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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  Most excellent truck - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By MonkeyTracker - December 1 - 6:50 pm

  Best truck Ive ever had. 36,000 miles on it and its as tight and rattle-free as the day I drove it off the lot. I enjoy driving it everyday.

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  Zoes Baby - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Zoe - December 1 - 5:40 pm

  This is the second Camry I have owned, and bought it after the great experience from the first. I have been driving this car the last 4 years, and have enjoyed every minute. The car is 100% reliable, and I feel safe on the long trips I make each month. I have never had any problems with the car! If you want a car for long-term ownership, this is the one for you!

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  Zoes Baby - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Zoe - December 1 - 5:40 pm

  This is the second Camry I have owned, and bought it after the great experience from the first. I have been driving this car the last 4 years, and have enjoyed every minute. The car is 100% reliable, and I feel safe on the long trips I make each month. I have never had any problems with the car! If you want a car for long-term ownership, this is the one for you!

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  Love my old Camry - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Ellen - December 1 - 3:13 am

  I have been looking for a new car for almost a year now, and cant justify getting rid of my 1998 camry. I really love it. I know with all the miles I have on it, I will need to do something. Major thing was cat- converter and that was just recently. The V6 is quiet and drives great. Mileage is fine. Never though I would keep this car for 12 years and not want to get rid of it after 12 years.

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  Gas milege is so disappointing - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By ny1301 - November 30 - 6:23 pm

  I just bought a 2010 Corolla to replace my 1996 Corolla which had served me loyally over 10+ years. However I found with the 2010 corolla, I only got a 30mpg on high way (I commute 80 miles a day), while my old corolla made at least 33 mpg. How disappointed I am! Also there is a bit noise from engine. I am not sure if that will turn to a bigger problem in a year or two. My old corolla was very quite when I bought it.

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  All that I could want - 2013 Toyota Prius c
  By sjg4 - November 30 - 11:07 am

  I love my C! It is nimble, well-made, and fun to drive. Plus, unlike so many other hybrids, the mileage is no hype. I average 50 mpg and Ive owned my car for about 4 months now. You go so long between fill ups that you almost forget about getting gas. Regarding the comments about acceleration, its no Ferrari, but Ive found it to be fine on on ramps and here in Philly thats no joke. Also, many of the comparable hybrids sacrificed reliability. I dont think I should have to choose between great mileage and being stuck by the side of the road. I picked the C, and am very happy with the choice.

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  Great little car - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By WBoro - November 30 - 10:00 am

  I bought the ECHO new for my wife to drive because Toyota has been known to make cars with very few problems and we didnt have the extra money to buy a larger car. This car has been great. We get 40 mpg on the highway, plus some diving in town. The most mileage that we have gotten is 43 mpg. I had one size wider tires put on the car to help with car waving as big trucks would pass. Also I have been using Mobil 1 oil. I would recommend this car for someone that has a lot of driving to do and needs a car they can depend on.

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  College Commuter - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By neinta - November 30 - 10:00 am

  As a college student I wanted a car that was reliable and could handle the commute to and from school, 400+ miles a week. My 96 Camry has done all that and more. Although the gas mileage is not as high as some people seem to get, I can still get over 420 miles per tank. Although there have been some repairs, shes still going. I came close to totalling her last winter when I wrecked but I walked away with no bumps, bruises or scrapes. We chose to get he repaired and shes running better than ever. Safety and reliability are great! Shes close to 100k miles now and Im sure shell be around for many more.

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  A great truck - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Colin the Contractor - November 30 - 10:00 am

  I have had this for about 5 months and love it. Have towed concrete mixers (full, 1 cu. yrd.) no problem. This is a great truck, I dont know how they can say it is not for contractors. It has lots of room and plenty of power. The inside is not super fancy, but it is a truck not a Cadillac. If you are in the market for a solid vehicle it is worth taking a look at.

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  How could I do it? - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By TacoDriver - November 30 - 10:00 am

  My coworkers were shocked when I traded in my 98 Tacoma, they knew I loved that truck. But the new 2004 is everything I ever wanted in a truck. I ignore the "Smooth" driving complaints, and such. I bought a truck, I expect it to drive like a truck. The interior is very similar to my old Tacoma, which I liked anyway, so the truck was immediately comfortable to me. I do agree that the clock is poorly placed. (Unless of course, you dont feel any need to see it.) Suspension on the TRD is great! V6 Engine is strong, Transmission smooth, and the truck looks, feels, and drives solid. Honestly, I cannot envision the truck it will take to replace this one... but