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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  Satisfied Customer - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Howard Bell - October 3 - 12:30 pm

  I have had the car for almost 5 months and have driven it in both urban and rural settings. Both performance and comfort of ride have been quite good. Mileage has been somewhat under the EPA estimate ( about 2 mpg) but is quite good. The primary accessories (heater, air conditioner, stereo) have all performed quite well. I have been quite pleased with the acceleration while cruising at 55-60 mpg on rural highways. This greatly facilitates passing slower vehicles without requiring inordinate clear straightaways. The car could be a little quieter when accelerating from a stop sign.

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By em - October 3 - 10:30 am

  I bought my Corolla about 6 months ago and I love it. I commute to school 75 miles a day, three days a week, and I save a lot of money on gas every month. My gas mileage averages out to almost 33 mpg. I had one trip that I took mostly back roads at about 55-60 mph I got nearly 40 mpg. Very reliable and comfortable.

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  The best minivan available - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By honest_abe - October 3 - 9:33 am

  XLE trim, 8 passenger version, with XLE premium package. The van is excellent quality and American made. The ride is quiet and smooth, making it an absolute pleasure to drive.

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  Excellent family convertible!! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Donna R - October 2 - 3:56 pm

  This car is so much fun!! It holds 4 adults comfortably, rides smooth, gas mileage 22.6. The heated leather allows the roof to be open in even cooler weather.

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  09 Corolla S - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By TC - October 2 - 2:16 pm

  Ive test driven Honda Civic and it felt like riding a golf cart. I bought the Corolla due to its smooth ride. The new look is very classy w/ flair. The car is very enjoyable to drive. Im 6 3" and fit just fine.

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  Absolutely love this car. - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By AWS - October 1 - 9:53 pm

  We have owned three beetle convertibles, two Porsche 911s, a Mercedes E320 Convertible, countless jeep CJs and wranglers all for the same reason, to enjoy top down motoring. We rented a Solara convertible for a ten day tour of Arizona and bought one immediately. We have enjoyed the car for six months and would not be without one. We can afford to drive whatever we want. We neither want nor covet any other car period. OK, a 911 Turbo Cabriolet would be nice, but we no longer want the care and feeding burden. The value, fun, space and expected reliability of this car make it unbeatable. We are at real motoring peace with this perfect ride in our stable. Rent one for a couple of days

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  Tundra - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Peter M. Shanley - October 1 - 9:03 pm

  Fist of all I love the Truck, its color is Phantom Grey Pearl. If you want the extras, you have to supervise everything! Over all Toyota has an extremely high quality product! I tested the Ford Lightening, & the Chevey Silverado, & the Dodge Hemi. I personaly liked the Toyota! It gets beter fuel economy, has a beter ride, & handles better. Oh, & if your quick enough, at the stop light, youll blow their doors off!

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  I4 Tacoma2015 4by4 - 2015 Toyota Tacoma
  By jo23 - October 1 - 5:41 pm

  Great truck and fun to drive on and even better off roading. The dependability of this truck is the best in its class. This truck is great due to its simplicity of design. They sale more and last longer for a reason. If you want a truck with more interior gadgets then look at ford or chevy. If you want a serious offroad truck that is above the rest in dependability buy a tacoma. You will be glad you did in the short and diffenatially in the long term. This truck is funtional for off roading and on. This truck will easily go 250000 plus mile with normal care. Ask yourself how tacomas you see that have been on the road used and heavily still going with normal maintenace.

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  Great buy under $30,000 - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By NErealtor - October 1 - 4:53 pm

  Previously owned a 98 olds bravada then an 03 chevy trail blazer. Liked both of them a lot. Both drove a little rough like a truck but served me well. I still wanted an SUV or crossover, one under $30,000, but with a little better gas mileage and handling. I test drove the Santa Fe, Tucson, Rogue, Escape, Edge, Outback, Forester, and Equinox. All had nice features, but non left me wanting to drive one home that day. Finally decided to drive the Rav4 and fell in love with it. Husband really likes it too and he doesnt care for suvs. Love the blue color and the V6. Its early, but think I will really like the Rav4. Got it for a good price according to Edmunds. Hope its great in the snow.

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  Rave about RAV4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By William Chapman - October 1 - 4:30 pm

  For a 62" 250 pound male this vehicle amazes me. This is a gift for my wife but the more I ride and drive the RAV4 the more I like it. I can actually get in and adjust the very comfortable seats (front or rear) and have plenty of room to drive or ride quite comfortably. This little buggy is a gas to drive and easy to park - you can turn around on a 2 lane street with one turn. The 17" wheels and tires provide a stable ride and the 4 speed automatic shifts smooth as silk. Third row seating would be a criminal option for this car because the rear compartment configuration is excellent and well designed. Getting in & out was the biggest plus for my wife and me - absolutely the perfect height.