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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  Mostly excellent - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By nonesuch - October 3 - 2:00 am

  I use my truck for towing a racecar and part time commuting. If you have heavy towing (I tow about two tons) dont bother with a six cylinder. Even if you think you might someday want to use your truck for "real work", get a V8! It cruises quite comfortably and quietly at extralegal speeds while not towing and the "pickup" is good. It even has very little trouble towing up steep California hills. Its too major faults is that the two rear seats arent really useful, and the range isnt great (I get ~12mpg towing with a tank capacity of somewhat less than 30 gallons).

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  Taco lover... - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By elendil - October 3 - 2:00 am

  I love my tacoma! Ive driven alot of trucks, and this one is the best by far. Even with the I4, it has an adequate amount of power with the 5spd. I would recommmend it to anyone who is looking for a good, reliable truck. I have over 32,000 miles on it, and no problems!

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  Nice car with some minor quirks - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By syau - October 3 - 2:00 am

  The Corolla is very roomy with a hugh trunk. The interior is the best part of the car, it looks expensive. However, I can not get a comfortable driving position. I am 6 feet tall, if I push the seat back far enough for my legs, the steering wheel is too far away. The suspension could use a little more refinement. The car seems to get affected by cross wind quite a bit. Sometime the car kind of float on the highway. The best gas mileage we seen was 32 at a highway only trip. Our average in mixed driving is around 29. This is not bad, but I expect a little better considering the advertised 30city/38highway.

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  Excellent economy car - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By Common_Man - October 2 - 8:00 pm

  We have owned our Yaris for about a month and love it. We thought about buying a Prius, but the 10k price difference made us change our mind real quick. The Yaris sedan looks small from the outside, but is more than sufficient for daily use like commuting to work and running errands. Even at highway speeds (75+), the vehicle is pretty smooth with no vibrations/noise. Seems to handle snow driving (northeast US) pretty well, compared to my previous bigger cars. Fuel economy is excellent (38+ on mixed driving). 20 bucks fills up the car. Leg room is very adequate both in the front and rear. Recommend that everyone buy the power package that includes power windows, mirrors, locks and remote key.

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  Almost 2 Years, and Im Still Loving It - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Nancy - October 2 - 6:06 pm

  I bought my Yaris S in August 2006 and it has been a great car. I thought the slow acceleration speed would bother me, but I take the interstate every day and it has never been a problem. Its a fun car and I couldnt be happier with it. My family is in the car business, so Ive seen (and driven) all kinds of cars, and this one is the nicest under $30K Ive found.

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  nice truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By bjw04toyota - October 2 - 6:03 pm

  Well this is my first Toyota. I was a Ford man but I wanted a truck that was dependable and had a good rep for making them. I put a lot of money down so I wanted to make my money good for something, and I did a lot of research and found that the Toyota Tacoma was at the top of the list of all major points, resale value, durabilty and quality.

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  On the fence - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By Rod - October 2 - 3:13 pm

  Purchased this truck after owning a 2001 Tacoma. Unlike the 2001, I feel the quality of the product has diminished some. I love the truck overall but I am on the fence regarding the overall performance and reliability of the truck. I hate the fact that the automatic model searches for a gear at low speeds. In addition, the engine sounds like it has a "ping" in it. I understand this may be te fuel injectors. After test driving a competetors model, the truck feels more like a "toy." Nonetheless, the truck is fun to drive and the V6 has nice torque to it. Short bed is really not that much different from the standard, and the doublecab leaves plenty of room for passengers

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  As good as a Lexus - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By lakeside - October 2 - 5:13 am

  Have found the VENZA to be an excellent all around car. The looks are youthful and classy together. The inside (w/leather pkg, incl woodlike trim) is actually beautiful. Agonized over 4 vs 6 and am so glad I got the 4. While not a screamer, this 4 jumps like a rabbit from standstill, 40-60 and even passing at 60-70. Performance with the 4-cyl was a pleasant surprise, and hwy mileage of 29 (!) is fabulous for a car this big. Ride is quiet and smooth and handling is also very good, esp for a big wagon. Overall its got looks, quality and performance. The car reeks of quality. Put a big "L" on it and it could be a Lexus.

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  best used car! - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By john - October 2 - 12:20 am

  just bought a used 01 w/ 42k miles for $10k- good deal on a loaded v6se. When smogged, the tech said the motor on these are great. Looked at a new 05 model- cant see losing $10K in depreciation in 3 years though. So I found a nice used one that will now not depreciate. Love the int styling and handling. engine is so smooth you dont know its running unless you look at the tach.

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  Mileage estimates are a LIE - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ToyotaLies - October 1 - 10:06 am

  Its a nice-looking, comfortable car with good power, but I got 15.4 mpg on a recent tank. And my highway mileage was much better than my city mileage (opposite of what they advertise). I took it to the dealer to find out if theres something wrong and they found nothing. They tell me Im not driving it correctly. Based on discussions on the Internet, it sounds like a TON of people are not getting close to the expected mileage. If you buy this car, expect to be disappointed.