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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  Love the V8 - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By T4R2008 - June 7 - 2:03 pm

  Ive been driving for more than 20 years now and this is my first vehicle with automatic transmission. I always had sports sedans before. I love this SUV. I tested the V6 but found it too buzzy and underpowered (my last car was a Subaru Legacy GT though which was very fast). The V8 is buttery smooth. The ride on the highway is almost as smooth as my wifes Lexus GX470. Great size (not too big, not too small). Trip computer is a bit optimistic. I average about only 17mpg doing mostly highway driving at 70-75 mph. Hopefully fuel stays cheap!

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  Do not buy the inline 4 cylinder - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Chris - June 7 - 12:33 pm

  The I4 has no power and drives like a typical 4 cylinder. The ride is loud and not comfortable. This was my first Camry and will be my last as I do not feel a 6 cylinder will improve the ride. It is very stylish inside and out, especially with the new design. I drive 2 hours to work each day and it is just not comfortable to me.

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  Lots of Interior Space - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By KeithS - June 7 - 12:06 pm

  We bought this car because my wife needed lots of room to haul around products for her business. Its great for long road trips: comfortable seats, cruise control, and telescoping steering wheel with well-designed controls, lots of cup-holders, and plenty of electrical sockets for technology gadgets. Maintenance-wise: changing the oil and replacing front brake pads are both quite easy. However, accessing the rear bank of spark plugs is almost impossible; dealer charges $400+ to change all 6 plugs. Replacing the air filter and rear wiper blade were a pain. Airflow over the windshield has a "whistling" sound. The paint on front chips away too easily. No "really big" repairs yet, though.

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  Really Happy - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Randy Cohrs - June 7 - 11:50 am

  We just bought our Highlander but we had looked at cars for a while and relized Toyota had the best car for our needs, good gas mileage, a good amount of room and the car runs very well.

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  still love you but time to upgrade - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By diane - June 7 - 11:07 am

  this car has been extremely reliable, low maintenance ,handles great in winter

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  love my car! - 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By tracyshomes - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I love my new sporty car, the reliabilty of a toyota, the beautiful color, the handling and safety...its quick, cute,and turns heads. You can put the top up or down in 3 seconds flat at a stop light.

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  review - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By big curt dog - June 7 - 10:00 am

  good car has good power but has problems with the transmision on the v-6 model.

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  Love this Car! - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By NatalieCallista - June 7 - 10:00 am

  We ended up getting this car during our hunt for an economical vehicle. Style and dependability won out and we ended up with the 4runner. Now we are still going to buy a hybrid, but we love this car. It drives great and I still feel in control. My last car was a Mercedes 560 SL, so I am used to a lot of power, but this car works like a dream, and will keep on kicking for many years to come.

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  Damn good truck! - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Texas Mike - June 7 - 10:00 am

  After 5 Ford F150/250s since 93 I decided to try Tundra.Couldnt be more pleased. Many reviews complain re gas mileage, but what does one expect from a 245 hp V-8? I get 16 city 19+ hwy. Last F150 (2001 V-6) was about the same. Ive had this truck 3+ months and 9800 miles. Id give it all 10s; but those are reserved for my wife.

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  Pleased With my RAV4 - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By RAV4_owner - June 7 - 10:00 am

  My RAV4 has been good to me since I bought it in June. I traded in my 2001 Honda Civic (which I liked) for maintenance and utility reasons. I do my own basic maintenance so being able to get under the vehicle is key. Now Im also able to haul larger objects in the back and I am able to tow a jet ski which wasnt possible with the Civic. With the RAV4, Im able to have a better gas mileage (relative to other SUVs).