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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  Happy as can be - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By JIm & Linda - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Loved this car from the time we purchased it.

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  My first "perfect" car/truck! - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By dJ5 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Im a reasonable guy and expected a few imperfections on my new truck, but found none--even inside the engine compartment! The build-quality is amazing. I saw new Ford trucks which already had rust-spots on the housings of various engine components. The 2.4L motor is good match for this vehicle, enough pep with good fuel mileage. If I want to go fast, Ill ride my motorcycle. I think the 2.4L 2WD 5-spd manual trans., Extracab is the best value/dollar on the market--if you get it near invoice. I paid $16,500 out- the-door, including a $750 rebate. Mine has the SR5 "chrome package". I love my new truck! :-)

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  Great Truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By yahoo - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I put the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma head to head online specs were very similar. I test drove them back to back and my opinions are: The Toyota looks much better. Something just doesnt appeal to me on the Nissan front end. The Toyota felt more solid all around and of better quality. One thing that stood out was the Nissan steering wheel felt "loose" (dont know how else to explain it.) Nothing really stood out that I really liked about the Nissan except the price but the additional Toyota cost will payoff later in reliability. The Nissan was cheaper but I obviously went with the Toyota for the above reasons. 5,400 trouble free miles.

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  A Wise Choice - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By MhM - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I Looked at other SUVs (Explorer,Pilot,Durango,Exterra,etc.) and found this to truck to be the best over all. I love the rugged,stylish looks. I live in Queens New York, handles the pot holes great and our snow storms. Parking is no problem even with the front & rear bumper guards. This is my first 4Runner and certainly not my last.

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  Nice Truck! - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By KENTACO - November 23 - 1:16 am

  I traded in my 06 Tacoma Prerunner Double Cab Long Bed TRD Sport for an SR5 Crewmax Short bed with 5.7 6 AT. The Crewmax takes regular gas at 87 octane compared to the 92 octane that the Tacoma required. The Tundra accelerates with ease, and the ride is very smooth. I love the rear seat space. It is huge back there, and my family can relax during long drives from Vegas to Orange County. So far, the Tundra is a winner. I just hope that my 5.7 is not one of those with a defective camshaft that grounded about 20 5.7s so far.

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  small wonder packs it in - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By Kimberly - November 22 - 8:03 pm

  I love my Echo. In todays times of rising gas prices, its fabulous gas mileage and small gas tank feel like a relief.

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  Great Car - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By H. Hoots - November 22 - 3:10 pm

  Switched from a Tahoe @12MPG to the 09 Camry Hybrid, a great move. First tank mixed hwy & city was 515 mi using 12 gal= 42.91 MPG. I have also started hypermiling and the MPG is starting to climb. My best short tank 7.8 gal, trip I hit 64.7 MPG. I wish I had made the switch long ago.

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  2004 4 RUNNER - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By ROY H, JOHNSON - November 22 - 10:26 am

  CONTAINS TOO MUCH UNNEEDED OPTIONS

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  Better than the Odyssey - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By AJI - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I drove both the Odyssey and the Siena. Though the Odyssey is much bigger, I found the style and performance of the Siena to be much better. Plus I did not have to pay sticker or wait for two months to get a Sienna! In all I paid $500 less than the cheapest Odyssey (LX) and got a whole bunch of features that I would not have had in the LX trim.

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  Hi-Tech Wonder - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By reallysmartguy - November 22 - 10:00 am

  The Prius is a gas to drive, but doesnt need much gas. It has deceptively good pickup for such a small car. During the spring and fall Ive been getting over 50mpg, that drops down to about 48 when I have to use the AC in the summer or when I make short trips in the winter and require long warmups.