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 it! - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Elizabeth Libero - July 6 - 6:06 am

  I love my new Corolla. The bluetooth, storage, ride, comfort etc. is all there. Getting great mileage. Have not noticed steering problem and I have been looking for it after reading others. I like the way it looks too. I am very pleased and would recommend it to others. I do agree the clock should be moved, but thats about it. I find all the features to be up to Toyotas usual standards. I feel like I am in a Camry most of the time. I have had Toyotas in the past, still have an old Sienna. Got this car to get the good gas mileage and it was the most comfortable one out there.

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  Im happy I looked and waited... - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By lvitch - July 6 - 12:56 am

  Great Truck! Down sides: Needs better lumbar support, Big turning radius (Im used to my old pathfinder), windshield scratches easily. I love this truck more every time I drive it. Plenty of power, I dont even know my 19 bass boat is back there. Highway passing is effortless. Gets the same mileage whether Im towing or not (18 mpg). Plenty of room for me and my family (Im 61 and my kids are huge). Hands down the best I looked at and drove, period.

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  Finally a Tundra - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Tundra Happy - July 5 - 4:50 pm

  Just purchase this truck last week and I love it! It has exactly what I needed without the extra junk. I really like the rear window roll down feature and that it has a defroster. The ride is superior to any of the other trucks that I test drove. Also like the taction control option. Have not tested for mileage yet (only 100 miles). Excellent interior insulation from noise.

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  Fast - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By wu - July 5 - 10:53 am

  We have had this Camry about two years now, and it is not a boring car but it is smooth, comfortable and has good road manner, and overall it is a good car.

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  a little rocket - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By jacob - July 4 - 9:53 pm

  i can beat many expesive cars on acceleration. Its a great fun to drive car. roomy interior, which surprises guests. the only things that bothers me it taking a coin from the coin slot under the handbrake is difficult and the digital readout on the dash of milease is too dim and too small. The outside body looks as if someone hit it when you approach it from certain angles. otherwise its a bargain.

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  One of the best cars ever - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By Spudo - July 4 - 8:26 am

  I bought this car when it was 4 years old and already had 114,000 miles on it. It has been a great car, even 50,000 miles later. Runs like new. Love the power, MPG, comfort and reliability. Have had to do normal maintenance, tires, battery, brakes, fluid changes. The only mechanical issue was occasionally the throttle body will get gummed up and the car will start but not idle. Simple fix, remove the idle air regulator and clean it good with a q tip and carb cleaner. Did this myself in about an hour, no problems since. Great gas mileage, will get 31 mpg on flat highway at 55 miles her hour. Closer to 28-29 at 65-70. City around 21. Get the XLS, as it adds all the luxuries such as heated seats.

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  Just plain fun - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By rigor01 - July 4 - 2:00 am

  I used to rent cars for a living and have driven many different makes and models, so I knew what to get and not to get. I had my heart on the XRS when I went to the dealership but just couldnt swing the payments. Just before I left, I test drove the XR and bought it on the spot. Its fun to drive, has Toyotas reliability to back it, and because theres not a lot of them out where I live, it turns heads and makes people ask what it is. It has that young, sporty look and the interior gauges pretty cool. It has a lot of headroom, decent interior space, and enough standard features to fulfill almost all of my needs. All for well under $20,000.

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  WOW - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By dixzoo - July 4 - 2:00 am

  This truck is like none other in industry, I looked at them all! You really have to go and drive it to appriecitate it. Once you drive it you get over the cladding on the outside. The dealership I purchased at has free oil changes, What more can you ask for????????

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  A great addition to the SUV market - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By James Goren - July 3 - 7:40 pm

  The Highlander Hybrid is very fast has an incredible acceleration, the handling is very good for an suv. It is quiet and confortable. Ill welcome a few little luxury items in my Limited,like driver seat with memory, low pressure tires warning light, or run flat tires, etc., but over all I am entusiastic with my car.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned By Far!!! - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Ryan Norred - July 3 - 2:16 pm

  I purchased my Camry eleven months ago as a replacement for my 2007 Nissan Altima 2.5 S which had battery & transmission problems & its a huge improvement. The first car I bought was a 2006 Toyota Corolla S which I drove for five and a half years with no problems, so Im happy to be back with Toyota! I still love it just as much as when I first drove it off the lot! Despite mine being a XSE with the sport-tuned suspension, the ride quality is not that bad, handling is responsive enough & the interior is quiet. The 3.5L V6 engine is very powerful, very smooth & very quiet. I test drove a 4-cylinder version as well & its pleasant enough, but bought the V6 for its extra refinement & rarity. The seats are comfortable & the interior has plenty of legroom. I love the styling very much both outside & inside & the touchscreen controls are simple. Mine is Black with the black leather/suede interior with the red stitching which has a very tasteful & sporty look! Its about as fuel efficient as my previous car, but with nearly 100 more horsepower. Im planning to keep this car for at least ten years as it has all the horsepower & luxury features ill ever need & it will likely be very reliable as Camrys always have been!