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 but... - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By michael190 - September 9 - 4:21 pm

  I guess it depends on what you are looking for...I love the car and I believe compared to anything else out there the Camry is best in class with a qualification. 1). I dont like plastic everywhere. But if the plastic outlasts the components of competitors who cares? Otherwise, I purchased my Camry because it was practical, fun, fast, reliable, economical, entertaining, and cool. While other competitors may have less plastic, their cars dont last as long. I am a little concerned about the consumer reports issue, but thus far, my Camry is aces. I have put 40k on it in 1.5 years and it gets over 32 easy on the highway! At 80 mph the tach reads about 2050 or thereabouts!

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  What a Feeling!!! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By MShep - September 9 - 11:10 am

  Ive had this truck for just under a month now, and I must admit....I LOVE IT!!! Im very happy with this truck, although there are a few things that "irk" me about it (see Suggested Improvements below). Like most, I am on a tight budget, and I wanted the most truck for the money. A Toyota, with 4 doors, AND a full sized bed for under 25K, I was sold. Now, I see its the Motor Trend 2005 Truck of the Year....Wow, What a feeling!! The ride is smooth, quiet and pleasant. The interior & exterior is BEAUTIFUL (Sport Package...well worth the extra $$$). The electrical outlet & removable tie-downs in the bed are a nice touch too! Exceptional value! Highly recommended!

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  F150 to Tacoma - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Dave L - September 9 - 9:10 am

  Finally got a truck worth writing about. Downsized from the Ford F150 Lariat with the 5.4 liter gas guzzling engine. I did not lose any comfort in the downsize and gained excellent gas mileage. Got 18 MPG on the first tank and 20 MPG the second tank and that included pulling my bass boat. The 4.0 V6 is a stong engine and the ride is just as comfortable as my F150 Lariat. Transmission and Tow package handled pulling my bass boat with ease. Drove through some pretty tough spots while deer hunting w/o four wheel drive and didnt get stuck. I plan to add the bilstein shocks myself for off road use. Dont have one regret in making the switch.

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  Sequoia - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By 2004 Sequoia - September 8 - 10:40 pm

  It is a fanstastic vehicle with ample space for seating in all three rows.

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  Most reliable car Ive ever owned. - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By ngroeling - September 8 - 7:57 pm

  I bought this car on a whim because my previous car was totaled and my rental car was due the next day. It was expensive and loaded with everything that I didnt really need, but I went for it anyway. Almost to its 90k mark, it has still not had any major problems. Some maintenance shops tried getting more money out of me by telling me the transmission and radiator fluids need to be flushed, however, this is false. They were fine and the next place we went to thereafter said they were. So do be aware of places trying to get more money out of you by doing unnecessary fluid flushes, which can often damage the car. Other than that, its doing great and I expect to get another 100k out of it.

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  Competitors, start your rebates... - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By aszdp98t nup;sdxc - September 8 - 5:46 am

  Excellent quality, nice ride, great cornering. This is simply the best of 3 trucks Ive owned to date.

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  Best Tuck for the Money. - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Steve Hisel - September 8 - 2:16 am

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  My first Hybrid - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Terry H - September 8 - 1:40 am

  I purchased my first toyota and hybrid Sept. 6th. I love it. Its fun to drive. I have put about 1000 miles on it and only put about $40.00 of gas. My son loves the moonroof. We like looking at the stars at night. You just have to get use to feeling the jerking when the gas engine stops and electric engine picks up. Also when you use your brakes you feel and hear them. I do also hear more road noise than Im use to but it is still a great SUV.

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  A nice improvement over the prior model - 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By sswitze - September 7 - 8:35 pm

  I considered several vehicles before recently purchasing my Avalon Limited Hybrid with tech package. I ultimately decided on the Avalon as I have had good reliability with prior Toyotas and it had a nice balance of driving fun, size, and fuel economy. I also feel the interior was superior to the slightly more expensive Lexus similar hybrid model which was a pleasant surprise. I have not noticed any glare problems from the dash chrome as some have complained. I also have had no interior issues with the headliner which was also a complaint in some reviews. I find the ride slightly more stiff than I would prefer, though still nicer than many other vehicles I have driven.

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  Love the 4Runner - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By Jim - September 7 - 5:53 am

  I love everything about this car. The quality is tops. Visibility, handling, looks are all great. I got the Salsa Red.