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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  Love my RAV! - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By c. fougner - May 26 - 4:43 am

  Great vehicle! Safe, fun to drive, great fuel economy and, of course, amazingly reliable like all Toyotas!

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  Love my van! - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Cay - May 25 - 11:30 pm

  Love everything about it, big upgrade from my 1992 Previa. Have taken 8 trips in it since purchase, no complaints whatsoever. Very easy to move seats in and out, up and down, to allow for carrying passengers or cargo. Seats 6 adults very comfortably, a 7th in the rear seats if all are smaller adults.

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  Good Mule on Wheels - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By RichT - May 25 - 6:40 pm

  I have enjoyed driving and owning this Matrix as my driving needs are constantly evolving. It handles the highway and the city with a flexible response, plus it averages nothing less than 30mpg in mixed driving conditions. It has good room for 4 large adults and with the seats folded down, it can haul 30 cases of beer. Having driven it in the snow and bad weather, it never fails or complains.

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  Happy - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Sue - May 25 - 4:13 pm

  This is a great SUV, I have had 3 SUVs and 2 were Highlanders. This is the best SUV I have owned. The comfort and handling of this vehicle is very nice. I am very happy with the Highlander Limited.

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  Excellent Buy - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By GBS - May 25 - 3:03 pm

  Some well conceived refinements make this iteration of the Highlander darn close to perfect. A slight increase in size and improved exterior styling eliminate much of the stodginess of its ancestors. The standard 6-cyl engine is more than adequate for a vehicle this size. Like other Toyotas with this 269hp motor, mileage will vary GREATLY depending on how the individual drives the vehicle. The third-row seat has been made more usable with the capability to change the 2nd rows configuration. The base model is generally well appointed, with easy to use stereo and climate controls and cupholders everywhere. Seats are comfortable, but I covered the standard gray cloth with tailored seat covers.

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  ready for a new one - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By needanewone - May 25 - 10:23 am

  I LOVED my Camry when I bought it, but now I HATE it. The drivers side door handle has broken off twice, the drivers window does not like to roll up once it goes down, and the clear coat has chipped off of the hood. The only good thing about this car which I guess is the part that matters the most is that I have not had any mechanical issues. I have only had to do scheduled maintenance work. With 220,000 miles, I guess I cant complain too much about that.

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  NOT MY BEST CHOICE - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By patsoxfan - May 25 - 9:00 am

  I got my 09 Venza in September, put 3300 miles on it and 4 months later have already traded it in. Its got horrible blind spots, the cloth interior is nothing short of junk and the plastic dash and doors is completely disappointing. The road noise is ridiculous. Toyota didnt seem to put a whole lot of thought into this car. I had a Toyota prior to the Venza and loved it, but I wasnt sad to see this one go. You should head back to the drawing board.

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  2016 Tacoma is dissapointing - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Andrew - May 25 - 6:18 am

  Resale value is the main reason to purchase this car. I grew up with Toyotas and had several, to include multiple generations of 4Runners. There is nothing left of the old Toyota reliability, or as the sales people keep saying everytime I am at the dealership, "QDR! Quality, Durability, Reliability!" The interior is cheap and poorly constructed, parts have fallen off behind my dash, which required the dash to be pulled to bolt things back into place. My rear differential was replaced under warranty due to excessive noise, but only after a year of documentation on it getting progressively worse. I kept being told this was just a characteristic of the vehicle by the dealer. While the engine is a poor excuse for a truck engine (3.5L with a faux Atkinson cycle that does little for gas mileage but makes power delivery always a question mark) at least I didnt make the mistake of purchasing the automatic. During test drives I immediately knew that would be a mistake. Still, the drivetrain selection even with a manual is questionable, at best. Hopefully I can sell this for enough money to help pay for a new Ford Ranger when they release in the US. Would not purchase again.

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  HOT MAMAS ECHOES - 2004 Toyota Echo
  By HOT MAMA - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Its nimble and fun to drive....you actually have to drive it...it doesnt go 80 mph unless you have put it there. Bit difficult if you have to go up a mountain.... good in snow.

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  Futuristic Look without the High Price - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By SpiderMan - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Great Car and reliable