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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  Best car ever - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Lin Thig - July 12 - 5:02 pm

  A great car to buy.

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  Great Truck - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mike - July 12 - 12:03 pm

  Awesome truck, no problems at all. Bought it with 130,000 miles on it and it runs like new. Has the rear locking differential which makes a huge difference on snow and ice (not a substitute for 4x4 though). Have around 300 pounds in the bed - havent had to worry about getting stuck in the snow yet. Its a handsome looking truck. Well designed on the exterior. The interior has a few problems, most notably being the location of the clock. The seat belts dont always retract, but thats not a big deal. Gas mileage is about 17 mpg, maybe a little more. Great truck though. It is 2wd but is still a very capable truck.

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  Love the car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Wild person - July 12 - 11:40 am

  Love this car. Fun to ride in and nice looking. Just needs a light under the phone charger to see at night. Nice sound system. And service is great from Toyota. Good choice for long term car.

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  Love it! - 2011 Toyota 4Runner
  By rogersglobal - July 12 - 10:42 am

  So far so good! To date this is by far the best SUV Ive owned. Toyota paid close attention to all the details and my 4Runner Trail Edition hasnt disappointed me yet.

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  Saved me - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By wtlonestar - July 12 - 2:00 am

  Bought it new and drove it about 43 miles per day commuting to work. Roomy,Great MPG,Handling is good also. At just short of 30,000 miles I ran into the back of a Dodge Ram Truck that stopped suddenly in traffic. The Car was totalled. Air bag deployed and saved my life. The steering wheel could be softer. I walk out of it with bad bruising from the seatbelt,Suggest 5 or 4 point harness,10 staples in my knee,broken ribs,busted wrist,one fractured foot bone. Very well built. Going for a bigger SUV this time. Thanks for the safety built in even in the low priced units.

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  FUN TO DRIVE - 1999 Toyota Avalon
  By jerry miles - July 12 - 2:00 am

  i bought this car from a friend four months ago and have been very impressed with it. it is economical but adequately powered to move in and out of traffic when you need to (30 mpg). it is one of the better looking avalon body styles as some arent really striking. its many accessories are well positioned to the driver and easy to understand. with the exception of intermittent driver window operation and water filling wheelwell of trunk after a rain i have been very impressed with build quality. smooth ride!

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  Wonderful but..... - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By thinwishes - July 12 - 2:00 am

  We love our 2000 but am disappointed with Toyotas quality. We were always Honda owners and thought Toyota would be just as good. Well the engine is but not the body. Have had problems with the electronic door and interior falling apart. Otherwise great car.

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  Not Bad but could improve - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By MajorTom - July 12 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle is strong, quick and quiet. The feel is very solid. Put in a good stereo system and you will enjoy driving this vehicle even on the long trips. This is a very dependable and quiet truck.

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  great suv - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By jimmney - July 12 - 2:00 am

  i have had my highlander for 1 month now,i just love it . great suv

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  My Consumer Vote - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Driver8 - July 11 - 10:10 pm

  I bought the Prius once they came out with the hatchback. I can carry a 3-person family and camping gear or an entire drumset with no problem. Besidese the great fuel efficency, you have one heck of a practical car as well. I call this my "consumer vote" because this is where Id like to see the auto industry go. Im getting ~46 mpg over the course of a year. Mpg in the 30s seems silly now!