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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  Im Impressed - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By iggy7 - December 16 - 3:32 pm

  This is my first Toyota, and i bought this a few weeks ago. It has 230k miles on it and it drives great! It making a Toyota guy out of me.

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  Great Car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Mac - December 14 - 7:30 am

  3000+ mile trip. 39.9 MPG with automatic transmission and A/C running in June. Gets 28 to 31 MPG in city. Most economical car I have ever owned. Battery failed at 26000 miles. Out of state dealership paid tow and battery at no charge. Couldnt ask for better service and I cant fault any company about a defective battery.

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  grrrrrreat! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By allie002 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  great! i have the L model. I love it! However since its my first SUV, im realizing they require and use more gas, so im frequenting the gas station...

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  nice ride for a truck - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By slick surface - December 14 - 2:00 am

  The double cab is the way to go. It has plenty of leg and elbow space in the front and the back. It seems to have plenty of power,but I have not towed with it yet. The ride is very smooth and quiet. I felt like we were riding on air. It handles turns real nice and smooth. The bad thing I have to say about this truck is that the gas mileage is not very good. I have been getting about 15 miles to the gallon. The four wheel drive was a very nice feature to have. It gets around great in the snow.

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  Back Seat Driver - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Kaddy512 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Its an okay car from my stand point (The back seat). The second row seats are pretty confortable but the 3rd row seats are stiff. I spent a 8 hour trip in the 3rd row and had back and neck spasms the next day. Everything else in the car is great.

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  Expected More - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Dale - December 12 - 5:26 pm

  Had a very hard time finding the XL as we needed the cloth seats. We drove the car the next week on a 300mile trip. The mileage was about 28mph over all. The seats and the ride were just average. We were told the xm radio was pre-wired and it was not. We are not sure if we are excited about this car, time will tell! Had 2001 Avalon that was troule-free for 100,000 mph!

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  The Best Valued Luxury SUV Available - 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Austin - December 12 - 1:53 pm

  I believe the Toyota Land Cruiser has the attributes of a luxury vehicle without compromising what makes an SUV an SUV.

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  My 4wd SR5 4runner. - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By vvti168 - December 12 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is sized very nicely to fit into compact parking spots. In addition, its size makes it very maneuverable on road and off. The build quality is phenomenal and the switchgear feels well put together. I like the heated mirrors, power rear window and especially the safety features (ABS, VSC, Trac). The only real gripes that I have are the gas mileage and the tipsy feeling that I get when I negotiate certain curves (feels like itll roll even though it really wont).

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  Cannot go wrong with Toyota! - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By Linda Lou - December 12 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely love my new Toyota Echo! Best fuel economy, of any car I have ever owned. Sleek, sporty exterior. Roomy interior, big trunk capacity. Unusually fiesty drive, for a small 4- cylinder. Beautiful paint, black sand pearl. Also own a Camry V6 LE 1996, and would recommend Toyota to everyone!

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  I love this car! - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By smhmkh - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Solara used with only a little over 23,000 miles, and it was 3 years old. I love the smooth drive, the power, and the fully loaded interior. It hums with style. I am completely satisfied and would buy another Solara any day.