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:

• 

  Wonderful Car For Money! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Salt Lake City - February 12 - 7:00 am

  I purchased my Rav4 in August of this year. It is comfortable, fun to drive, and very stable on the road. The sound system is excellent -- especially for classical music! It has wonderful cargo space in the back, and the side-opening back door is so easy for senior citizens to use. I plan to drive this car for a very long time!

• 

  Best Off Roader in the world - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Hofgee Rofgee - February 11 - 9:56 pm

  This is a one of a kind machines. It works wonders off road but is still very comfortable on the pavement.

• 

  Perfect in Every Way - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Clemson JVB - February 11 - 4:26 pm

  I recently bought my 05 SLE convertible and it is the best car Ive ever driven. I needed a convertible with a fairly large trunk that was reliable. I looked at Saabs, Hondas, etc., and the Solara performed miles better than the rest. The trunk is HUGE! I shopped at Sams Club this weekend and everything fit neatly in the trunk. So, I put the top down and cruised happily home. Love it!

• 

  tacoma - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By jim - February 10 - 6:30 am

  Interior noise @ fuel economy would be the only negatives. Average 17 winter 19 summer. Was rated at 19 so I knew this going in.

• 

  The almost perfect car - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Beverly - February 10 - 3:00 am

  Coming from several years of driving a mini van, the last one a Honda which I did not like. I was interested in the Venza before it came out. When it finally did, I wasnt disappointed. I wanted a stylish car that had performance, a comfortable ride, a comfortable interior and all the bells and whistles. Navigation, pano roof, blue tooth, sound system, leather etc. The Venza delivers. It is a great car which is wonderful for cargo space or carrying passengers. It has a lot of leg room. Seats are comfortable, has a good ride and it has plenty of power. The only thing lacking is memory seats. Wish the mileage was better but you cannot have performance and great mileage.

• 

  Smooth Quiet Ride - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Thule89 - February 9 - 8:46 pm

  Just bought this truck after having traded in my 2003 Chevy Suburban. Transmission is so smooth and ride is very quiet. Love the sliding rear glass window. Bed is easy to access and 4x4 works great. Dont know why I waited so long to buy one.

• 

  Rav4 - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Bo - February 9 - 8:36 pm

  Great car. Fun to drive. Most features were surprisingly standard. Good handling and looks.

• 

  My experience with a hybrid - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By jack hutchinson - February 9 - 12:20 pm

  Exceptionally fun car to drive. Extremely good gas mileage from 38 to 43 mpg on the road. Approximately 90% of the mileage on this car was highway miles. Has extended 100 thousand mile warranty on the vehicle and tires.

• 

  Love My Camry - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By dc - February 9 - 7:33 am

  I dont drive my car that often but when I do it is like driving a luxury car. I dont have any complaints about the car. I have had one problem with the car. The throttle body position motor had to be replace on the car with the mileage under 10,000 miles. Car had no power (get up and go) at all and check engine light came on. Fixed by local dealership. Runs great now.

• 

  Much More Than Expected - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By camry_fan - February 8 - 11:29 pm

  The 2012 Camry Hybrid is outstanding. Comparing it (from many test drives) to the Fusion, Optima, and Sonata hybrids, overall it is the best in terms of quality, performance, comfort and on par with all in terms of fuel economy. The Camry Hybrid is quiet, solid, comfortable, and moves when you need it to. Total quality. After 2700 miles, a solid 38.3 mpg avg cty/hwy. Entune infotainment is great. I was originally set on an Optima. After seeing repeated negative owner comments for noise, seating, performance, maintenance I started looking elsewhere. Furthermore, complete piece of mind. No worries about salesperson & maintenance competence or manufacturer quality as with Kia and Hyundai.