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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  04 Sienna - 1st impression - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By mssisson - February 7 - 2:00 am

  The Toyota Odessey - I mean Sienna seems in perfect Toyota form. Excellent drive train, excellent features(finally)& the right size (finally).

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  Best Buy! - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By MSL - February 6 - 10:56 pm

  Couldnt be happier with our purchase. Third row seating available while avoiding a minivan is great! Gets along great in the winter - a real bonus when wife and two children are commuting in Omaha winters! Gas mileage is so far better than sticker estimates (25.75 highway - 24.5 city)!!!

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  Awesome vehicle - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Jeff - February 6 - 9:26 am

  Rides like a car and extremely comfortable on trips. Wife drives it to work daily and loves it. No comparison and test drove a lot before settling on this. Like it a lot better than the 2 4Runners I owned before. Plenty of power and good gas mileage. All in all a great vehicle that I plan on keeping for a long time.

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  Great value for a great crossover! - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By Randall Hedrick - February 6 - 8:44 am

  We wanted the versatility that an SUV offers, good fuel economy, comfort and reliability; the Venza does all of that and more. Shortly after we purchased this vehicle, we had to drive over the Sierra Nevada mountains through snowy conditions, it performed flawlessly. I would not hesitate recommending the Toyota Venza. After six months of driving, no regrets about purchase. Weve taken two road trips and were pleased with comfort and fuel economy. After 18 months, we have been pleased.

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  Wonderful Car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Ron Keeling - February 6 - 12:36 am

  Excellent Car. Only two things already mentioned in other reviews .. shifting between 1st and 2nd gear could be better. and pickup is a little slow. We also have a 4 cyl Corolla, and pickup is better in the Corolla. Aside from these 2 things, its a wonderful car.

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  Still amazed - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Oh my my - February 5 - 8:46 pm

  This is car is pure enjoyment, 269 hp great response esp through all gears, smooth ride and handling. Instrument display perfect and at night when lit up, it looks fantastic. Navigation system is a pleasure to use, several interesting features, very useful. Sound system great wouldnt hurt to have a six hundred amp ampiflier. Dynamic laser cruise control, oh yeah! responds real nice in traffic a must have option. Smart key something else, we like the way you can overide the trunk, but remember to lock out the rear arm rest. Moon roof, heated/ac seats, shade screen rear window, auto wipers, hid auto leveling lights, reclining rear seats, the doors when closing sounded solid, I enjoyed the sound over and over

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  Love It! - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By RLH - February 5 - 7:30 pm

  This is the second Highlander I have owned and my wife and I love It! We owned our first one in 2003 and it was great. Third row seating and a few other options were the reason we traded a year later. For those of you that are annoyed with the tire pressure light, keep your tires inflated above 29 psi and this should solve your problem. Ive towed a 24 foot boat to the beach and the handling was solid and precise. The 4 wheel disc brakes were amazing in stopping the 3000lbs. behind me. As with any vehicle you must have the proper maintenance performed at recommended intervals and dont wait until a problem arises then blame it on the vehicle. I also own a Toyota Tacoma pick-up for work!

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  TUNDRA - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Robert Brennan - February 5 - 7:13 pm

  This is just a half ton truck. If you are going to tow you have to get all the goodies to do it. You have to get the right gears and coolers to make it right. I did these things and have no problems. Dont think you are bying a one ton truck.

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  2014 Corolla 6-speed manual - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By schooby - February 5 - 6:55 pm

  Purchased brand new in Charleston SC for $15,600. On flat roads at 60mph I am getting 44 mpg, I average 40 mpg going from work to home. I drive 40 miles one way and its half city half highway driving. Car is smooth and quiet, transmission is easy and smooth to shift. Engine is very quiet, its not a hotrod but picks up and goes rather nice. I had cruise control installed after market for $399 (manual trans does not offer cruise) and it works great, back seat has plenty of room for my infant and toddler rear facing car seats, trunk is roomy, 6th gear offers low RPM on highway speeds 60-70 mph is 1800-2500 rpm roughly. center console is comfortable as arm rest while driving, clutch feels smooth

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  The Right One - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By sunrrrrise - February 5 - 12:50 pm

  Purchased a Matrix after several test drives replacing an 02 Acura RSX. The The Matrix for 2006 has a sporty, fun ride, and versatile interior design with plenty of headroom for those over six footers. The air conditioning cooled quickly in todays 112 heat and the engine still had plenty of zip.Will use the Matrix for in town commuting and trips to Vegas. My friend, a BMW owner, stated that his Matrix was just as fun to drive as his Bemer.So there you have it.