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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  Honda to Toyota - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Dick - August 9 - 12:30 am

  I traded in my 2008 Honda Accord for the Toyota. Both are V6, fully loaded, including nav. So far Toyota wins hands down! Although about $1200 more, it is worth it. Quieter on the highway, better fuel economy, better sound system, smoother transmission, bigger trunk, more comfortable seating, equal acceleration. The Honda nav had more bells and whistles, like an altimeter. I tried to save a few dollars on the Honda and discovered it was not worth it.

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  Lean, Mean, Green Machine! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By groovology - August 8 - 3:36 pm

  We purchased our Highlander Hybrid after buying a Prius last year. So far, we are impressed with the power, comfort, and ease of driving our Highlander, and more importantly, we enjoy an average of 30 MPG in combined City / Highway mileage using the same techniques we use to get about 50 MPG out of the Prius. All in all, we love Toyotas reliability and attention to detail. The biggest drawback is the rather mundane styling.

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  owner - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By john smithy - August 8 - 2:00 am

  The exterior mirrors only tricky item on this vehicle-- too big when coming close to nearby items.

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  The beast! - 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By wjb - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has far exceeded my expectations. Its sold as a rock. I feel sorry for anyone who gets into an accident with the vehicle as you would surely be the loser. It was made for inclement weather.

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  Update - 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By GADrvr - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Weve now had our 2001 HiHy for over a month. Still averaging over 30 mpg city and 27 mpg hwy. Absolutely love the roominess, pick-up and mileage.

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  Great Car... - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By bhug - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I have had nothing go wrong with this car to date. I have replaced the front brakes and all four tires, but thats it. Couldnt ask for a more reliable car.

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  Performance & Quality - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By arkansan - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my celica for a little over a year now. My daily round-trip commute is 45 miles. I live up in Northwest Arkansas where 90% of the backroads are twisty small mountains. This car is awesome for that type of driving. It has power when kept in the meaty part of the rpm-band, and it feels like its apart of the road when driven to such extremes.

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  into the future - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By matt69 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  you have to try one, if you can

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  Solid as the tree - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By JoeT - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Love the Sequoia. On one trip I put 3500 miles in 6 days with elderly parents. Great ride and comfort, never tiring. Average gas mileage for its size. Grat comfort, especially for those of us with wide bodies (Im 61 and 250 lbs - not "fat" just plump) Look at resale value vrs same year Eddie B Expedition to see what a great buy this realy is. My dealer was great to dea with.

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  Tacoma Double Cab Pre-Runner - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By joeld - August 8 - 2:00 am

  After comparing all of the competition, this is the best truck for the money. Everything about it is smooth and well built. If you like the looks of a 4x4, but the price of the 4x2s, the TRD package is the way to go. The only way to tell that its not a 4x4 is to look under the truck.