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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  1 year later - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By Nancie - February 14 - 3:46 am

  I wanted to wait to write a review until I had my 4Runner a year. I drive appx. 30000 per year so I needed a comfortable vehicle. My only major complaint is the handling in windy conditions. That might be inherent of this type of vehicle, though. If I keep my foot out of it, my gas mileage improves greatly - 24 MPG. Overall, I love the look and performance .

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  Great truck! - 2013 Toyota Tacoma
  By Brian Brown - February 14 - 2:05 am

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  Overjoyed - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By David - February 13 - 7:23 pm

  Wow, what a car. The 09 is slightly bigger then the 08 which enlarged the trunk somewhat. It is one good looking auto. Electric motor battery is relatively small and is attached under the rear window shelf. Love the keyless system--when you carry the fob it knows its you and unlocks the door as you approach. Push button start is very futuristic and fun. Gas mileage is great. My first tank in town averaged 33 mpg. On level road at 65 mph the fuel consumption stayed steady at 45 mpg. Continuous mpg display replaces the tachometer. The ride is solid and smooth and the car handles great. Good power as the electric motor supplements the gas engine when needed.

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  A new approach to luxury sedan - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Ugo Bozzano - February 13 - 7:43 am

  I owned an Avalon for almost 8 years and I truly liked it. However, the new model is a tremendous improvement in exterior and interior design; it has great confort features (T control on both sides, control buttons on drive wheel, reclineable rear seats) and sound system (9 speakers), safety features, and a terrific 3.5 lt engine.

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  Sienna The Best - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By howdy - February 12 - 10:30 pm

  Very happy with my Sienna. A bargain at dealer invoice....Get one today.

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  Mixed emotions - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By grider - February 12 - 6:13 pm

  My feelings on this vehicle are very mixed. We bought this to replace our gas guzzling pathfinder. It is touted as getting between 25 & 27 miles to the gallon, which we were getting until about a month ago when it fell and has not gone above 22 MPG. We took it in to get inspected and went through all the obvious factors, tire pressure, driving habits,and so on. They informed us that it takes 5,000 to 10,000 miles to "break in" the vehicle and see the actual MPG.We were informed that 26 MPG was not actually realistic and those tests are done under conditions which are impossible to drive under. I am not saying its a bad vehicle, but dont believe your salesperson that u are going to get 26 MPG

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  Everything I thought it would be - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Bill - February 12 - 11:43 am

  I have wanted a Venza since I first read about them. I have had the car for a 10 days and it was worth the wait. I love the interior room. The V- 6 provides plenty of power. It is a very smooth ride. My biggest surprise has been the gas mileage. I got 23 1/2 mpg on my first tank. This was about 4 mpg better than my 03 Highlander. I usually would not buy a car in its first year of release, but since it was a Toyota product I felt it would be reliable I decided to make an exception and get the car. So far I am glad I did. This is an amazing vehicle. It handles like a car and retains the versatility of an SUV with better gas mileage.

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  Great Car, Summer Fun - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By carluvr - February 12 - 3:46 am

  I think Toyota is making a huge mistake in discontinuing this model. I was in a rear-end collision and had I been in a two seater, I shudder to think of where I would be now. the car is well built and ultimately protected me so that not only did I walk away, I returned to work later, when I stopped shaking. I suffered whiplash and Im still dealing with that. The dealership did a fabulous job in returning the car to its original condition and you cant even tell it was in an accident.

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  Love At First Sight - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By My FJ Cruiser - February 12 - 12:53 am

  Everywhere I go people stop me to talk about my FJ. I have the black cherry pearl and live in the mountains, so I rinse it off every other day so it will always look its best when I go out. Everyone loves the color and the different style. I used to own a 77 FJ 40 Land Cruiser which I dearly loved, so I really like the retro features. The ride is excellent. I will never take it off road, but I live 2 1/2 miles off the main road and we get a lot of snow, so I am anxious to use the 4X4. My dream car used to be a 4Runner, but this was love at first sight. Lots of power. My mechanic says real heavy duty frame and great engine accessibility. Love it.

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  Great Vehicle...Even in Wisconsin! - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Wisconsin08Prius - February 11 - 9:20 pm

  We have only owned our Prius for a short time and I can only say good things about it so far. It handles great in all weather conditions. We live in Wisconsin and experience snow every few days, which has been no problem. Fuel economy is great although slightly lower, but not significantly, in the winter weather. It is a very fun car to drive. I am 65" 240 pounds and fit comfortably driving and sitting in the passengers seat. Very roomy. I have not experienced any of the phantom shut offs or anything along those lines. The glare on the screen that people talk about has been a non-issue. The lights being dim on the dash is solved by adjusting the dimmer switch until they are super bright.