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:

• 

  Towing dream come true! - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By Gail Shoults - April 28 - 5:13 am

  Pulling a stock trailer loaded with four horses and forgetting they are behind me, compared with other half tons and being kicked around the road at times! the stress free tundra ride is a dream and the hauling capacity sold me hands down!

• 

  Awesome Car - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Sean Thomas - April 28 - 4:03 am

  The first Hybrid vehicle I was in was a Honda and what I didnt like about it was everytime we would stop the a/c would turn off or not work well. Well when I decided to move from an SUV to a car I didnt think I wanted a hybrid but was suprised when I sceduled a test drive. I drove the camry, camry hybrid, scion xb, prius and the civic hybrid. I liked the prius but it didnt come equiped with a sunroof. I also really liked the camry hybrid. It was a great car. I ordered my vehicle before leaving the lot and couldnt wait for my car to come in. I have now had the vehicle for close to 3 weeks and I am getting over 38 mpg. I do have to admit that my driving habits have changed.

• 

  2004 Sequoia - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Annie - April 28 - 12:36 am

  The Sequoia has been a great vehicle for my family. The size is fabulous on trips, and everyone is very comfortable. The leather interior is a must for a family, with spills etc. Weve just done routine maintenance and have never had any mechanical problems.

• 

  4 Cyl. 2WD great economy SUV. - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Cal. Highlander - April 27 - 3:23 am

  The Highlander is very easy to drive (not as easy as compact SUVs such as CRVs) considering its size. It is a lot easier to drive than a 4Runner or an Excursion. The steering is light enough so the car doesnt feel heavy. And there is not an overall sense of "bulkiness" when changing lanes, backing up, etc... The 4 Cyl. 2WD only feels slightly less powerful than the SR5 V6 4Runner. But, you should test drive both, back to back, before you decide if the 4 cyl. Highlander is powerful enough. I would not recommend getting the 4WD option with the 4 cyl. Highlander. It would weigh down the vehicle dramatically causing it to feel a tad sluggish.

• 

  My review - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By sid - April 27 - 3:16 am

  The Toyta Camry Hybrid is probably the best car I ever owned. Great for riding as well as driving. I would recommend the Camry Hybrid to anyone who wants a terrific automobile.

• 

  On my 2nd Pruis - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Jim in Wimberley, Tx - April 26 - 2:06 am

  Last week I traded in my 2008 Prius, which had 37,000 miles, for the 3rd generation 2010 model. It handles better, steering wheel is tighter, a smoother ride, no nighttime glare from the front instrument panel, and less road noise. Over my two year ownership of the 2008 Prius, I averaged 45.5 mpg, saved $2550.00 in fuel cost compared to the 20 mpg my old SUV got. Its fun to drive.

• 

  Great so far - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By MikeGLA - April 26 - 12:06 am

  Picked up the car in Maryland and drove it back to New Orleans 2 weeks ago. Great ride. Very little fatigue on the highway. Drove 500 miles one day and could have driven 800. Great highway cruiser. 32 mpg at average 68 mph through the high hills of VA. Seating supportive but not hard. Passenger seat higher and better than 2008 Accord. No sign of the transmission problem people have complained about, but Im not expecting a Porsche. Manual shift option works fine if you need it. People complain of wind noise and it is noticeable at 75, but thats because theres so little road noise. On the Accord, the road noise would drown it. Only 2,000 miles so far, but Im happy.

• 

  Too Reliable? - 1999 Toyota Avalon
  By 25 yrs Toyota - April 25 - 11:40 pm

  Incredible car! Soft ride, low maintenance, good mileage. Only complaint - after 13 yrs of a gray 86 Camry and 11 yrs of this silver 99 Avalon, I feel the need for a change. Could be midlife issues. I need something bright and irresponsible. But seriously, GREAT CAR! Fits all sizes of people and luggage. Surprisingly good mileage for its size and comfort and I highly recommend it. Thats what makes it hard for me to give up.

• 

  Great car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By fj40 - April 25 - 9:50 pm

  Weve had our Camry for a couple of weeks. We enjoy the comfortable, quiet ride. The XLE is very luxurious for a Camry. Back seat has LOTS of room. The V6 has the performance the Camry has been lacking. But, fuel economy is average - we are averaging about 23 mpg with town and some highway driving. I think that may be a consequence of me enjoying the V6 a little to much ;) Controls on the steering column are very convenient. The auto lights feature is nice, but takes some getting used to. Overall, we are very pleased with our new car.

• 

  Florida Solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Mpradzinski - April 24 - 2:00 am

  This is the best new car I ever purchased. Not one problem with the car over the first 4000 miles. It rides better than the Accord at a better price. If you are looking for a fun coupe, the Solara is it. Toyota did a great job on the re-design.