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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  Midsize Champ? - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Russell Watts - February 7 - 9:26 am

  On my third tank of gas and loving the truck more with every mile. Very smooth, quiet and comfortable. My wife and I test drove many midsize/compacts and a few full size trucks before this one but we both knew the new Tacoma was the truck for us when we saw/drove it. Weve always wanted a midsize truck with room for adults in the back seat and with a six foot box. Finally, that truck arrived. Thanks Toyota! Nissan, if you listening, put a six foot box on your redesigned Quad Cab Frontier if you want to compete. Dodge missed the boat on this one again with the 05 Quad Cab Dakota.

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  2005 Toyota Camry (base) - 5 spd manual - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By DAN - February 7 - 6:46 am

  Great car... I have put mostly highway miles on mine and am still on the original brakes after almost 5 years and 63000 miles. My only gripe is the paint/finish. I opted for a dealer- applied 5-yr super simonize wax and even with that, I still have deep chips and scratches. From driving on the hwy, I wouldve expected minor scratches on the hood from rocks, but these are like gouges. Other than that, this car has been amazing. Ill definitely purchase another Toyota as soon as I get 200000-250000 miles on this one.

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  I have always wanted to own this car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Trish Britcher - February 6 - 7:03 pm

  The only mark "9" was for interior design. The reason for this was due to the trouble I have with the large blind spots. The mirrors I have noticed have helped tremendously but, I still have fears changing lanes to my right. As for everything else? I love every bit of it. I love the console, the seats (front and back). The front pass. seat has very spacious leg room. I have a very tall husband and daughter. He can sit in the front with all the leg room and she can sit behind him with her space without complaint.

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  Love the car - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By yaris fan - February 6 - 12:13 pm

  I bought a new Yaris 4 door auto sedan and love it. I have a 2002 Toyota Tundra but the gas mileage was not that great. I wanted a car for a commute to work and found it to be fun to drive. Now I do not want to drive the Tundra any more than I have to as I get almost 3 times the mileage with the Yaris. I have not had any trouble with the car and it runs great.

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  2016 Toyota Highlander - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By HLTTran - February 6 - 11:35 am

  I like my newly purchase Toyota Highlander. The 6 cylinder is quiet and has excellent pick-up. The interior is comfortable. Workmanship is of top notch. I have not found anything negative on my SUV.

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  Not quite happy with my RAV4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By joelh1 - February 6 - 9:16 am

  The car is great looking, solid and is fun to drive. It has lots of storage and seems to have been designed with the drivers comfort and convenience in mind. MPG is a little disappointing as is vibration at idle when the air conditioning is on. The road noise is noticeable but not too annoying. The suspension is stiff and you feel the road but that may be part of the fun.

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  Seen one, tested one, bought one - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By badmana - February 6 - 8:26 am

  Although Ive only been driving the XRS for 10 days, 18 hours I can tell you that the Matrix rocks. No rattling, noises or any problems except for maybe a burned clutch (first time driving a manual) this car is really fun to drive.

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  best convertible on the road - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Joseph Stassi - February 6 - 6:50 am

  This is the most amazing car ive ever owned. i traded a 03 jaguar x-type for this and actually have much more back seat leg room and plusher interior. i just sold my 95 celica convertible with 130,000 miles on it to my best friend because i needed something bigger; but its immaculate also and still runs as good as new. i have a black one with gray leather that i put 18" wheels on and blacked out the grill and chrome and custom painted the head and tail lights. i constantly have people admiring it and wondering what it is... i had all of the lettering removed.

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  The Best Car Ever - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By Sophia - February 6 - 4:26 am

  I, unfortunately, was forced to sell my car 6 months ago because of a move. It was the best car ever! My mom purchased it new in 1997 and she passed it on to me with 30,000 miles in 2000. I drove it on long trips, long commutes, and stop and go traffic for 8 years and it NEVER gave me any trouble. The only thing I changed on it is the battery after 9 years of use and the tires because of normal wear and tear. I did regular maintenance on it to make sure it stayed happy and thats all I needed to do. I miss that car so much. If you get a chance to get one, buy it, you will not be disappointed!

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  Our traveler - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By stan - February 6 - 3:16 am

  We purchased the Highlander in February. Its only used as a family car. Since owning it we have taken it from Maine to Florida and have had no problems at all. The back seat became a little cramped for our 2 children ages 11 and 14 however we did make use of a luggage carrier and that did help a lot. We have never used the third row seat. I find it a pleasure to drive with plenty of power. It did take little while to learn the switches. The limited off-road capability is to be taken seriously. I have gotten it stuck twice in sand and have determined that I would have been better served in a 4-runner only because of my off-road demands. Overall I would consider it a wonderful vehicle.