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 this car - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By SalesMonkey - July 28 - 10:00 am

  As a traveling sales person, I spend a lot of time in the car and I searched for a comfortable vehicle with excellent mileage - and integrated GPS! My Camry meets all the requirements. I routinely get 40 mpg on the highway and if I baby it, I can get the tank average to be 40+. Awesome. I am comfortable on long trips, the JBL audio system is great, and there is plenty of room for my 63" frame and passengers. This vehicle replaced a diesel VW and I was concerned it wouldnt match the mileage, but it has exceeded all of my expectations.

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  Great, Dependable Vehicle - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By Ben - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my 2.7L Tacoma for a little over a year now. Not only does this truck get great gas mileage, but it can handle just about whatever you throw at it. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who needs a reliable, dependable vehicle that is capable as well.

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  Great car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By A. Hampton - July 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Toyota and I must say I am pleasantly surprised. The build quality is excellent. The performance is unbelievable! Overall, a great car!

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  Great Car - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By djc6523 - July 28 - 12:46 am

  I have had my Prius since 25/02/05 and love it. Great performance and gas mileage. All the features are great including the touch screen. The car has incredible room inside and is extremely quite when driving whether it be highway or city.

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  Excellent!!! Love It!!! - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By satishw - July 27 - 11:35 pm

  Smooth Drive, no noise, good mileage ( 45m/g on avg in winter )(50m/g on hot days). Lot of room inside, smooth transition between electric and gas engine. USB option, Aux option, bluetooth option, cd option. Huge trunk space. Basically I loved the car very much.

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  Recommend to Anyone! - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By Janey - July 27 - 8:00 pm

  I love this car! My Camry has over 250,000 miles on it and is running close to as well as it did when it was purchased new. This car has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. Of course, there have been minor problems but considering the mileage, nothing major is great. These cars look great for being 15 years old. People cant believe the condition of this car after that amount of time. Routine maintenance has kept it going strong. I recommend this car to anyone who is looking to buy.

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  The Good, The Bad, & The Beautiful - 2014 Toyota Highlander
  By mclynch - July 27 - 4:23 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for about a month and a half now; Prox. 4000 miles. Bought the XLE over the LE Plus as the price difference was minimal as compared to some of the luxury upgrades that are standard with the XLE package; ie: Leather, heated seats, larger touch screen radio, moon roof, etc. My family also owns a 2011 Toyota Sienna with the limited trim package. The Highlander has a much more quiet ride, comfier seats, plenty of room in the 2nd & 3rd rows (Im 6-4") so I do not fit in most mid-size SUVs...

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  My Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Barbara Linder - July 27 - 8:46 am

  Smooth as silk. good handling, comfortable interior. Superb climate control. I average 49 MPG in largely city driving. Amazing amount of usuable interior space.

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  camry fan - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By mhwinkle - July 27 - 3:46 am

  this is our 2nd camry! the last one took us around for 250,000+ miles of family fun. probly would have lasted longer but we need to have a TOTALLY reliable car for work. our 1992 camry still looked good, ran great, and was a part of the family, i cried when we traded it in! our family grew from 2 to 5 in 3 years and that camry always accomidated us with enough space!!! thank god for that great big trunk! at one time i hauled aroun 2 strollers a portocrib and huge dipper bag~ still always having enough room for my shopping bags!!!!! the new camry is a dream to drive and i can not get over the engine!!! we live in a hilly area and never has it had a rough shift feel...simply amazing.

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  A great car to have - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By JR - July 26 - 5:50 pm

  Ive had my Corolla for almost 2 years now, and I must say, I enjoy driving this car. Power isnt the best, but its enough to do what you have to do. Ride quality is good. Highway driving is what I think the Corolla is bred for. Its quiet and gets you from point a to b without draining your pockets. I would suggest, if equipped, use the cruise control. It helps the car perform and keeps the speed maintained without hesitation. To get the best out of this, use 93 oct. fuel. Although it costs more, its really worth it.