometer is stupid. It is marked 20,40,60,80 etc. To see 55 or 45mph youve got to mentally interpolate. 4). A BIGGY: Gas mileage not what they tell you. It is billed as 24/34 - Ive never gotten over 23mpg. This is basically bait an switch! Sounds petty, but small things really add up!

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  Love my Penguin Prius in snow ! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By ed - July 6 - 11:43 am

  Just bought a used Prius w/ 116,000 miles on it + got a pretty good deal. Took it to work all w/e in heavy 2-day Boston blizzard as I am a nurse + cant call in sick or take snow days. It was surprisingly great in the snow + exceeded all expectations. It is no snowplow but got me through it. The car is a wonder of technology + if @ 1st a little overwhelming it grows on you quick!

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  The Best of the Celicas - 1996 Toyota Celica
  By mikeyL - July 6 - 10:00 am

  A great touring car with enough pep to get up the most challenging hills. A stick is recommended because it gives the car more get up and go, The handling is great and the trunk is spacious for a car of its size.