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:

• 

  Love My 4runner - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Jason - July 3 - 4:43 am

  I love this thing. It has great acceleration, handles great on or off road. We have the jbl premium sound system, this has a great feature for kids in the back. They can listen to what they want and I can listen to what I want. It is really fun in the snow and mud.

• 

  Great Second Car to Drive... - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By Ken - July 2 - 9:03 pm

  Love the vehicle... its what you are looking for in a compact car... great gas mileage, roomy front seats, great engine power for the size, and reliable.

• 

  Top value - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By william seidel - July 2 - 4:43 pm

  The Yaris is a top value in its class. It has awesome styling, surprising leg and head room. I cant imagine a better value out there. The 1.5 motor has plenty of power and great fuel economy. I would recommend getting it fully loaded. It still a bargain even loaded and flint mica is a beautiful color.

• 

  Great in the Snow - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Kevin - July 2 - 8:23 am

  We just ended a record-breaking winter in Washington with about 70 inches for the season (normal is about 8 inches). The Tacoma was unbelievable--even in 15-20 inches on unplowed streets it never quit. We took it out about eight times the first day just for fun while the neighbors were trapped. The truck has also been great on trips and has much more power than the 1998 Taco it replaced. Toyota bought back the old truck because of frame rust and made it easy to buy the new one.

• 

  Great car - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By moil190 - July 2 - 7:26 am

  Love this car. After test-driving numerous vehicles of different makes/models, I chose the Camry SE. Runs great, fun to drive, good gas mileage. Good performance for 4 cylinder family sedan.

• 

  Excellent car to have - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By tandra reams - July 2 - 4:06 am

  I love my Toyota Matrix XR, its fun to drive I get excellent gas mileage and there is plenty of run for the kids and for other things

• 

  Wow - much better than I had hoped for - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Andy - July 1 - 11:16 am

  Just returned from a trip from New York to Rhode Island with my brand new RAV4 4-cylinder - was not sure whether to buy the 4 or 6 cylinder and did much research, as well as test drives on both. Got caught up in all the Cash for Clunker garbage and purchased the 4. I am normally a bit heavy on the pedal, and this baby did not let me down. No problem whatsoever. She was a rocket - plenty of nerve. I had test driven the V6 - good, but no need for such a large hsp engine in such a light vehicle. Save your $$$$$. Vehicle was tops in every meaning of the word and I am very picky - an excellent driving experience. Cheers to Toyota.

• 

  I love my Yaris! - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By Rex81 - July 1 - 12:16 am

  Im a car enthusiast. I know a lot about cars and have owned everything from muscle cars to sports cars to big luxury cars to tiny commuters. The Yaris is my favorite all arounder so far. It looks great, gets AMAZING gas mileage, its fun to drive, and feels solid on the road. The ride is an excellent mix of comfort and handling, the stick feels great, and its just a great car to get in and go. The engine, though small, is really great. Very smooth, quiet, efficient, and it has adequate power. The sedans trunk and rear leg room match many large cars. Its amazing how small it is on the outside and how large it is inside. Overall, the best car for the money out there.

• 

  A Huge Step Up - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By Bob Wingate - June 30 - 4:40 pm

  We owned a Volvo Wagon as our "family" car until we purchased this van. For 2 years we were not really interested in a minivan. What a big mistake. This car is amazing in every detail. I am tall, and had not been in the back until a trip from Charlotte to Miami. The ride in the second row is outstanding in every way. The van drives like a very nice full size car and handles well with great fuel economy. We are sorry we waited so long.

• 

  Great Car - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By Dave - June 30 - 2:40 am

  We bought our GT new in 2001. It has been extremely reliable, and is a blast to drive! When engaged in heavy highway traffic you can drop the automatic out of overdrive and power thru traffic. Mileage is awesome, around 34 mpg, and the styling turns heads. I dont understand why this car is being discontinued, as we would sure buy another. There is too much fun to be had at a very reasonable price. Lots of storage with the seats folded down. Good car for two people, not four.