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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  BEST HAULER - 2012 Toyota Sienna
  By Naicole - January 28 - 5:58 pm

  I have bought and sold plenty cars and suvs... but comfort wise and mpg and loading for long travels

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  A Wonderful Car - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By SCheng - January 28 - 10:43 am

  I have been waiting to get a 2006 RAV4. It is well worth the wait. It is much bigger than the previous design and many comfortable/convenient features in it. The one that we have is a 4-Cyl but it does have some power. I particularily like the 3-row seat. Although it is not too much leg room there, but hey, the 3rd row seat will be there when we need it. Many cup holders. Drives great in the snow. Also, it plays MP3 and WMA CD, as opposed to just regular audio CD (that means you can particularly burn a MP3 CD with over 200-300 songs in ONE CD).

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  Improvements a ten! - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Incognito - January 28 - 9:50 am

  Researched vehicle thoroughly. Decided on a 2010 over the 2009 due to many upgrades. People will find the 2010 more comfortable, smoother (no sudden jumps in acceleration) and more responsive in steering. Test drove the 2009 too many times to count, but one test drive of the 2010 was good enough for my wife and I! Ive only had the car for several days and am having fun with all the fuel consumption monitoring. Heck with what all the experts are saying, this car is FUN to drive!

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  Prius Maximus - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By robert kagan - January 27 - 4:22 pm

  Terrific car. Rides great. Very comfortable. 60 mpg!

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  Prius Maximus - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By robert kagan - January 27 - 3:39 pm

  Terrific car. Rides great. Very comfortable. 60 mpg!

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  sweet suzie bell comes through - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By j roller - January 27 - 2:20 pm

  it looks so good on the street that people are always asking where i got it and what did i pay... is quick and agile and has great turning radius with tremendous traction on snow and rain surfaces... packs in all the kids and luggage and all the pets they wont leave at home......

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  2002 Sienna Symphony - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By E L - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Our Sienna Symphony is a great minivan for the price. Our only complaint is that we only get about 20-22 mpg on 3.0l V-6 engine. Our 1993 Grand Voyager with 3.3l engine still gets around 18- 20 mpg. We believe that our new minivan which has a smaller engine displacement and smaller size overall should get a bit more than a mile per gallon than a 10-year old minivan.

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  Very Impressed..... - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By timrocko - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Never thought Id buy a foreign vehicle, but after owning my Tacoma SR5 4wdEXCAB, dont think Ill owe anything diffrent...Infact so impressed with build quality bought my wife Toyota 4 Runner which is 2 years older but has the same 3.4 V6 and quality and reliabity are unsurpassed...

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  jimbobs - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By jimbobx2 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Very fun to drive. Nice ride for a small car.

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  Great truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Curt FUlmer - January 27 - 7:53 am

  It is the first vehicle I ever bought new and it was well worth it. The car I drove before it was a Toyota Echo, so fuel economy is worse, but comfort is well worth it. It was a good buy, and I would recommend it to anyone.