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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  Great vehicle - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By lisandjerr - December 8 - 9:40 am

  Lots of power, great handling, very comfortable, excellent build quality, plenty of head and leg room, good access, based on previous Toyotas weve owned great reliability, terrific styling and my wife and I love it.

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  Bad seat but STILL love my Prius! - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Tom - December 8 - 6:33 am

  The poorly designed seat notwithstanding, I have over 35,000 miles on my Prius in the first year. It has been a delight to drive and a pleasure to fill up compared to my diesel pick up! Great acceleration, computerized everything and excellent handling make this car more fun to drive than you might think. Handles curvy roads with ease and has more than enough acceleration to pass in any conditions.

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  Excellent Choice - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Schnauzer - December 7 - 11:20 am

  With a need to haul people and tow a boat, big SUVs are my familys only option. I have spent a lot of time in all the competing big SUVs. With the changes brought to the Sequoia in 2008, I now feel it is the best vehicle in its class. Love the fold flat third row, and the ride and handling are as close to sportscar as you can get in a big vehicle like this. The wish list includes some gps/computer oddities but the engine/ride/handling/utility are unrivaled. The bluetooth/audio/temp controls on the steering wheel are excellent and totally negate the need to reach for the main controls strewn across the dash. Some gps/phone features are unavailable while driving in the name of safety

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  Lovin it! - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ali - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive loved the 4Runner since it was a truck with a fiber glass top back in 84 and Im positively loving it now. I love the ride height and it handles well with such a high center of Gravity. The ride feels like Im gliding (my last SUV was a Jeep Cherokee so belive when I say this doesnt feel like a truck!) Interior is quality. Needs a touch better gas mileage and a more powerful engine.

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  landcouch - 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Bojustin - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Well after driving 5 different SUVs, we listened to other happy Land Rover drivers and purchased a new cruser. The best vehicle ever! Very safe, comfey, great ride and tracking. All the things we were looking for in size, shape, comfort and luggage capacity. Would highly recommend!

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  just breaking in - 1996 Toyota Tacoma
  By Kappelmeier - December 7 - 2:00 am

  My Tacoma 4x4 has 110,000 miles and it is just getting started. It will probably run forever. It is tough and durable, and extremely reliable. I have had no problems in 6 years. I highly recommend this vehicle to everyone looking for a compact pickup.

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  The One!!!! - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By Big Guy - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I have tried every truck and this is the one!!! I have it over a year now and I enjoy it more and more! I bought this truck because I wanted to protect my family better. It is one of the safest vehicles on the road. I bought it for my wife mainly to drive the baby around. I have driven all of the other trucks and they do not compare.

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  Best Truck Ever - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By ADAM - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I work for a rental company, so I drive Fords, Chevys, and Dodges all day. None of them come even close to the quality and quiet ride of my Tundra. The handling in the mountains is also something that is unmatched. No other truck has the low rumble sounding exhaust like my Tundra. For the first few months, I still could not believe that it was a Toyota.

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  Great Car - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By sfuller - December 7 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car we have owned. We recently had twins, plus a 2 1/2 year old, and all of the carseats fit comfortably in the back. The truck holds a double stroller with plenty of room to spare. The engine has great acceleration and is very comfortable. One notable problem, the engine had a defect and blew out after 3 months, but the dealership repaired it, gave us a loaner, and extended our warranty.

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  Camry Review - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Emmy - December 7 - 2:00 am

  We leased this car in 1998, had to return it to the dealer in 2001, then bought it back in 2002 because we missed it so much.