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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  4X4 Beast reliable fun safe! - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jesus saves - December 11 - 10:00 am

  The only bad thing about my truck is the poor fuel economy. I get about 19 mpg. Other than that its a beast. Back seat fits adults just fine. I have pulled out several lifter 4x4 diesel trucks out of the mud, snow, and sand. Pulls loads great. 4X4 like no other and it soaks up the bumps great!

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  Amazing car until the ecm went - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By tha dude - December 10 - 11:23 am

  and your ecm WILL mess up your transmission... i wasted money on a new transmission and was told my ecm got reprogrammed but it still does the same stuff to me. its pretty scary when u drive across a four way and your car slows down and drags while youre inside being jerked around. will never buy a toyota EVER again. now im looking into other cars..... makes me mad because the car was perfect until this.

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  Solara Convertible Sport - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Trilion4245 - December 9 - 3:43 pm

  Beautiful, smooth ride & very fun to drive, this car is just about perfect to me. Living in New England, its difficult for a car to accommodate the extreme demands year-round, but this car has for me. I knew when I bought it that I wouldnt be happy with the blindspots in back but purchased it anyway. Ive owned a variety of automobiles to use as a comparison and can honostly say that I love my Solara convertible and am reminded of that everythime I drive it.

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  Power is just fine, my mileage below EPA - 2012 Toyota Prius c
  By chrispmorgan - December 9 - 6:42 am

  Heres where my experience seems to differ from what you might expect: 1. Power (i.e. torque) is just fine. Im a pretty aggressive driver and when I need to go 80 in metro traffic it gets the job done. I have a family member with a 3.0L BMW Z4 and I cant say I particularly miss the acceleration when Im back in the "c". 2. Im just out of the 2k mi break-in period but based on the computer and some validation from the gas pump Im getting ~45mpg rather than the 50mpg the EPA says and the 60mpg the enthusiasts brag about. You *can* get 50mpg+ but it seems youll need to really commit to the pulse and glide method (and obeying the highway speed limit) to get this.

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  My 05 PreRunner 10 Years Later - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By timztoytac - December 9 - 4:28 am

  Generally speaking, the Tacome is without a doubt the Best Looking Mid-Size Pickup out there. The 4.0L V6 is an excellent power plant with great acceleration and towing capability. The interior is average at best, although improvements have come on later models, it is stil very comfortable on long drives and easy to get Ina and out of. The handling capability for this truck is pretty solid around turns and the ride suspension is pretty decent as well. Obviously Tacomas Rule, because everywhere I go, I see them more than any other truck.

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  13 - 2013 Toyota Avalon
  By fid1 - December 8 - 9:38 pm

  The car rides great and looks great but I have a few suggested improvements. The drivers seat has very hard side panels, why are they not the same consistency as the center sections?

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  TCH decision confirmed -again - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By SE TN TCH - December 8 - 12:00 pm

  We were not going to purchase a replacement for our 02 Honda Odyssey van for another 3 years, but it was totaled in a severe accident. We were on a 4 month wait list for a mid-optioned Prius. Due to size & crash-worthiness concerns with the Prius, we purchased a base 09 TCH. The first tank back home at 65 MPH was 41 MPG. In first 3K miles, we average 38 MPG in mixed cycle driving. This is an increase of 21 MPG over the van (17 MPG in same cycle).

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  New LE 8 pass over the Odyssey - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By ttekcol - December 8 - 10:06 am

  We purchased a 2005 LE-8 pass with pkg 8 (DVD etc). We selected it over the odyssey for the two reasons that the 8th seat is much more comfortable than the middle/middle seat in the ody and because it can tow our tent trailer easier. I liked the guages, auto-temp control, dual power doors, 6 disc CD, and handling on the ody. However, with 3 sons and tons of camping trips - I needed 3 comfortable seats in the middle and Honda blew it. Seat fabric is fair (shows wear from our car seat after two months) and the pull cords for the seat recliners is a pain. Sienna has 3rd row vent windows, better 2nd row fold/tumble seats, smoother transmission, better pricing- $5k off price. so far so good.

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  Best car our family has owned - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By armansaliq94 - December 8 - 12:17 am

  We bought this car brand new in March of 2004 and have 219,000 miles on the odometer. Other than regular maintenance and a $90 fuse this car has never given us any problems. Originally it was brought for my dad for his commute to work and then my sister used it. Then back down to my older brother for college and now I have it for college and work. I commute 50 miles everyday for school and work and gets me 35 mpg average every time. I would not be scared to take this cross country for my spring break road trips. Very reilable car. I would recommend this car to anyone who needs cheap and reliable transportation.

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  Good truck, rough ride - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bull gator - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I actually purchased this truck in june of 2002. During the first couple of months I really enjoyed this truck. But, then the harsh ride and the plywood seats started hurting my back every time I went off road or on a trip for longer than 2 hours. I am getting ready to purchase a 1500 crew cab chevy in june, and I cant wait for that smoother ride and those soft seats.