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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  Amazing - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Will - October 2 - 11:03 pm

  Saw the commercials. Test drove it and LOVED it! This car is serious value, serious quality, and serious FUN!

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  Fun - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Medjeep - October 2 - 9:43 am

  This is a great little car that will last a life time, this is my second corolla and by far the fastest with a lot of pick up and go power to get you around in traffic,will not go wrong here as great car to be had and plan on buy more corolla later in my life

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  hot car to drive, body style lacking - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By kool - October 2 - 8:53 am

  radio reception poor trim (chrome like) is a little cheesy... beautiful ride and comfort otherwise

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  Best car I have ever owned - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By none - October 2 - 4:06 am

  My 2000 Celica GT-S is the best car I have ever owned. No major mechanical problems. Looks great, sips fuel, and is fun to drive. Its getting older now with 140k miles on it, but I cant find an excuse to get rid of it. Just a great car.

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  First Truck Owned - Love It - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Glenn - October 2 - 1:13 am

  A day after I bought my Tundra, I loaded up the family for a 800 mile road trip. The truck handled beautifully and made the miles appear to go quicker than actual.

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  Awesome Car - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By pinkparadise42 - October 2 - 12:03 am

  I have had my GTS 6-Speed Celica for a yr. now and I absolutely LOVE it! Looks and runs great! In the past year I have had it, I had to take it to the shop once which warranty paid for. I would defintely recommend this car to anyone! It looks great and is a blast to drive!

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  The perfect Alaskan Truck - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By tundra - October 1 - 7:33 pm

  Simply put, my Tundra is a damn good vehicle. It works well in snow, mud, gunk and on highways that have pavement.

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  2005 Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Chuck - October 1 - 6:50 pm

  The Prius has much more acceleration than youd think from a 1.5 liter engine. The seats could be less firm. As much as I travel each year, seat comfort is crucial. The gas mileage is fun to watch on the big screen in the console. Before I purchased this car I was an agressive driver, but now I find myself trying to get the best MPG I can which means slowing down and driving much smoother. It is very stable on the highway even with cross winds and has a very solid feel to it. There is some road noise from the wheels but it is much quieter than most that Ive driven.

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  4000 miles and counting - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Doug - October 1 - 10:20 am

  This is my first Toyota truck. I have owned Chevys for the last 25 years.So if I seem picky about my Tundra you will understand. Before I drove the Tundra , I test drove a Dodge , a Ford a Chevy and even a Nissan Titan.

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  a little disappointing - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By mishmish - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought my sequioa with only 14 miles on it so I was disappointed when I took my sequioa at 7300 miles for routine services and they told me I need brakes and rotors Also at 4500 miles I had to get a new brain box or whatever its called because the check enigine light kept coming on.I also keep getting this foul oder smell when I go pass 65mph.