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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  Toyota 4 me - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By AHDIAMOND - August 1 - 10:56 pm

  I had a Nissan Pathfinder that had a 3.5 litre and never got over 16 mpg. This Toyota gets 20 mpg with a 4.0 litre. I have a TRD package so the bilstein shocks help the ride when I pull my 24 foot boat. The limited slip diff works well on slippery ramps.

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  satisfied owner - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Bob B - August 1 - 8:33 am

  Drive this truck coast-to-coast twice a year. Able to haul lots of stuff and still able to get 18-19 mpg at 68-69 miles an hour. The ride is smooth and comfortable.

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  08 Limited 5.7L - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By TruckGuy - August 1 - 3:36 am

  I love this truck. I had a 2003 Tundra before this which was admittedly a little small and not powerful enough. Well the new design rocks. It definitely drives more like a full size truck, similar to F-150 or Silverado. The power is awesome, fantastic for towing, and has a great big bed with optional tie downs. Build quality is excellent, as you would expect, and I have had zero issues, not even a rattle in 10k miles. If you are considering a Detroit truck, you owe it to yourself to test drive the Tundra.

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  Very Happy Customer! - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By Wade - July 31 - 4:43 pm

  I have always enjoyed the look of the 4Runners since they came out and they constantly keep impressing me. The inside is a little 90s, but the look of the outside and the ride quality more than makes up for it. It is a very sharp and very reliable car that will suite our needs for years to come!

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  I love my Toyota - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Robert - July 31 - 1:26 pm

  I have now over 186,000 miles and the only major expense I had was brakes and tires and the rest was just periodic oil changes. I drive this car for work and pleasure. Let me tell you, aside from the so so fuel economy, this is a car that does everything and never lets me down.

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  Finally got my TACO! - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By USMC - July 31 - 11:20 am

  I been waiting 3 years to get this truck and it was worth the wait. I splurged and got the V-6 4dr dbl cab 4x4 TDR pack. I wanted to put the hype to the test and took it 4 wheeling and it did not disappoint. Rides like a car with exceptional power. Luv this truck.

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  I love my Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Shellrehm - July 30 - 5:53 pm

  I love my camry. I have owned it for 6 months and i have 16k miles on it. Best car Ive ever owned.

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  Awesome Car! - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Drew - July 30 - 5:03 am

  Ive had this car for four days now and each day I like it more and more. The ride is so smooth and the car is flawless. Beautiful interior and exterior. Highly recommended.

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  Very Happy! - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Brandon Stevenson - July 30 - 4:26 am

  This is a very cool SUV. It provides comfort, style, safety and, more importantly, reliability. Its new exterior design is unique but still retains the rugged look that is specific to 4Runners all over the world. The interior has great features that many other manufacturers need to take note of. We upgraded to leather, and glad we did. Cloth interior with a 3 year old spilling and dropping stuff all the time is just not smart. The engine is powerful, and will get you out into traffic safely, but wont throw you in the back seat. Its an SUV. Gas milage is impressive but with fuel prices these days im even happier with how it does on fuel. Its worth the extra $$!

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  Better the Second Time Around - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Aintslownomo - July 30 - 2:40 am

  This is the second 4 Runner Ive owned. The upgrades made inside and out since the 2000 model I owned previously are wonderful. The improved ride, handling, comfort and temperature controls are really nice. I wish they had the dial for engaging the 4WD in a different location though. There have been several times I accidently put it in 4WD without knowing it until I looked at the dash gauges. I love the game type temp. control buttons. The little hidden features like the back seat cup holders/table top and the trash can holder are great features. I find the cargo net pretty useless though. It doesnt seem to work very well. Bottom line, I love it and will buy a 3rd!