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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  99 anderson analysis - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By robert e anderson - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vechicle after my mother passed away.I HAVE BEEN TO savannah, Charleston to visit my daughter and grandchridren the car handled and performed excellent, got alot of turned heads as we passed other drivers. Been to toronto and the car dove and performed excellent. the car maintained through the dealer, has brand new michelen tires oil changed every 3000 miles to keep performance up.

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  Great Product, but Poor Service - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By former BMW driver - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I picked the Highlander and love it. I drove around in my brothers X5 for a month, but the Highlander with its price makes it all better. As for Toyota Service.... Service guy at the dealership told me he deals with "reality while the sales guys tell me fantasy." The car is missing a part and had a scratch upon purhcase. They didnt tell me that I can only bring it in on Tuesdays to get the paint fixed. Ive been to the service department 3 times now. I dont think Ill ever buy another car from Dublin Toyota again. But the product is excellent.

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  2003 TOYOTA COROLLA - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By rleojeda - December 15 - 10:00 am

  AWESOME CAR.THE BEST IN ITS CLASS

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  Love This Truck - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Pat Giles - December 15 - 4:50 am

  I have been looking at these 4Runners for a while. I purchased the sport edition and love every aspect of this truck. It rides smooth, quiet, and is everything I ever wanted in a truck. Toyota truly makes the best vehicles.

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  Great SUV! - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By Michael - December 14 - 4:06 pm

  I have thoroughly enjoyed my new Highlander. It has a nice smooth ride with minimal noisy and plenty of room. The design and functionality of the car make it a great buy! In addition, it looks great!

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  Great Car! - 2001 Toyota Sienna
  By Dagwood55 - December 14 - 2:10 pm

  We bought our 01 Sienna new in June of 02. No problems with it at all. I tested several other minivans and was astonished at the power of the 3.0L V6 in this car and thats the principal reason I bought it. It also impressed as being quiet, comfortable and solid. After 62K miles, its just as quiet as the day we bought it. Weve gotten 26mpg on many long trips, which seems good for a van. Excellent features and sound system. The drivers side electric mirror has become a little balky and the power door needs a minor adjustment. NO other problems. Our experience with this has led us to buy two more Toyotas since, which are also great cars.

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  Best car I have ever had - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By Swaterhouse729@gmail.com - December 14 - 1:40 pm

  I have had my 2018 XLE a little over a month. We have taken a number of road trips so far and love the car. The safety features are fantastic, and I especially like the radar cruise. We drove through some very windy conditions and it handled great. The seats are very comfortable for driving, as well as riding and there is plenty of leg room front and back.

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  Franks Opinion - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By fgaydafrank - December 14 - 1:23 pm

  This is the 12th new vehicle (5 of the others were also Toyota"s) that Ive purchased new over the past 22 years, and it appears that this car is going to be the cream of the crop!! Although Ive only put about 4500 miles on the car in 5 months.

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  Nice car for the $$$$ - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Donald - December 14 - 8:46 am

  I purchased a 05 Camry Le in July, traded in an 03 Xterra for it. Lots of features for little $$$. The best thing i like about it is the gas mileage, which is terrific at over 30 miles a gallon. great overall car for the $$$

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  A Lexus in Toyota Clothing - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Jeff - December 13 - 12:16 pm

  I have never been more pleased with a car. The ride is excellent with reasonable handling. The performance is tremendous with good mileage to boot. This thing is very, very quiet. The stereo is among the best Ive heard in a car; unless you want to rattle windows, this unit is of excellent quality. The seats are tremendous, second only to the LS430. I looked at a certified LS, but the Avalon compares well with it and even has slightly more room in some areas. I would say that the LS430 seats are more comfortable, but only by a little. All in all, an excellent choice for commuting or just for comfortable driving.