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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  8 years and going strong - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By toyotofan - February 18 - 4:00 am

  Bought new in 2000 and never had a problem with it except when I had to replace the battery in the keyless remote. Oh, and when the car battery (finally) died a few months ago (it lasted almost 8 years!!). Great if you really need 4WD and road clearance. I put it in 4WD daily on our mountain road. We love our 4Runner. My husband wants to buy me a new vehicle, but Im not ready to give this one up! Conservative dash, no bling. Boring stereo, cd player skips on curves and mountain roads.

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  White Elephant - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Sanjeev Gupta - February 18 - 3:20 am

  Good vehicle. Comfortable driving but defeats the purpose of buying it. Mileage 49 for the first year, 46 for the second year, 44 in this third year. Recommended Tires very expensive ($108 against $60 for regular one), headlight HID bulbs burn out fast- Ultra expensive ($771.43 +Tax). Car can only be serviced at dealership and they charge a lot more than a regular service at Walmart. I do not see any savings.

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  Nice looking, runs terrible - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Jimmy462 - February 18 - 12:43 am

  I bought this car because I owned two Toyotas before (Avalon, Corolla). This car has been very disappointing. The squeaks and rattles are awful for a Toyota, feels more like a Chevy inside. The transmission doesnt shift correctly, and it has almost caused me to get into an accident twice. Except for the looks, this car is not making me very happy.

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  Ajax - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By a. Jones - February 17 - 6:13 pm

  Truck is high quality built and designed. Runs well with good responsive engine and smooth ride. All acessories are of good design, with exception of the clock placement. Solid construction with dependability throughout

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  Dissappointing - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - February 17 - 7:23 am

  I leased my 2009 Camry looking to possibly purchase at end of lease. The pick up is awful and I fear for my life going onto a highway. The acceleration is awful! Now I find out my tires are bad after 22k! (I rotate after every other oil change at 8k.) Toyota suggests after 5k which also points to too much required maintenance). I owned Fords before this and never had any of these problems. The tires went well into 40k. Also, the radio is terrible. Toyota offers nothing to keep me as a client. Ford I am coming back!

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  Best Truck Ever - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Matt - February 17 - 3:13 am

  I have owned a Ford, and a Chevy truck this Tundra by far is the best I have owned. Mine has the bench with the fold down arm rest and I love it. I fit six pretty big guys in there with no problem. I have pulled trailers that weighed close to 6500 lbs and it felt like nothing was back there...The truck is rated kind of low for towing but I think it can handle most loads...I actually average about 19.2 mpg overall and thats a 6 month avg. Low maintenance Great overall truck...We are Toyota Family and would recommend this truck to anyone looking for one. I am ready for my next one in about 20 years.........

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  We love our Prius - especially w/ $4 gas - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By tim - February 16 - 11:56 pm

  We love our Prius - great hauling capacity with hatch and flip-down rear seats. We are especially glad that we own it since gas is now over $4 a gallon.

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  This truck is great - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By robin - February 16 - 6:53 pm

  We tow our toyhauler camper, garbage trailers and work trailers all the time. It handles everything like it was just part of a days work. We have two older kids who love riding in the back seat. We drive it around town and on the highway constantly. We travel 5 1/2 hours one way every other weekend and everyone is comfortable. Being a female, I wasnt sure about a truck but I love it. Its fun to drive and handles well. Yes it drives like a truck because it is one. We purchased an ARE cap and a bed rug for when we bring our two large dogs. For a truck the gas mileage isnt bad, the Pilot I had got 17/21 and we couldnt do half of the things with the Pilot that we can do with the Tundra.

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  Great car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Giff NY - February 16 - 6:50 pm

  We went from a Lexus to the Camry, you get a lot of car for the money. 10k less than an ES 350. We have 18k on it now and have been completely satisfied. Car is loaded with nav, etc. Would recommend with no question.

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  Great Car/Poor Interior Cloth Choice - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Scott Bui - February 16 - 5:13 pm

  This is definitely the best car I have ever driven in my life. This is an extremely fun to drive, quiet, head- turner. We live in the hills in the suburbs of Los Angeles and get about 43-45 MPG with the A/C on and around 48-50 MPG without the A/C. Trunk space is amazing with the 60/40 split from the back seats. Im probably the only one in the U.S. using the Prius to pick up CARGO SHIPMENTS. Normally pick up around CARGO boxes (up to 8 boxes 400 lbs) from LAX to my office.