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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  Best vehicle I ever owned - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By adoihcj - February 10 - 1:50 am

  In my lifetime Ive owned over 13 vehicles (from Mercury, Ford, GM to VW, Honda, and Subaru), and this is by far the best vehicle Ive ever owned. We just hit the 8k mile mark and I enjoy being behind the wheel at all times. Highway driving is fun and off- roading/driving in snow is awesome as well. Theres plenty of space for the family (two kids) and ample cargo space for vacations.

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  excellent truck - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By kevinlee123 - February 9 - 8:17 pm

  drove this truck since i bought it has 127,500miles on it, so far so good,fell like a new luxury sedan.full power,good ac,good sound system(tape/cd), it will last long.no issues. save lots of money

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  Fun Car At A Great Price - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Adam - February 9 - 2:46 pm

  So far this car has been great. I took it on a long trip from Florida to New York and it did great. The fuel economy averaged in the 30s and the ride was comfortable and smooth. Although it is only a 4-cylinder engine it has good power and pickup.

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  Corolla From Clunker - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Mark90250 - February 9 - 3:13 am

  Traded in my 4Runner for the CARS rebate and bought the 2010 Corolla. I have to say from where I was its like driving a Cadillac. I commute in the some of the worst traffic there is on interstate 405 in the Los Angeles area. Counting the commute and on my third tank of gas I am averaging 32.8 MPG. Stop and go traffic all the way home. The sound system is good but turns to great using my iPod through the standard auxiliary input. The front seats are comfortable enough, though headroom is tight even for me at 5 ft 10". Nevertheless its an enjoyable commute. The ride is smooth and the steering is not stiff as I have read elsewhere. All in all...Very nice.

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  Satisfied - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By Dove - February 8 - 11:23 pm

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  NO MORE TOYOTAS - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By J.Robbin and Teresa Hajek - February 8 - 7:30 pm

  Our Corolla is sitting in the driveway with the hood up,AGAIN.Wont start ,new fuel pump not working (this is the third pump in less than 130,000 miles)Relay,pump, ECU?Mechanic getting balder.Dvd quit working,engine light always on/off/on.Airbag light on.Dealer has us on a list to replace recalled airbag(its been several months now,no word)Dealership deaf,no help.ECU indicated transmission problems,mechanic says transmission is OKAY,ECU faulty.Dealership says our car only on recall for the airbag.Moisture in right front headlamp.Some plastic interior parts broken.My wife says NO MORE TOYOTAS.

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  It took a while, but we got one - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By xxx - February 8 - 10:00 am

  We traded in our 2001 full-size Montero Ltd. What a difference! This blows the Montero out of the water. No more praying for dear life when you take corners or change lanes. We got the deal we wanted by using the internet to email all the dealers in the Southeast. We sent out a broadcast fax, as well. We were very clear in with what we wanted and what price we were willing to pay. There were a lot of dealers that met our price but did not disclose add-ons like "Toyo Guard", dealer prep, paperwork, document processing, etc. that well exceeded the price we wanted to pay. We didnt play that game.

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  Id buy another one - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By sbotero - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Perfect for a small size family. We are very please with the way it handles. What we paid for it was very reasonable, it came fully loaded. People complain about red lights, I find them very atractive and easy to read.

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  Sorry - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Nannook - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 1998 Rav4 , I am sorry I did, The 2003 has play in the front end, I feel the road bounce more. I had the dealer check the car out and they told me that nothing was wrond with it, and that I have to get used to the new style. The 1998 Rav4 handeled better, and was more fun to drive, wish I had it back. The Tonneau Cover is an inconveniece, and falls on my head. Way to many options to choose from and too much after market stuff. Radio does suck. The center arm rest is to hard.

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  No Repairs after 98,000 Miles - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Permanent Customer - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car brand new in August of 1999 with 39 miles on it at 19 years of age. I havent had any problems with my car at all. Ive only had to get the oil changed when supposed to, change the brakes, get a new set of tires, and change the brake lights in the back.