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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  New 1794 Tundra - 2014 Toyota Tundra
  By thepieman - June 22 - 3:59 am

  Bought the new 1794, the truck is a masterpiece, I have a 2013 work truck Tundra and the interior of this truck was dated, the improvement is needed and has been thought out well, the voice activation is good although it takes some getting used to, but saves having to take your eye of the road to press buttons on a screen. The sat nav works well and a nice touch is that when you get close to a turn, you get a display on your drivers screen console. The engine is the same, it is a lovely powerful motor, but it likes a drink! The build quality seems top class, although the carpet is a bit thin and not the quality it should be. The ride is the most comfortable ive driven.

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  Great Car! - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Tommy - June 21 - 10:50 pm

  If you want the most bang for your buck, this is the car I would recommend. I purchased the car with the cheapest package (base Model) and it comes with great features. Nothing to complain. I average about 45 MPG and be able to drive about 450 miles per tank. Great for commuting. Being able to use the steering wheel to control the A/C and radio is a uge bonus. There are only 2 things that I do not like. One is the power, a little harsh on steep hills and the other will be the stereo. The speakers arent that very good on the base model. Well those are just my small complaints. I hope all of you enjoy the car as much as I do. Be careful in parking lots since pedestrians cannot hear you

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  Great Mid-Sized SUV - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Loving - June 21 - 10:26 pm

  Wow, what an outstanding SUV. We were looking at getting the RAV4 and decided to test drive the Highlander. We purchased one shortly afterward. Very nice turning radius. The engine has significant power for only being a V-6. The interior of the Limited is very nice. Very comfortable, lacking in leg support for the long trips though. For an SUV the fuel economy is outstanding at around 21-23 MPG average. We have put over 1500 mi on it in 3 wks and every trip is a blast. Definitely recommend the Sandy Beige color.

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  Camry sport - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Jquearry - June 21 - 6:22 pm

  Great car

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  Great Car! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By CB - June 21 - 5:40 pm

  The best full efficient, environmentally friendly car on the market. Driving experience is wonderful, even driving in snow is no problem with this car, except ground clearance. A real good set of winter tires and it goes where my SUV used to.

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  All around impressive - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By DocG - June 21 - 2:33 am

  I bought this car used with 55k miles on it 5 years ago, now with 107k. The only problems I ever had with it was the AC relay malfunctioning. With a quick jump on the internet reading about similar problems it was easily repaired with very little expense, the occasional wheel shaking and pulling corrected by an alignment. It gets great MPG, I average 29 city and 30-35 hwy. Decent power for a 1.8L. My wife of 411" has no difficulty driving or seeing out of. Lots of room, sporty look and feel with a classification code of a wagon(cheaper insurance). Very versatile, extremely reliable, good on long drives. A great all around vehicle. Perfect for first time drivers.

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  Always wanted offroad - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Great Deal - June 21 - 2:23 am

  Ive wanted the FJ after the 1st one I saw. And after getting it, I love it. I do a lot of off roading and with a just few add-ons its ready to go. I dont have kids and dont think I would have gotten if I did. For me, the wife and a couple of dogs, its all I need. The interior is great for clean up. I got the all weather mats and its just a spay down with the hose to clean. The big 4.0L V6 has the power I need off roading or blowing away the "on the phone soccer mom" on the road. It does go through the fuel and you may want to bring some extra on those long trips to the middle of nowhere. There is plenty of head room which has been a problem for me in the past.

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  Sold ! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Prime Health - June 20 - 10:10 pm

  The ride is smooth, sweet, and in zone.

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  Best Compact Car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Robt Cobb - June 20 - 7:36 pm

  I have 103000 miles on my 03 LE Corolla. This LE will last 400,000 miles just by changing the trans fluid every 10,000 ml, oil at 3,000 ml, spark-plugs at 10-15 months. Tires when worn. The higher wheel base keeps the car from scarping the curb. You can also repair (or find mechanics to repair this car) very cheaply! With premium or high octane gas I get 34cty/40hwy. And I drive at speeds of 70+mph! The speakers are fine but I hate the lame radio/DVD which is too hard to swap out and the space doesnt accommodate any of the popular MP3 players! The larger headlights are a welcomed improvement. The higher door and head room is a great improvement for my bike and computer stuff.

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  Love My Avalon - 2009 Toyota Avalon
  By TonyR - June 20 - 10:00 am

  I love my 09 Avalon. I use to buy nothing but Lincolns and switched over to Avalon in 2004, this was the best vehicle i have ever driven in the 40 so what years of driving. For some reason the 04 overpowered all the vehicles i have driven. I try to trade every three years to keep my cost value up. I have been driving my 09 now for for 19 months now and love it. I m getting anxious to see what the next new model year design is like and if i like it ill be trading in a flash! Keep up the good work Toyota!