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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  I love this car! - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By AvalonXL - July 14 - 2:26 pm

  I bought this car 10-04-06. It is the finest vehicle I have ever driven. Smooth, comfy, handles easy. I had no idea a car could be this amazing. I drove from Oceanside, Ca. to Las Vegas Nv. on 1 tank of gas, over 300 miles & had gas to spare, amazing!

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  Excellent car! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Paul W - July 14 - 1:10 pm

  Ive seen very few better quality cars than this! Fun to drive, no problems to date, outstanding gas mileage, comfortable as driver and passenger, plenty of passenger and cargo room, cheap to maintain and reasonable insurance quotes everywhere. Lots of online resources for this car, too! The reverse beep was annoying at first but you CAN turn it off, the owners manual tells you how. Slightly noisy on the road but switching the tires solved that problem too.

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  Loved My Camry - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By emilydfeist - July 14 - 11:53 am

  I loved my Camry! It was always reliable. I wrecked it this past saturday and i almost cried! I hit a deer but the car held up well! I had it for almost 3 years and the only problems it had was an oil leak..but it wasnt anything major..honestly i never fixed it because it never gave me any problems. I had to replace a few parts earlier this year but thats expected on a vehicle its age. Over all a wonderful car. Unfortunately the 2005 Toyota i was looking to buy has bad reveiws...maybe they should go to making it the way they used to.

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  05 Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Harry Erickson - July 14 - 10:06 am

  This car is a blast to drive its like something out of a science fiction magazine, power everything,with over 7 controls right on the steering wheels you never have to look any further, and whats really surprising is the how quick this car is everybody asks me this question, and the 50 MPG plus is great, plus the resale value of these cars is great,how can you loose out and have this much fun.

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  My Little Go Cart - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Estes - July 14 - 9:03 am

  Have not owned it for long but being 63" and 255 lbs I am having a blast with this car. Everyone I know is used to me being in an F-250 or larger vehicle so I am getting used to being laughed at. With the mileage I am getting, which is on average 45 mpg, I use 1 gal per day round trip to work and home . Several co-workers have purchased one of their own. Now who is laughing? Thats all Im going to say about that!

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  To Hawaii and Back - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Capt Glenn - July 14 - 8:36 am

  We have shipped this car from VA to Hawaii and back. We have driven to CA and have enjoyed all the room and creature comforts of this CUV. We would recommend this to any small family. The AWD feature was a great safety comfort in the mountains, in the snow and on the beaches.

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  Great mileage for suv alternative - 2008 Toyota Matrix
  By r1114h - July 14 - 2:30 am

  With gas prices soaring, had to trade in my 07 4dr tacoma. Didnt make sense for 50 mile daily commute anymore. Even in Atlanta traffic, I still manage 30-32 mpg with an xr automatic. Granted Im not driving aggressively or rarely top 60 mph. First vacation trip this week with 3 people, luggage, running air & 65-70 mph - got 34.5 mpg. Ive never got under 30 in 3 months of owning so far, beating the window sticker. Still able to pack enough with wagon like features.

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  Lexus under Toyota badging - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By JP - July 14 - 12:00 am

  Wow! This cas has it all. Design, luxury, comfort, ergonomics, philharmonic sound system, safety, and ride quality. Mine is Blizzard Pearl, Ivory interior. Be sure to consider optional BBS wheels and rear deck lid spoiler for enhanced curb appeal. Little known Interior Light Package adds a very nice interior hue, at night. Only negative is low in-town mileage. Who cares. Buy one!

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  2006 tacoma - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By carl - July 13 - 7:53 pm

  Noise in motor like pellet noise when cold sometimes hot when driving 30mph 50mph. Fabric coming apart from drivers seat. Surprised on this seat and noise.

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  A in Economics - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Bob - July 13 - 4:40 pm

  Shopped around a number of cars, including hybrids (Toyota Prius and Honda Insight) as well as slightly bigger cars such as Mazda 6 and Toyota Camry. Tough to beat the 2010 Corolla S on value for money. Alloy wheels, sunroof, electric heated mirrors, cruise control, etc. I did the math in terms of fuel consumption and although I really wanted a Prius but the financial numbers just didnt stack up. I am achieving a real world 32 mpg in my commute and 38 mpg highway. The 5 speed manual is very smooth and effective and the 1.8 liter VVTi engine picks up easily under 2,000 rpm if youre in the mood to save even more gas.