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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  Great car - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By KM - February 21 - 5:13 pm

  This is a great car to own and drive. My wife and I drive it to work every day in heavy traffic and the Corolla makes it easy to handle. The gas mileage is incredible, averaged 41 mpg on a trip from DC to Florida and routinely get 33-34 mpg driving in heavy city traffic. It looks great and rides well. Negatives: The seats are well made and high quality however they can be a little uncomfortable after an hour or so Ive found.

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  Toyota Tacoma - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By ned5178 - February 21 - 11:43 am

  This truck has been a glory whether driving in the snow or on drive asphalt. The truck handles like no other Ive driven (just in case your wondering Ive driven ford, chevy, mazda and GMC). It also does very well for gas for a 4.0 liter engine. This is a phenomenal truck.

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  Compact SUV, fun to drive - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By photog4fun - February 21 - 1:16 am

  Ive had my RAV4 for 4 1/2 yrs. now and it has been one of the best cars that Ive owned in the past 35 yrs. Top qualities that I love: 1. Higher viewing position compared to a sedan 2. Short, compact with plenty of room inside 3.Comfortable seats, easy to reach radio, good drink holders, nice ride 4. 24-26 mpg mostly highway travel 5. Highly reliable car with almost no mechanical problems over the past 80,000 miles Cons: 1. Slippery in icy conditions 2. Body dings easily

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  Best Decision I made this year! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Laura - February 21 - 1:00 am

  I love this car for the most part. Getting used to all of the electronic gadgetry is a bit daunting, but its new and innovative and real saver on gasoline. As a commuter, this is a great car that will inevitably save me much in expected gas costs, but it is not a car for hauling mulch or strapping kayaks to for a road trip. The inside cargo space is better than adequate and can likely meet most minor hauling needs. It definitely seats 4 people comfortably, if necessary.

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  Great on every aspect - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By patricksound - February 20 - 10:36 pm

  Excellent, extremely strong and very comfortable. The luxury fixtures make it a truck to want.

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  Pretty Good SUV So Far - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By anw - February 20 - 6:50 pm

  We are pretty happy to get the 2005 model instead of 2004 even though they are identical and is more expensive. We love the safety features of this car which Honda does not even offer as an option. The gas mileage is not as good as my Sienna.

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  Better than expected - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By sidefx - February 20 - 1:16 pm

  I wasnt expecting this car to have as much oomph as it does. Coming from a v6 Honda with 265 hp, I thought I would be disappointed, but Im not. Two weeks so far and mpg is amazing. At fill up I compared my own calculations on my 1st tank to what the dashboard says and it was exactly the same to the tenths place!! BTW it was 47.6 and that included me pushing the car to its limits in the first few days ;) halfway through the second tank Im at 54.2 mpg and easily maintaining that thanks to the useful meter that helps you achieve great results. Id like to comment on another post. You CAN make all the doors open when touching the sensor on the handle of the car. Read the manual!

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  Breathtaking Design - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By luvchrysler - February 20 - 11:50 am

  I have to say we were intending to purchase a Prius after driving one on vacation. The trade in was our Cadillac CTS that was stylish and fun to drive but uncomfortable on trips. Needless to say, the Venza blew us away after a test drive. The passenger comfort front AND rear (rear seats recline) is just amazing. It is so roomy and offers plenty of luggage space for 4 passengers. The controls are easy to use, doors open wide and there are many cubbyholes and storage pockets. The ride and acceleration are excellent, the AWD operates smoothly and unobtrusively. We enjoy the styling and get many compliments as well, we are very happy with our decision a year later!

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  This Truck Is Awesome! - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By David Habermehl - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I love my Toyota PreRunner! This truck has the off road capabilities of any 4x4, but without the maintenance of 4wd. The 190 hp V6 is gutsy and pulls my boat with no problems and the automatic tranny shifts smooth through all gears. The bed carries both my bikes and any equipment I need for camping. Extended cab is a must and can really fit 4 passengers for short trips.

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  Our First SUV - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By B.P.B - February 20 - 10:00 am

  It was a little hard to find the exact options we wanted with a manual trans but we managed to get everything but the ABS in our final choice and I was very happy with our final price. It is a VERY comfortable ride and so far we are getting decent MPG with city suburb driving 26MPG. The only complaint is what everyone else is saying....more power.