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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  Some good, some bad. - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By rlovall - September 5 - 10:20 pm

  I own two of these cars. One has performed well with no problem and gets 50 mpg or better. The other has had the software glitch causing the car to shut off the gasoline engine, plus it only gets around 43-45 mpg at best. Oh yes, one more thing, if you plan on sitting in this car for more than 45 minutes you will need a seat cushion to sit on as these are the worst seats I have ever had in a car. The car is also hard to keep on the road in any kind of side wind.

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  Sun visors - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By john - September 5 - 10:43 am

  I love this car. There are two things I would like changed, mirrors that retract and an extension on the sunvisor to use on the drivers door side. The car runs great, the ride is very comfortable, and the gas mileage is great considering its size and power. The pickup is unbelievable.

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  Which Hybrid to choose.... - 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By basictek - September 5 - 10:14 am

  So I did tons of research that included the new fusion, sonata/optima, new accord, and toyotas own lexus/avalon. I would have preferred a kewler/sportier fusion but the slow and unproven hybrid system turned me off, the sonata/optima are lacking in mileage, reliability, build quality, and more (my last car was 2011 sonata SE). The avalon.Lexus charge too much for the exact same engine plus better styling, more standard features, and roomier interior (which the camry is plenty big enough). This left only the new accord, which has quite a few new features never before tried on a hybrid, and a price tag about 5K more. If I had more to spend I probably would have gone this route...

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  Best Toyota - 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By d4david7 - September 4 - 9:36 pm

  Excellent quality and ride, very fun to drive. I was impressed by the power and suspension. Also, noise level is outstanding.

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  2005 4 Runner V6 SR5 - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Sam Collie - September 4 - 4:50 pm

  I drive this SUV in 3 western states covering my sales territory. Its good balance of comfort, 4 wheel drive option, and mid-sized capability. No real complaints. Im not in love with the body style but...

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  2013 trd sport - 2013 Toyota Tacoma
  By joeguy - September 4 - 2:50 pm

  bought it certified pre owned; with 13k miles, and 100k warranty, saved 30%. mine is not a 4x4; but, Im not an off roader. No, it isnt a Tundra deluxe, but I like it. very comfortable ride; better than an SUV, great truck for those who want the best of both worlds. I dont do much hauling; if you want heavy duty, look for a Tundra, but for every day family use and utility; this is great.

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  Confirming what everyone is saying! - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By brian - September 4 - 12:26 pm

  Well, Ive waited about 5,000 miles to write this. I love the truck! The looks of the Sport Ed. is awesome. Love the 6-spoke rims! Smooth, solid, quiet ride. This thing handles excellent for an SUV and the steering feel is so tight! Brakes are good, V6 is pretty quick. Gas mileage has been about 19-20 MPG, but my last trip with 4 snowboards on the rack got me ~16 mpg. Only driven in a few inches of snow, but it handled good. Cant wait to get rid of the Dunlops tho. Best vehicle buying decision EVER!

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  I love what you do for me! Moving forward - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By 4Runner G-Black - September 4 - 8:43 am

  I have just had my 4Runner for under a week. I already love it. When I drive it I already feel the quality behind it. Maybe it has something to do with my current studies behind the legendary Toyota manufacturing process. I also like the fact that the cars parts are 95% Japanese. I feel like Im driving a luxury SUV, but then again I havent test driven the Lexus GX which costs almost twice as much! (Pretty much the same car). At any rate, I couldnt be more happy with my purchase. Too bad it seems like everyone else is buying a new 4Runner as well.

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  Best truck Ive ever had - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By martin - September 4 - 6:40 am

  I bought this truck new in December 04. It is fun to offroad in, gives me about 18 mpg. This is a way better truck than any Chevy Dodge or Ford. Ive only had 1 problem with it and it was the transmission. The transmission went bad because of bad driving habits. The Toyota dealer replaced it for free and gave me a free rental until it was complete. I tow a trailer full of dirt bikes up the mountains with no problem.

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  Reliable and - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By drg - September 4 - 6:03 am

  By far the best engineered compact vehicle. Makes my former Ford Focus a charity case.