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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  Camry with a TRD Attitude - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Edmund - January 10 - 10:36 am

  I just recently purchased a Blue ribbon Metallic 2007 Camry SE V6 and it has been nothing but PURE EXHILARATION. The car has a top notch acceleration, sleek sporty look "A Real Head Turner!", a luxurious comfort feature, and a fuel consumption that is best in the class. I have researched thoroughly and found that the car just simply outshines against all of its competitors. Now all of my friends envy me for having a 4 door sedan that looks and acts like a SPORT MACHINE. They all say "Is that a camry?" and I say "YES ITS A CAMRY!"

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  Good car for Canadian teenager - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Derek1269 - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Great car it has over 190,000klm and still runs great. Never a doubt that it will breakdown needs a little more strength for highway travel with 5 occupants along with better suspension. Reliability is what makes this car great at my dealership a man owns a camry with over 600,000klms and he "drives the hell out of it" the exterior will go before the engine

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  Great little SUV for Southern Arizona - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By Desert Rat - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Bought this used Rav4 in summer of 2001 and have it driven 20,000 with no major problems. I drive mostly in the Tucson metropolitan area where roads are in terrible shape and the traffic is horrendous. The All-Wheel-Drive is great during summer monsoons and flash floods. The vehicle works well on back roads too, but I wouldnt recommend the Rav4 for serious off-road trips. Im glad it doesnt have a big gas-guzzling engine. The Rav4s reliability and versatility make up for its lack of engine horsepower.

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  over priced - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By bdouglaw - January 10 - 10:00 am

  I like everything about the Seqouia but the retail price.

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  Dont buy this truck! - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By JVaughn4 - January 10 - 10:00 am

  This is an awful vehicle. It has horrible emissions INSIDE the cabin. The gas mileage is also terrible - 14 mpg on the hwy on premium fuel and horrible emissions INSIDE the cabin. Research before you buy. Take at look at the sulfur problems on Edmunds.com car discussions. Take a look at NHTSA site too at all the complaints of emssion smells inside the cabin.

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  excitement - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Supralover - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Very very versatile whether offroading, moving big objects or just to have fun i think its the best reliable truck on the market today

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  Hard Ride - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Joe Zebar - January 10 - 10:00 am

  I drove a 1990 Toyota SR for 10 years & my son is still driving it at 201,000 Mi. I never thought that it had a stiff ride. My 2002 tocoma with the off road package rides very hard and stiff. You will feel every bump in a jarring manner. This is the only complaint I have. The V6 is a little weak at 190HP but provides adequate acceleration. The front seats could be a little longer for more leg support. Fit & finish is excellent. Basicly satisfied with the truck. Ps No recalls & have not been back to the dealer for anything.

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  Doublecab 4x4 TRD off road limited - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Oats - January 10 - 10:00 am

  My fourth Toyota 4x4 truck great vehicles

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  Style, Value and Longevity - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By RogerRabbitt - January 10 - 10:00 am

  I would recommend to buy this car and yet I would like to share a few things. For me, the 1.8L engine has poor performance.It does its job well, but when called upon for a fast pass or gettig uphills, it lacks power. The economy and longevity factor is what the engineers were aiming for. Mine has the automatic transmission and I like the downshift lever on the side as I need to use it often in the Monterey area. I noticed also that the Cruise Control will not always rebound after braking, when flicking "resume," on the lever.

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  Love our new 4Runner; bring on the snow! - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By NEOhio 4Runner - January 10 - 6:13 am

  The new 4Runner has a great rugged look. Seats and driving position are very comfortable. Handles very well for an SUV, especially tight turning radius. Rides so much better than older generations of this vehicle - very smooth on the highway and minimal wind noise. The V6 engine is very peppy and responsive - seems like fuel economy will be pretty good if we dont romp it too hard. We are looking forward to trying out the 4WD system in the Northeastern Ohio snows...