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:

• 

  My 3rd Toyota truck... - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By MikelJay - February 18 - 12:06 am

  I love my Tacoma. This is my 3rd Toyota truck. The 10 Tacoma carries on the tradition of great build quality and reliability. This is one of the quietest trucks Ive owned. The 4 cylinder/auto tranny is very responsive, pulls well and builds speed quickly. The interior is very comfortable and quiet. Although Ive had the truck for 2 weeks now, the fuel mileage seems to be getting better as it gets broken in. Averaging 25 combined city/highway miles per gallon, and I expect it will only get better as it gets broken in.

• 

  I Love My Prius - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By M Richards - February 17 - 10:46 pm

  Other than the fact that I dont know anyone who gets close to 60mpg. I love my car. I get around 40mpg overall and I live in a hilly area. I went from a big SUV to the Prius and I feel very safe and am more comfortable in this car than I have been in any other. The displays are easy to see and read. I love my GPS system.

• 

  2.7 4x4 Access Cab 5sp - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Tom - February 17 - 9:26 am

  I live in the mountains and have found that the 2.7 liter has more than enough power for effortless driving. I also have a 2006 Toyota FJ cruiser, 4 liter V6 auto, so it is interesting to compare the two vehicles. I have not found the 2.7 liter to be under powered, also the ride is more comfortable because of the longer wheel base. One of the reasons for getting the Tacoma was because of the good fuel economy that I experienced with the FJ Cruiser which replaced a Jeep Liberty.

• 

  Rav 4 - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Maureen Cervantes - February 17 - 5:03 am

  This car is the perfect size for an individual or college student. I kayak and bike and my equipment fits perfectly in this car. I can slide an 8 foot kayak in without any problem. 3 adults took a beach road trip for 2000 miles and we had plenty of room and were very comfortable.

• 

  SImple, reliable and quite - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Nandkishor - February 16 - 7:46 pm

  Almost no sound after being run for 75k. Looks simple with no fancy outlook but is reliable with greater fuel aconomy than some new cars owned by my friends. Transmission is great with no sudden jerks in rpm meter.

• 

  Great SUV - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By David - February 16 - 10:26 am

  Great SUV! I am getting 24-26 mpg 70/30 hwy/city. I got the dreaded P0420/P0430 check engine light. Ran several tanks of the good gas with fuel system cleaner. Cleared codes and everything is fine now. Runs better too! Love the economy with all the space and 4 cylinder has plenty of pep for me. I have been looking for an SUV with plenty of room and economy. Fun to drive and rides nice too!

• 

  The ONE - 2011 Toyota Prius
  By beaverfood - February 16 - 4:28 am

  Ive owned a 2011 for only 8 months, and it has 15,000 miles on it. The mpg = 54! This is my 2nd Prius. The 1st was a generation 2. The 2011 handles well, is fun to drive, and simply easy on the pocketbook.

• 

  Love this Car - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By chesire71 - February 15 - 11:23 pm

  From the moment I test drove this car I knew I had to have it. It handles like no car I have ever driven before. Fast, sleek and so much fun to drive. In fact, I dont think I was ready for just how quick this car goes (4 accidents in this car.. just 1 in all cars previous). I would love to keep driving it forever, but since my insurance has skyrocketed because of speeding tickets and accidents I will probably end up getting something more "practical". But I dont think Ill ever find another car I enjoyed as much as this one. Thanks Toyota! :)

• 

  Highlander hybrid AWD - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Scott - February 15 - 10:00 pm

  Gas mileage seems best after about 10 minutes of warm-up driving. Keeping an eye on the milage gauge helps a lot. Acceleration is phenomenal, real smooth power with the CVTC transmission, but heavy foot kills the milage. Real world average to date about 26-28 mpg, but have seen as much as 33 mpg on one 60 mile trip. As always, Toyota build quality is first class, we have 3 other Toyota vehicles and zero complaints. Shore Toyota also great to deal with, once we got past the sticker shock.

• 

  Great Vehicle! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Robert A. Mayes - February 15 - 8:30 pm

  Its a fine vehicle. Ive shown it to many people and most are highly impressed by its features. I always show off the mileage of the vehicle, which always ranges from a low of 45 MPG to 57 MPG. There are a few glitches, including the glare on the monitor when the sun shines making it difficult to see. I suggest that they figure out a way to protect it from the sunshine. Another thing is the disabling of some features of the monitor, including phone numbers that appear when others call as well as map features. I understand why it is done, but when a passenger is in the vehicle, they should be able to use it when driven. The other is weak headlights. I feel Im blinded in night driving.