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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  Great all around ride - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By zach d - June 19 - 3:06 am

  I bought my 4runner in the winter of 2007 looking for an all around mountain car. It has been everything I have wanted plus more. Maintenance on it has been nominal, apart from the usual oil changed and tire rotation. In the hills this car is unstoppable being able to take any incline i throw its way. The only down side is after 70 miles per hour you begin to feel a little unsafe because of the narrow chassis, and the wobbles it gets while turning at high speeds. Fuel economy for my 5 speed manual has been around 22 on highways.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By TDADDY - June 16 - 11:56 pm

  Its a great truck with a good deal of power, room, and comfort, im very happy with the purchase.

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  Love this car more the older it gets! - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By Sully862 - June 14 - 6:06 am

  I bought my Toyota Corolla DX brand new and have loved it since 1994. It keeps getting older, gets more miles on it, and just keeps humming along. It rides smoother than new Camrys, is peppy in the first and second gears and needs nothing but scheduled maintenance. Over the years the car has come to fit me like a glove and I dont want to replace it. I have 175,000 on this one and expect to take it well over 200,000. Like another reviewer I havent had a car payment in ten years. I love what Toyota does for me!

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  Ill be darned... - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By diktrikl - June 13 - 10:00 am

  I wouldnt have considered the Avalon as an outright new car purchase but was pleasantly surprised at ride quality (on par with Volvo S-80) and feel I got a bargain at $17K. Theres no way you are going to find one from a dealer for under twenty grand. Toyota reliability and savings to boot... seems trivial to gripe about the bland white color.

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  Good Toyota - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Michael vanHaagen - June 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought the base model with no frills. I needed a good reliable car that was good on gas and had lots of interior room The Matrix fit the bill.I love the way the seats fold down to make it into a mini station wagon.I feel that for the money you get a good car with lots of good standard features.

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  Jack of all trades... - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By jdmcderm - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This car does a lot of things very well. Its stylish, roomy and has an impressive list of standard features for a base model. The ride is very comfortable, but not particularly involving. Ive owned several Hondas and considered the Accord, but felt that the interior material quality was inferior for Honda and the styling was bland. It was, however, more fun to drive than the Camry, especially in a V- 6. Also consdered the BMW 325i which was too small to be practical for 4-5 adults. All things considered, Im happy with they Camry, but the BMW will be at the top of my list next time around

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  Satisfied So Far - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By MH - June 12 - 5:50 pm

  Bought this car in August 09, currently has 4500 miles. So far, so good. Has a very smooth, comfortable ride. The steering is a little odd, and takes some getting used to. Cant really get a feel for the road when driving, but is not a deal breaker. Definitely not a sporty driving experience. The controls are all well placed, and work well. The clock position doesnt really bother me. The trunk is adequate. The seats are very comfortable, and back seat space is surprisingly good. No brake or mechanical issues, or strange noises or rattles so far. Hoping to keep this car for 10+ years, so hope that continues. This car replaced my 15 year old Geo Prizm (basically the same as a Corolla).

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  2002 Sequoia Review - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By jay - June 11 - 9:36 am

  Ive had mine about a year & have zero complaints. I bought it with 100K miles from a dealer who has sold me a number of Toyotas & I would not buy anything else. It is a used vehicle & friends comment that it looks very well kept. It drives great, visibility is great, never had any problems. gas mileage is not so good, but if you want great gas mileage, buy something else. If you want comfort & a reliable family SUV that protects you, you need to drive it!

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  My 1st Hybrid - 2011 Toyota Prius
  By mpgboy - June 10 - 6:54 pm

  Excellent build quality, but I was expecting that as a long time Toyota buyer. The Prius is comfortable, quiet at highway speeds and easy to drive. I commute 100 miles round trip every day. In the early morning, it is a highway drive, in the afternoon it is 1/2 bumper to bumper and 1/2 highway. This car does well in both. I am averaging 53mpgs after 3 tanks of gas. If I drive at 60mph on the highway, I can get 56mpgs. The car is very roomy with a large cargo area

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  2001, another fine year for a Tacoma - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jordan S - June 10 - 11:23 am

  I have had this Tacoma for almost a year, it is solid, so far I have noticed that rubber strips around the wheel wells are coming loose, other than that, the body has held up well.