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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  Exceptional - 2010 Toyota Avalon
  By p teig - November 20 - 10:36 am

  This is my second Avalon, my other was a 2007, and I am a committed Avalon owner. I am not sure why other reviews say the outside is bland, when I know my car receives a lot of head turns. Seriously, if you want a great car, solid construction, and durable, buy the Avalon.

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  Toyota 4 Runner The drive that make you want to ke - 2017 Toyota 4Runner
  By Delynn Terry - November 20 - 12:22 am

  The sleek look and drive of this vehicle could not be better. We enjoy driving and riding around in this vehicle on a daily basis. We highly recommend the Toyota 4 Runner. It is like driving on air.

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  still going - 1998 Toyota Tacoma
  By headhunter130 - November 19 - 9:08 pm

  My truck has over 357,000 miles and has been through it.

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  I cried with the first fill-up! - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By Beth G - November 19 - 2:46 pm

  Bought this Matrix used with only 8K and the original warranty - traded in my turbo 07 Forester which required premium gas and got 22mpg when premium went to $4.50/gallon. Computed the mpg on the Matrix with the first fill-up - got 36mpg!!! I cried! I love this car. I consistently get 32-36 mpg combined. Miss the sunroof and AWD of the Forester but got such a deal on the Matrix - bought snow tires and traction now as good as AWD.

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  Love it! - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By Love it - November 19 - 12:56 pm

  From a woman point of view I love the car! I like the way it looks. But my husband has enjoyed it also. The interior space is surprisingly big; I mean, I knew everybody talks about the cargo space, but as a passenger you do have lots of room to play with. It has a nice turn to it, it is a smooth drive.

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  Love it ! - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By bill - November 19 - 12:20 pm

  Love this car. On the 200 mile trip home, got 41.9 mpg out of the initial tank of gas. Just what we were looking for. Fun, fuel efficient, and nice looking. Get the windows tinted if youre gonna leave it outside though, it has lots of window area.

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  Love my Tundra - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Love my TOYota! - November 19 - 4:36 am

  This is an excellent, well built vehicle. It handles very well on or off road. Well worth the initial cost. I dont need to worry about it breaking down. Had a Dodge which does not even come close to comparison from the start (i.e. engine & transmission dependability even the first 100k miles). Everything, from how the doors fit shut to how it handles driving, it is a well built vehicle with a group of mechanics that take the time and effort to keep tight specs and pride in their work. The time spent for quality in product, logical engineering and not just pushing a product out the door to just make a buck has a great product being produced. Thank you Toyota, for the grand work!

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  Why Buy A Mercedes or a BMW - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By No More Mercedes - November 18 - 11:00 pm

  My last car was a Mercedes R350 I bought this Highlander as a last resort...and I could not be happier. I got this truck in June of 08 when nobody was making any kind of deals, and finding a reasonable lease was impossible from any manufacturer. Im amazed by this truck. It has plenty of power, a ton of room in the back for gear. The third row seat is a little small, but its great for my small kid (Girl 6yrs, Boy 2yrs). Fuel economy is around 23mpg combined city and Highway which is a huge improvement over the R350 which was around 18. This is an all around great vehicle which is a big compliment from a guy who never wanted an SUV.

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  Absolutely love it!! - 2007 Toyota Sienna
  By B.Block - November 18 - 10:36 pm

  We test drove the Honda Odyssey & Toyota Sienna and liked the feel of the Sienna, much smoother. There is plenty of interior room for 3 car seats plus cargo. After switching from a 4Runner, still getting used to driving "the bus", but love it nonetheless.

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  A luxury car with a lower price - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By ToyotaFan - November 18 - 6:00 pm

  I have been very impressed with this car. The seats are very comfortable, better than any other car I have driven. The driving is "plush" more than "sporty" which I prefer as I dont want to feel every bump in the road. The engine is quite powerful and has plenty of giddy-up. Braking is very sharp. Very quiet vehicle. Excellent turning radius. Gets up to 32 mpg on 87 octane when driven on highway even though it is advertised at 28 mpg (how often do you see that?). Visibility out the back of the car is still pretty good, and the rear view camera helps quite a bit. I feel like I am driving a luxury car. Good workmanship.