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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  Uncomfortable seats for a small person - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Ronnie - September 18 - 2:13 am

  The truck feels like a car, I like it but I unfortunately dont fit in the truck. I am having problems with the seats they are to low and hurt my back, head rest to high. The seats seem to be made for a large person, I am small. I am looking for cushions to raise myself up to a higher level so my back does not hurt and the head rest is not pushing me forward. This will be very sad if I can not find a way to get comfortable.

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  Disappointed - 2010 Toyota Matrix
  By Cindy - September 17 - 4:16 pm

  This is the first time I bought a new car and was disappointed: 1. Blind spots in front and back. 2. Poor radio. 3. Way too much road noise. 4. Uncomfortable ride (I can feel every little bump in the road). 5. Recall for safety reasons.

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  Fantastic gas mileage - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By New Mexico - September 17 - 1:56 pm

  We drive in New Mexico and get about 25.5 mpg going back and forth to work. On the highway at 75 mph we get anywhere from 27 to 31 mpg! The seats in this van are almost as comfortable as the ones in our old Mercury Villager but not quite. This is our travel car and we drive all over New Mexico, very fuel efficient and comfy.

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  Should have bouth the Civic. - 2013 Toyota Corolla
  By justin82 - September 17 - 1:14 pm

  I was looking at the Civic LX and The Corolla LE. I ended up with the Corolla. The dealer I worked with gave me an ok deal on the car and my trade, but it was the 0% financing that sealed the deal. I will say that I am not impressed with this car at all. It was in the garage 2 different time before I had 500 miles on it. vvt-i gears, both of them. Now Im going to be making another appointment because Im getting a very hard shift from 1st to 2nd gear. I should have went with the Civic.

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  Dealership problems w/ Northridge Toyota - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By Todd Trebah - September 17 - 10:00 am

  After test driving 3 Mercedes models, I stumbled across the 03 Toyota Avalon-- was very much surprised on the quality, comfort & performance of the car. However, this dealership left much to be desired --- from misrepresenting several items that were supposed to be included in the price to guarantee/warranty specifics.

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  TestOfTheNew4Runner-IMPRESSED! - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By JMErbrick1980 - September 17 - 10:00 am

  Went down yesterday to look at the new 4Runner. A BIG improvement over the third generation. Pros: new V8 is quite peppy in 2WD form, seats are extremely comfortable, transmission shits smoothly, respectable fuel economy, extremely smooth ride, peace of mind that it will last. Cons: Wheres that 3rd row seat??? Not much space for cargo, a little noisy when sunroof is open, radio/climate ctrl. illumination not very bright at night; although instrument lights are bright. Looks like a winner to me.

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  Great Truck - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By robbills - September 17 - 10:00 am

  The Tacoma is a great all-around truck. The only complaint I have is the high price, but you get what you pay for. I havent had the chance to take it off-road yet, but on the street it holds its own.

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  Good SUV - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By smalik28 - September 17 - 10:00 am

  This is a good SUV, met expectations.

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  not bad - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By duckburp - September 17 - 10:00 am

  Well, just destroyed my faithful 93 camry w/247k miles, and seeing as repairs are too much, the corolla has come into the pic. we were given a 2003 ce for rental, the wife loves it, i have to admit that i am actually giving it some thought, doubtless staying w/toyota. during the week that we have had it, we have definitely gotten comments for the looks, my sis (in her 97 camry) saw it and liked it more then hers. bigger/less boring than its predecessors (much bigger than 80 corolla i had, though sr-5 model looked good in its day). i might actually get this car over a new camry (i didnt really just say that)...

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  Tundra = One Of The Best Pickup Truck Buys! - 2013 Toyota Tundra
  By pacquio78 - September 17 - 7:31 am

  I Just Bought A 2013 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 5.7 FFV 4x4. It Has The SR5, And The TRD Off-Road Package! Its Definitely A Quick Truck! Its Fully Loaded With Navigation, The Only Thing It Doesnt Have Is Leather! Haha, 15,000 Miles Already!