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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  Its a Truck! - 2012 Toyota 4Runner
  By toytruck1 - October 14 - 11:36 pm

  Had my 2012 for 10 months with 8,200 on the clock. Be aware: the 3 models have different suspensions; the SR5 being the softest. I didnt need the Trail, the Limited was a bit pricey, so I opted for the SR5. I swapped out the soft factory shocks for Bilstein HDs all around. Well worth it. No more nose dive or side to side wallowing. Gas mileage excellent. I consistently average 19.5-20 mpg. T4R is built like a tank and very tight; no squeaks or rattles. A few caveats: a few interior bits are cheap (door grips), transmission is quick to upshift, could use more sound deadening. Engine feels like it has less than 270 hp, but mash the pedal and it scoots. No problems to date. Nice truck!

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  Best SUV - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By osman - October 14 - 8:03 pm

  I only had car for a month and love it. Compared to other SUVs best performance and handling. Powerful engine and smooth ride. Bit on soft side but secure. Brakes are strong and responsive, interior room is great. Kids love 2nd row space compared to 2nd row room for our BMW (3 series). Drives on snow with no issues and stability control kicks in when needed.

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  Excellent MPG - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By BOB - October 14 - 6:40 pm

  Great value. Very quiet and drives like a much larger car. I have noticed a different feel in the steering. I have gotten used to it. It would not deter me from recommending this car.

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  The Best Overall Car For Under 30,000 - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By talib bethel - October 14 - 6:20 pm

  This car is better than I could have ever dreamed. It has nice luxury interior (the wood grain is lovely), but it also has nice pick up speed and is very roomy. Im loving the reclining backseats (even though I dont sit in the back). The bluetooth is a very good and smart feature. The car handles great and is really easy to control. The keyless entry and push start is marvelous. Overall for the money this is the best car you can get for the price. The new body style is an added plus also. Dont forget to get the glass sensor added to your vehicle.

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  Wasnt worth the wait - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Rob - October 14 - 5:46 pm

  Ordered mine took 9 weeks to get-sport model with 17" tires. Website said locking differential-according to dealer after I received -not available on long bed. Truck is way overrated as far as what it will do--quality of build is good but has had its share of warranty problems-three times to dealer so far for rattles-tough to keep 17 inchers balanced. Sport interior is kinda plain for 30 grand-but so are most toyotas.

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  2008 Toyota Highlander - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By David - October 14 - 4:10 am

  Just purchased last weekend, so far so good. Vehicle handles very well and the ride is smooth over rough Illinois roads. I love the extra room our kids now have (compared to 07 Rav4). The engine is also well suited to this vehicle as it was way too much for the Rav4. The storage area is also large with 3rd row seats down. Overall pleased with the purchase and love the car!

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  Real Pleasure to own - 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By GWS - October 14 - 3:33 am

  After having my MR2 now for over a year, I still have that desire to just find a reason to drive it. It is so tight and easy to handle. The sequential transmission is just plain fun. I have physical problems with my legs and had given up on clutches some time ago. Now with the touch of a finger, I have the same wonderful sensational feeling of driver control. I have owned several Toyotas and have always been impressed with the quality of craftsmanship that is put into each vehicle that Ive owned. When considering a sports car in this price range I was certain that nothing else could touch the dependability provided in this vehicle. If you dont test drive it youll be sorry.

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  Everything youd expect - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By XRdriver - October 13 - 11:43 pm

  With the gas prices soaring, I decided to trade in my SUV and get something with better gas mileage. The snag was that I still wanted the cargo space that my SUV gave me. That is what lead me to the Matrix. Honestly it is doing the job in excellent fashion. I havent had it for long, but I know that it will prove to be a good buy. The drive quality is good, and responsive, the handling is better than I had expected. All in all it has everything that I was looking for. I definitely reccomend this if you are looking for space, fuel economy, and a sporty good look all rolled into one reliable, affordable vehicle.

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  New 2012 Camry - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By raddala - October 13 - 8:03 am

  I just purchased 2012 Camry. I was considering 2012 Civic or 2012 Prius as I was looking for fuel efficiency car. 2012 Civic has cheap plastic interior and also pricey. 2012 Prius is not good because mileage was down. 2012 was a pleasant surprise (price was good and mileage was also very good). I purchased LE with Power Seats for $20,500 in Fremont, CA.

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  Pricey But Worth It - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Naomi - October 13 - 1:06 am

  I love this car! Went from fully equipped Tahoe Z71 and feared that my partner with 275 pound frame would not be able to sit comfortably. This has not been a problem, much to my surprise and elation. We frequently have contests to see who can get the best over-all mileage per 5 minute increment as it is shown on the dashboard - have gotten 75 MPG on freeway in stop-and-go traffic. With AC on (works great) - average about 46.5 MPG with a daily freeway commute of about 40 miles round trip. Had windows tinted and made a huge difference in the interior comfort - especially with an outside temp in the 99 - 102 range. Put 3000 miles on the car in about 6 wks. Pricey but cut gas bill by 70%.