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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  rav4 - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By quickyman - January 3 - 10:00 am

  great vehicle--fun to drive--no flaws

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  The First choice in quality, fun & style - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By DMT Steve - January 3 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Tacoma for over a year. It has been extremely reliable, and it draws looks from many other drivers. When quality is brought up, all you have to do is close the door on me Tacoma and compare it to closing the door on anything else. You can truly feel the quality through a process as simple as that. I have over 20k on the odometer and it still drives as well as it did on day one. There are no squeaks or rattles, as everything is very tight.

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  Amazing quality and value - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By DARKPOOL - January 3 - 10:00 am

  This is our sixth Toyota and, without doubt, the best yet. Everything about the car is excellent. We tried the new Nissan and the Honda Accord but the XLE Camry beat them both. We paid $21,000 exactly for the car with the moonroof option. This price included all taxes and registration.

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  My Toyota 4Runner SR5 2WD - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bandit13 - January 3 - 5:56 am

  I was pleasanly surprised with this 4Runner. Rides smooth, no interior or exterior rattles. Steering is great in town and on the freeway. I feel the 3.4 engine has more than enough power for my needs. The A/C is great and all passengers get the cold air. The fuel mileage could be better. I get 16 mpg in the summer months with the A/C always on. In cooler weather without the A/C on I get 19 mpg. This is all city driving. On the freeway 24 mpg is the norm. I do use an K&N air filter, and synthetic oil, and Toyota oil filters. And 87 octane fuel. Its great SUV. I plan to keep it many years.

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  Full Size Fun - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By FLOD - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Comfort, luxury, and size characterize the Sequoia. For a family SUV, this is a great vehicle if you can afford it. We dont do off-roading, but the Northeast makes winter travel sometimes difficult. Not in this vehicle. Safety combined with Toyota reliability makes me feel good that my family is in this vehicle.

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  Great Truck!!!!! - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Azar - January 3 - 2:00 am

  This truck does everything. added a soft tonneau cover, tube type running boards, bug and tar deflector and wind and rain deflectors. looks really sharp.

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  Love My RAV - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Pleased - January 2 - 10:26 pm

  I have owned my RAV4 for only three weeks but I feel it is a vehicle that I will keep for many years. I love nearly every aspect of the vehicle from the power of the six cylinder engine to the ease of handling. Theres plenty of storage area and ease of accessing materials. The quality of the materials appears to be excellent - I have perforated leather and heated seats. The smart key entry is wonderful since I just leave my keys in my pocket for entry and starting the vehicle. I do not find the swing door on the back to be a problem at all as it opens widely for easy access. The rear step bumper is also handy. To conclude, I am very pleased with my purchase and would recommend the RAV4.

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  Old Faithful - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By Carol - January 2 - 7:53 pm

  Finally replacing Old Faithful after over 10 very reliable years. Seats are losing their bounce and its showing its age a bit, but still runs like a charm. The 2.0 4cyl is a bit wimpy for hwy driving, but MPG is great. I truly wish the US would build affordable quality products. The materials/fit & finish are so chintzy in comparison, or incredibly overpriced. Looks like another import vehicle again for me.

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  Nice Little Beast - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Larry - January 1 - 2:53 pm

  We have really enjoyed this vehicle. It is comfortable, accelerates nicely (but not a muscle machine), and has great gas mileage. We are very impressed with the conveniences and storage of the interior. We went to the Midwest this November and the car got 43 mpg over the Rockies and with high speed driving in Montana and N. Dakota. We get about 50 mpg in the area of our rural home. We are satisfied and it meets our expectations.

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  This is the one! - 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Loren Mccoy - January 1 - 12:26 pm

  Having owned numerous cars and SUVs and driven countless trucks, I can tell you that if you can afford it, this is the SUV to buy. It skips the phony glam of the lexus LX470 and delivers what Toyota delivers best: a no nonsense product with all of the comfort and capability one could want. It drives great on the highway, and if you can get it stuck off-road, you should not be driving off-road. The Toyota Land Cruiser seems to have more interior room than a Chevy Tahoe. It certainly has a cache that only Land Rover can match, and its reliability is better than anything else out there; but if something does go wrong, it is so easy to just drive down to your neighborhood Toyota dealership.