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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  2002 Toyota Tacoma - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Ask sm1 who owns 1 - February 2 - 11:30 pm

  This truck is great. Good MPG and quality. Wish I opted for 4x4. 133,000 miles and all I have done is routine maint, front brakes (rear brakes are original), 3 sets of tires and a muffler.

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  Learned to love it! - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By SF Bay Area - February 2 - 8:53 pm

  I was shamed by my sister into replacing my gas guzzling Jeep Grand Cherokee for my new daily commute when I moved in with her. I missed the noise and drama of my old car, but began to appreciate the precise handling and economy, after choosing it for its safety rating. I tend to have a lead foot, so it helped me enjoy driving with finesse and agility. Keep away from the z rated tires (too noisy) and learn how not to bottom out, and it will serve you well. I really learned to love it.

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  06 SR5 4runner - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By WCF - February 2 - 11:43 am

  This is a great vehicle. Our first new Toyota. Comfortable, reliable, smooth rider. My kids both want me to give it to them! Im thinking of moving to something like the Lexus LX just for the luxury of it, but would recommend the 4Runner to anyone.

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  Better than expected - 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By GADrvr - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Weve owned a 2011 Highlander Limited Hybrid for two weeks now. Averaging 31.5 mpg. Very comfortable ride, even the back seats! Great leg room.

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  Excellent - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By XIOMI CARRERA - February 2 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I were very happy and pleased with the performance of the salesman. No pressure was done on his behalf. The driving was excellent, and would recommend to others.

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  Echo rocks! - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By compart - February 2 - 7:27 am

  This little car has the room and comfort of my other Toyota...which is a Camry. It is awesome, super reliable and great gas mileage. If you a very comfortable and simple car to get you from point A to point B...this is it!

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  Great car at this price leverl - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Ishtiaq - February 2 - 6:23 am

  Ride is very smooth and quite. Great safety feature. I got 35 highway mileage with ac on and combined 28/29 mile per gallon with ac on.

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  Power and overall quality - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By BeaverFood - February 1 - 11:56 pm

  I traded my Silverado for the Tundra. I need a reliable and tough pick-up for towing my boat (4,000 lbs) and for plowing my driveway. I expect the Tundra to do well at both. It certainly hauls my boat just fine. I had to haul it 400 miles roundtrip the day after getting the truck. It handled very well, smoother than the Silverado. The 5.7L engine is very nice. And I like the way it downshifts (under cruise control) when going down hill.

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  Well made vehicle - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By Kevin - February 1 - 9:00 pm

  What an improvement over previous model years. The handling is refined like a car with limited body roll but does not sacrifice off-road capabilities. I am 64 and it would be nice if the front seat went back two more notches. The sound system is excellent and the back seats are roomy enough for a large adult to be comfortable. Exterior appearance is similar to the larger brother Sequoia but looks sportier all together. It would be nice if VSC can be disabled when in 2WD. Gas mileage averages 19.5 with combined city highway driving. V6 engine and 5 speed automatic are a perfect combination and provides a good pull through every gear.

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  Great Car!!! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Rob Powers - February 1 - 5:40 pm

  Overall, an excellent car.First toyotal and we are very pleased.ONE major complaint is that the posterior design creates a huge blind spot for the driver.You better be a driver who uses your mirrors very well otherwise you might have problems.Fuel economy is oustanding,34mgp/highway at 75mph. Blind spot may make us sell car, my wife cant see very well with the blind spots. 4cyl engine gets the car out of its own way very nicely so we decided no need for V6 and save few bucks on gas.