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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  LuvIt - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By tiki - March 11 - 7:00 am

  I was skeptical of how small this car looked until I got inside and test drove it. It is much more spacious than it looks. Gas mileage is great! I fill up about once a week for about $20. I got used to the odometer in the center dash. Its easier to keep your eye on it and on the road at the same time. I hope to keep this car for a long time. It even drives well in the snow. Its a great first new car!

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  Could not kill it! - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By themanindbox - March 11 - 3:41 am

  Well, I owned a 99 corolla from new until 2005 when I sold it for 4 grand. At that point it had a little over 315K miles on it, didnt burn oil, no lights, and everything that was in it worked. I had to replace oil every 3k miles, but that is about it. It handled better then a civic, got better mpg, and was faster off the line, not to mention cheaper to insure. I would love to get my hands on a 99 corolla with a blown motor with the options I had in mine, it is a perfect candidate for a 2zz swap. I have owned over 18 cars in my life, and nothing on the planet will take a beating like a Toyota. Not Honda, and nothing American can come close.

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  Our new Camry - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By satisfied - March 11 - 12:36 am

  We are long term owners when we purchase a vehicle. After 4 1/2 months, 3500 miles - we are not at all dissatisfied with our decision to purchase another Toyota. Very dependable, good looking and economical. Glad we went with the 4 cyl. I like the car.

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  FJ Rocks - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By azjj - March 11 - 12:20 am

  Traded my 3rd Jeep (last one was a 2002 Liberty Sport w/59K miles) on the FJ less then a month ago and while I’m only 500 miles into this vehicle, I honestly believe I’ve never had a more fun to drive “jeep.” And yes, I call this a jeep (lower case) instead of FJ and my wife keeps correcting me, but this is the off road rig DC should have built. One outrageous weekend adventure on some gnarly ATV trails located in the George Washington and Jefferson NF made me a true believer.

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  Blind spots - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By solara - March 10 - 5:10 pm

  The cars rides like a jewel. The worst thing is the roll bar in the rear, one cannot see what is in back of them, and also the rear window is small. The interior design is not very conducive to convenience of using the back seat area for putting packages on the floor temporarily. In fact you could eliminate the back seat area all together. No one can get back there to sit. I would not buy that model car again. I do love the Toyota engineering though, it is great over all.

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  Dont be scared off - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By steve - March 10 - 1:40 pm

  As with any vehicle purchase, I did a ton of homework on potential purchase options. To be honest, I was mostly scared off the FJ before test driving due to all the comments about poor visibility, impractical 3rd doors and limited 2nd row seating, soft glass, etc. Im beginning to wonder if these people actually have driven the FJ. For starters, if you adjust the mirrors properly (and as spelled out in the manual), there is no blind spot issue. I have a 3 year old, and the car seat fits fine with plenty of room to get him in and out. The cabin is absolutely spacious. Get the manual tranny if you can find one. Youll pay more in gas, but its worth the fun in driving.

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  Im Thrilled - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Joe Solomon - March 10 - 1:26 pm

  This is the best sedan Ive ever dirven... Total comfort and very quiet. Performs like a big cat when asked... Fast for anything especially a six.

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  Rocket Sled !! - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Tom - March 10 - 10:43 am

  I have both the Rav2003 and 2005, the 2005 has the new 2.4 engine and it really rocks. This SUV its really fun to drive. Soo nimble!

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  awesome - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By kasparov - March 10 - 6:16 am

  I love it, i knew toyota will deliver, its a 5 stars truck

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  losses value quick/dislike seats color - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By ka - March 10 - 4:19 am

  Things I dislike about this car. Price- extra cost for navigation system, blind spot sensoring (over $ 3,000 extra for these features) This comes standard on Hondas, Mazda and other cars. Noticed used Toyotas lost 20 % of value in first year or do. If you buy this car at $ 27,000 plus financing bringing it to $ 30,000 after two years it is worth less than $ 20K. Disliked interior seat colors- would stain very easily if that ketchup/mustard drips out of a hamburger or coffee spills.