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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  A perfect car - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By a perfect car - June 13 - 12:36 am

  Pros: I owned Maxima 2000. Nissan car starts having major problems after 5 years. I switched to Toyota due to its reliability and durability. I did many researches and took a drive test with Lexus 2006. There is no difference between this car and Lexus (with the same options) except it is cheaper about $2000. The car has smooth transmision, quite & spacy interior, soft suspension, a perfect handling drivability. Audio system is auwsome.

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  Power and Style Combined - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By kdr - June 12 - 5:23 pm

  Top of the line styling, best in class! The truck presents like a truck while at the same time scores as a top-shelf SUV from the inside out. The long bed is just that, long on functionality and big on capability. This class, size and design of truck ensures heads turn as you drive by and no doubt fills driver and passengers with pride.

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  2010 4 WD Limited RAV 4 - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By New RAV 4 owner - June 12 - 5:06 pm

  Leased 2 1/2 wks ago and took on a road trip. V-4 performed great in mountains; did not notice road noise others have noted; great cargo area; passenger seat comfortable, but driver seat tight for my 65" husband; agree that interior plastic looks cheap even for the limited; so far love the car and features; was much cheaper to lease than Honda CR-V;

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  More car for the money - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By giltro - June 12 - 9:23 am

  Big guy in a little car, yeah right! This car is deceiving, truly has enough room for a 511 driver who weighs 275 lbs. Sporty and be ready to get some stares as you drive through town. Its just a great feeling!

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  Sequoia review - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By mariakal - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car for the money...comfortable drive...could use a little better pickup but moves smooth and easy...

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  Toyota RAV4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Jeff C - June 12 - 2:00 am

  The RAV4 exemplifies Toyota quality inside and out. I find the design and engineering of the vehicle to be exceptional. You wont find a loose bolt on this vehicle anywhere. It has more than enough power for a 2.4 liter engine and it turns on a dime. The interior design is well laid out. Instrumentation is easy to read and easily accessible. Overall, the best small SUV on the market in my opinion.

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  All I need - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By TRD-Stepside - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Truck is incredible head-turner for a everyday driver. TRD leather interior is awesome. Not bulky like the big 3, but not compact either...

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  204 Solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Reldnahc - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Traded 2003 Solara for 2004. Love new feature and appearance. Great car

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  Such a great car - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Woogie - June 12 - 2:00 am

  With a larger car and more features, the 2003 Toyota Camry gets more mileage to the gallon than my old 1995 Saturn SL1 did. Pretty impressive handling!

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  Toyota Camry LE 2.4 auto - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By alcarra - June 12 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is absolutely the best value for the money. Its handling, stability, performance, reliability, design and styling are unsurpassed in the motor vehicle industry by any other car manufacturer.