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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  Truck of Trucks - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By DJ - May 22 - 11:40 pm

  Overall the Tacoma is what a truck should be modeled after. Rugged, reliable and fun to drive. If one is the market for a true 4X4 truck, buy a Tacoma.

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  Great Family Car - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Avalong - May 22 - 7:33 pm

  I had to run from the hurricane with my invalid mother, pregnant daughter and 17 yr old son. We were all comfortable during the 1200 mile trip to and from. The car was quiet, comfortable and on interstate the gas mileage was great. there are some "blind" spots when you are travelling faster than normal on the interstate that you need to watch out for.

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  Toyota ECHO - 2004 Toyota Echo
  By clock - May 21 - 10:00 am

  Its a good car to get around town in. gas mileage is what primarily attracted me to it.I get an average of about 300 miles out of a tank in the city.The sound system is great,and provides enough oomph to please the ear.The car is pretty good with roominess for what you are getting.Id say 4 adults can sit comfortably inside.This car has enough power to get up to the mid-90s comfortably, top speed, like110mph.It cruises on the highway pretty well, good amount of passing power.Its not a sports car,Handling: in a crosswind, it feels like the car is may want to drift.This is only at high speeds. A/C is decent, same with heat. LOTS of headroom.Good car!

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  Good on Gas! - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By Brandon Frye - May 21 - 10:00 am

  I got 43 miles to the gallon on a 350 mile trip and I was averaging 75+mph! Great car with stick. Ive driven the auto and it was way to slugish for me. Has alot more body role then my celica did. There is a whining sound from my rear tires when I drive on the highway on windy days. I think its because the car only weighs only 2000 lbs.

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  Just got it four days ago - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Marc - May 19 - 12:53 am

  This is the most well thought out vehicle Ive owned. The interior features are outstanding - the cup holders, hooks, controls, folding seats, console, everything. Great convenience. Great handling for a van. Previously had a 2002 Sienna, which we liked, but this is a huge improvement. Also own a 2004 Lexus 330 ES and the van compares favorably for creature comforts and handling.

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  Great car - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By sandwinder - May 17 - 7:20 pm

  I think this is a great car. I have driven several types of cars from Acura to BMW and I can say this car is great. It doesnt have the driving ability of the German cars but it is still great for the money. I did test drive the 4 cylinder and wasnt impressed at all. The 6 cylinder is great, very refined and power when you need it.

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  A Step Backward From Previous Generation - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By theraven65 - May 17 - 10:10 am

  We bought this car based on Toyotas reputation for high quality/value, but were ultimately disappointed. Compared to the previous-generation (2001-06) Camry, the interior of the 2007 - while great LOOKING - is very cheap. Lots of hard, creaky plastics, thin seat material, and very cheap-feeling HVAC controls & some other switchgear. Both sun visors broke internally and would just hang down & had to be replaced (with same poor design). The struts had a reputation for failing early (ours were shot & leaking by 30K miles). Worst of all, the engine began using oil excessively by about 70K miles - which I discovered was common for this (2.4L) engine in all of the vehicles it was used.

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  Impressed but not Overwhelmed - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By dfarley - May 16 - 8:06 am

  After having the vehicle for almost a year I am impressed but not overwhelmed. It has a ton of space inside yet handles like a much smaller vehicle. The interior design is uninspired but practical. Lots of space to store things and tons of cupholders. Due to its size it is difficult to park in crowded lots or garages. It also only gets 15.7 miles to the gallon - not bad for a vehicle of this size but still expensive to operate. Also, for a vehicle in this price range there are several common amenities that Toyota doesnt even provide. Memory Seats? Not available. Navigation? Nope. Satellite Radio? Check elsewhere. 4yr/50K mile warranty? You have to settle for 3yr/36K.

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  TRD 4WD Access Cab - Like it ! - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Chuck999 - May 15 - 5:23 pm

  Chose Tundra over Honda Ridgeline / Nissan Frontier for EXCELLENT ride, good power, 6.5 foot bed, quality and overall feel. Am very satisfied. The truck just has a great feel - quiet, smooth, plenty of power. Interior is kind of dated - no fancy chrome but ergonomics are great - most controls easy to reach / use. Typical toyota layout. The 5spd automatic is especially well-designed - shifts VERY smoothly and at just the right time. Front right speaker was BAD upon delivery, but dealer replaced quickly and have had no other problems yet(only 4k miles though) .....

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  Transmission requires help - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By spectre - May 15 - 10:00 am

  My major complaint is an unfortunate lack of power when de-accelerating. For example when slowing down from a highway off-ramp to take a right turn. If you do not come to a complete stop, the transmission does not kick down and you get no acceleration till you stomp on the gas pedal. It is a bit scary when you are tryng to beat on-coming traffic. With the added cargo space in the back, filling up the van with 8 passengers and luggage taxes the rear suspension and driving is not too pleasureable!