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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  06 Tacoma, three years in. - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Chuck W - February 24 - 10:43 am

  Bought my 2006 Black, 4WD, Short-bed TRD, used in June of 2007. It had 20K miles on it, and it is sitting at just over 60K miles now (April 2010). Wanted a smaller truck that was 4WD with four doors and I was willing to sacrifice power, fun, and space. So far, the space is the only sacrifice. The bed is pretty small when hauling things, but I knew that going into the deal. For the trucks size and weight, the power is outstanding. I pulled a Chevy 1500 out of a ditch with ease of course, I was still on asphalt and had good traction. Regardless, this was my first Toyota truck and I will own it until the wheels fall off! Great little truck, and still get compliments all the time.

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  Finally a car for the 21st century - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By JWK - February 24 - 10:00 am

  After having waited 6 months, it was finally time to drive my own Prius. Its lovely, not rattles, nice finishing, quite peppy and very low MPG. Of course not the EPA rating, but no car ever reaches these ratings. Also its a very safe car (5 stars in EuroNCAP test). The smooth ride, you hardly notice the car switching from electric to gas or combined, is great and the handling not bad at all for a car of this size (I live in Europe so I drive the European version of the Prius). And the fact that when your standing at a traffic light or in a traffic jam without the engine running is great as well, the utter silence is wonderful.

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  just love it - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By skey - February 24 - 10:00 am

  I went from a 2000 Solar to a 2004 4Runner, so there was a period of adjustment. After having the 4Runner for 9 months, I can say it is just great. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a mid-sized SUV. And I paid exactly what I expected to pay for it (no hidden costs at all).

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  Things i dont like about this car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By bradsterL - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Great little car but expensvie like $16,500 with tax. Love the grey two tone dash interior. Automatic could be the best ever and engine magic. Toyota suspension plain suck and should be reworked including the TACOMA. Engine light has come on both vehicles could be bad gas. After driving my 85bmw 325 its well not as good as that 80s car lol.

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  Even more refined for 2005 - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By QCGUY - February 24 - 10:00 am

  The updated exterior styling for 2005 improved the looks of the car dramatically. It looks and drives like a luxury car, but without the "float." Interior attention to detail is remarkable, and the new white backlit gages are classy. An unbelieveable price tag for all of the amenities!

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  Went from 07 to 10 Tundra - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By bill - February 24 - 8:36 am

  Turned in leased 07 2WD 4.6 L for 10 4WD dbl cab w/5.7 engine. 02 was trouble free and powerful considering the small engine. With only 4 tanks of gas in the 10, have gotten 18 mpg and slightly better in mostly around town driving. Im an easy driver and whenever possible drive with the tach and try to run under 2k rpm. Radio in 02 was replaced 3 times, but was multi-disc cd player and I dont expect problem with single player in 10. 6-speed trans is great so far, as is powerful engine. If no problems, expect to buy this truck at end of lease. Im a fairly large person and this is a comfortable truck. Fit is good. This one was made in San Antonio TX.

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  From a Jeep to a Yaris - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Melissa - February 24 - 7:13 am

  I love my car. I was driving an 04 Jeep Wrangler and getting about 15 mpg because of the 6 cyl and AWD. I went to Toyota and test drove the car I was destined to buy. I was out the door with the keys in my hand about 4 hours later. Have had it over a month, and LOVE it. Great fuel economy (about $23.00 to fill up) and a tank lasts about a week. Awesome car to zip all over town in, comfortable and handles well. Roomy enough on the inside considering the size. I would definitely recommend the Yaris to anyone looking for a fuel-efficient, comfortable, and stylish ride!!

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  Great Ride - one minor fix - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By DLK - February 24 - 5:56 am

  Never had a car ride so nice on a long trip.

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  My second Prius - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By soboy - February 24 - 2:26 am

  My wife has a 2005 Prius that we bought new and she loves it, so I sold my truck which got 14 mpg and bought a 2009 Prius touring. I just decided I wanted to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. I got every option except leather. I am averaging 50 mpg over the last 6000 miles. Incredible mpg! I love the bluetooth, navigation, HID lights, smartkey and steering wheel controls. The touring model handles better than the standard Prius. Although I grew up in the muscle car era, the world is a far different place now. Global warming, peak oil and environmental destruction must be dealt with responsibly. Wasting resources is not a path to a sustainable future.

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  Great Car.... My Third Camry - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By GC - February 23 - 7:10 pm

  This is my third Camry and by far the best. I love my new car, and its quiet and refined ride. Exterior looks great, and the interior is Lexus like. Love the interior lighting at night. If you are looking for a great car with a super quiet and smooth ride, check the Camry. Great gas mileage so far too, and with only 900 miles so far, it is not even broken in yet.