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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  The best car I ever had - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By CKerian - March 10 - 8:23 pm

  Traded in a 2007 Tahoe you know the one the saves half the gas by shutting the motor down. I love this car. this is my 6th car in my nine years of driving yes Im 26 and love the 4 door v-6 power no nav but everything else. Smooth ride and the best gas miles since the 91 CRX (46 mpg) looked at the accord nice but not enough to buy. I can compare this to my old 98 Prelude SH 200hp "built to run" this has way more power for a bigger car. Worth a drive and a buy.

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  LOVE THE TACO - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By EKC - March 10 - 5:50 pm

  Just racked up 1000 miles on my new Tacoma, this is my first one, and I could not be happier. 2.7 four is a solid motor, took it to the snow and it had plenty of power to scoot up the hills(just keep it in 4th) new traction control is great, very comfortable and smooth ride. Had a 99 Dodge Dakota, now I am sold on the Taco, hands down.

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  Whata CAR!!!!! - 2005 Toyota Celica
  By The Man is ME!!!!!! - March 10 - 11:30 am

  Ok, I understand this is a labeled "sports car" and it does lack HP, however it is as light as a feather baby! And I love the gas I get, this thing feels like a sport hybrid... hmmm now theres an idea. Yah here that Toyota!!! Think about it. Anyways I love this car and I am extremely sad to see it leave the U.S. grounds, personally I think its a dumb idea to ditch this car at the time of high gas prices, and this one leads the sport cars on mpg. The steering is very presise, and the storage is very practable. Overall, great car!

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  wow - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By leanne_ - March 10 - 6:26 am

  I am so in love with this car. I drive an hour back and forth to work five days a week and only spend about $25/week on gas. Its comfortable, reliable, snazzy, and perfect for city driving/parking. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  Once you drive it youll buy it - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Antonio - March 9 - 6:46 pm

  Its a quiet ride inside and handles very well. It has some get up and go when you need it. I traded in my Corolla for it and Im so glad I did it. Excellent purchase.

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  Great car for your money - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Abdulatif - March 9 - 2:13 pm

  I am very happy that I went with new 2007 Camry. I just got it couple of days before, so I cant tell you for sure the quality of assembly yet, but performance and interior design are well above the average car. Interior little bit less than expected from Toyota, but still its done with great deal of ergonomy, everything very handy, and you will not get tired from it. Great gas mileage. Performance of 2.4 liter engine was much better than I expected. Lots and lots of fun.

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  Best all around value for safety / price - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Cindy R - March 9 - 2:11 pm

  I did extensive research before deciding to buy the 2016 Rav4 Limited AWD with advanced tech package and TSS. The features I needed to have were Blind Spot Monitoring and Topview camera, in a SUV with a reasonable price. The closest competitors were the Nissan Rogue and Mazda CX5. Based on edmunds review of the Rogue with the clunky CVT engine and lesser resale value and reliability when compared to the Rav4, I opted for the Rav4. The CX5 had BSM but didnt have topview camera. The Rav4 has all the electronics I need for the next 10 years. The BSM is incredibly helpful and the topview camera allows me to park in the tightest of spaces. The Lane Departure Alert and Radar Cruise control are awesome, as are the Auto High Beams. Ive never had a Garmin but I do like the Toyota Navigation as it does its job for both giving directions and showing traffic. Some improvements are for the car to have a heated steering wheel option in the USA and to have an audio alert for the BSM. This is a great car for the value.

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  I love my 4 runner!!! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Turtle - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I got my 97 4Runner as a 16th birthday gift, and till this day (Im 21 now) I still think it is the best SUV thats offered on the market. I love both the interior and exterior styling, the sound system, and the high ground clearance. Also, the O/D button gives superior acceleration while traveling at a high speed (e.g. 85mph). All in all, I would recommend this car to anyone who is looking into buying a well rounded SUV.

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  Great Car! - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By selby - March 9 - 10:00 am

  Our 2000 Toyota Sienna has been a great automobile. We have just over 60000 miles on it and all we have had to do to it is replace the battery and brake pads. It is dependable, it gets good gas mileage, rides smoothly, and has been great for our realestate business. We our contemplating buying a new 2002 or 2003 because of the low interest rates and no down payment. We highly recommend this automobile to anyone.

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  Reliable and Fun - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By TSD - March 9 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I bought this vehicle in June. For the last month I have been driving this truck. He cannot seem to pry it away from me!