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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  Excellent except for climate controls - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By pragmed - September 5 - 6:46 am

  Excellent experience with one exception. The climate controls are hard to see in daylight. You cannot tell which mode, vent, etc is in use.

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  Good all around car. - 1995 Toyota Corolla
  By gps_junky - September 5 - 5:20 am

  Great car. Sad to see it go down the road. But my clutch has slipped away. Not the most comfortable car for a 6 foot male. My knee was always rubbing the middle radio area, or cup holder thing. I think they could have made it a tad bigger. Good gas mileage all in all. Had over 230,000 miles on it and still seemed to be good on gas. My back seat back rest seemed to come loose over time. Not sure what thats all about. You can still sit in it and its still safe, just couldnt figure out how to put it back on.

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  Its big, its yellow, its fun!! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By rob - September 5 - 2:23 am

  A real fun cruiser. I have had mine about a month and everyday am impressed with this vehicle. Incredible off-roader. Built well and should be around a long time. Handles the snowy Ohio roads just fine with 4WD and traction control.

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  I Love My RAV4 - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By RAV4 4-DOOR 4X2 - September 5 - 12:26 am

  I have liked my RAV4 since the day I bought it. It is a fun car to drive and is very reliable. I have under 25,000 miles on my RAV4 so I will have it for many years to come. I bought my RAV4 on-line and it was a very easy process. I was able to find the exact RAV4 I wanted, in the exact color I wanted. Buy one youll like it.

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  Water Infiltration - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By john1961 - September 4 - 6:10 pm

  I am wondering if anyone else had water infiltration problems caused by incomplete seal behind cab. I could see the water clearly under the mat and the dealer found that the joint on the cab between cab and box was poorly done. They repaired the joint and replaced the foam beneath the carpet however there was always a smell in the truck. I recently brought it in and they agreed about the smell but wanted me to pay for some canister they would use to eliminate all odours, I had to argue my point despite them knowing full well the problem was real. I had ducks waiting to get in there was so much water inside

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  would definitely buy another one. - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Warren - September 4 - 5:40 pm

  I bought this vehicle because of Toyotas legendary reliability. I drive 35,000 miles per year and dont need a vehicle I cant depend on. An added bonus was the vehicles 4 wheel drive capabilities. It will go almost anywhere.

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  Fun to Drive Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By seiker0808 - September 4 - 2:26 pm

  I had a Mercedes that I loved because it hugged the road, so I hesitated to trade - imagine my surprise that this car does give good feedback. I feel fully engaged with the road. I love this car! I wish I had bought it sooner. I had planned buy a Prius and I liked it, but I loved the Camry. I decided to sacrifice a little of the Priuss gas mileage for the Camrys moonroof and heated seats and just general overall more of a stable sedan feel.

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  Nice Little Car - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By A A - September 4 - 12:26 pm

  My wife and I bought the prius V about three weeks ago and we love it. The car has been averaging about 47.5 mpg. Has plenty of power and as mentioned in other reviews the CVT trans is nice. The nav system along with bluetooth and JBL audio are great and easy to use. One gripe ROAD NOISE, I might take it to an audio shop and have dynomat put in it. I would recommend to anyone wanting a nice car at a fair price.

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  Noisy and rough ride - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By susan wilson - September 4 - 10:06 am

  This is a great vehicle to look at but rides like a jeep! It has a lot of wind noise around the windows.Think before you buy this. And drive it more than 15 minutes when thinking of purchasing. We paid 32,000 which is pricey for a poor ride. Also, under drivers seat after you drive a while on a road trip I felt what seemed like a bar under the drivers seat. Had to get out and rest from the ride before I could continue home.

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  The lIttle Prius that Could - 2001 Toyota Prius
  By MikeyA - September 4 - 3:56 am

  My wife and I bought our 2001 Prius in December of 2009 knowing we were buying a car with 90K miles on it. It now has 130K on and it running great with few problems at all. Its far more reliable and cheaper to repair than the BMW we sold to buy it. Of course the quality of the plastics inside the car leave a lot to be desired, I guess you cant expect too much for the price of these cars. The hybrid part is really great but I hope theyve improved "kicking" the engine does when it turns on at a stop. Its very abrupt.