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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  Missing my RAV4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Car Nut - December 11 - 5:43 am

  In 2008, we needed to refresh our cars. I always like the look of the 2008 CR-V so I bought one. My wife really love it so she claimed it. Well, I was jealous but didnt want 2 CR-V on the driveway so I bought a 2007 RAV-4 instead. I must say, I love driving the RAV-4 better, I find it more solid, reliable and fun to drive. I didnt notice the difference in gas mileage between our 4 cyl CR-V to our V6 RAV-4. Recently we moved to a high-end neighborhood where everyone drives BMW, Lexus, MB, so we decided to get rid of both vehicles and buy me a RX350 and my wife a GX470. The only reason I am here is to vent how much I miss my RAV-4 with its "fun" qualities. OH the V6 POWER!

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  Fan For Life - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By erRN - December 10 - 7:06 pm

  After driving an great AWD Subaru for 8 years I made the decision to upgrade to a larger vehicle. My original plan was to buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee with great styling, but after 8-9 months of research I found that almost all of the reviews of that vehicle were too scary to make an investment.I bought a 2008 SR5 used and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS TRUCK! I have had it for 7 months now and, as my boyfriend says every time he gets in, "it drives like a cadillac". Quiet, smooth, and fun on the road. 22-24k a gallon highway. Ive owned a Wrangler in the past, and it doesnt even compare to the ride of the 4runner. Absolutely the best investment Ive ever made. I will keep it for as long as it drives!

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  Toyota Does It Again - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By dochurt - December 10 - 11:26 am

  We own a 2000 Avalon XLS and it has been the best car we ever purchased. It motivated us to purchase a 2005 as our second car. The 2005 is bigger, quieter and gets better gas mileage than the 2000--about 30 mpg on the highway. For some explained reason, Toyota did not install the double sun visors with extensions on the 2005 model, which is my only complaint. Superb automobile--the best buy for your money.

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  I love my car - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Erik J. Meyer - December 10 - 10:00 am

  I had one of the first orders for the 04 Prius in MA. The wait for it felt much longer than it was. I ended up reciveing the floor model for the dealership instead of the one I ordered. The difference was superficial, I wanted blue and it was red. I have put nearly ten thousand miles on this car from 10/24/03 - 08/10/04. I love it. I was only mildly worried about being attacked when gas prices peaked earlier this Summer. After all I can afford to fil the tank with premium for far less than what a similar sized vehicle can on the economy choice. Overall I would recommend this car to anyone who has a desire to feel good about what they drive.

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  First Toyota - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By 34mcc - December 10 - 10:00 am

  I drove them all and couldnt resist the tundra d-cab, even though it doesnt fit in my garage (at 230 in. you may want to check)! I love the styling it is deceptively larger than most crews. The ride is extremely smooth and quiet..its difficult to keep my wife out of the driver seat. Ideal truck for large families as the back seats and area are extremely comfortable for kids of all ages. The gas mileage for metro commutes is approx 16 with highway reaching 18. The V8 is adequate and I highly recommend a mass air flow filter such as a K&N ($34 on-line), this really improved throttle response and overall performance. Great truck!

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  second time around - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jlw717 - December 10 - 10:00 am

  I was lucky to get this car in May below sticker. I replaced my 2000 solara convertible with this one. As much as I enjoyed the 2000 the 2004 is a better built better looking car. I work with some who got the lexus hard top convertible and comparing the two I got better value.

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  Happy Senior - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Happy Senior - December 9 - 5:46 pm

  This is my second Prius. I had the smaller 2002 model and traded up to the mid-size. On a 3,000 mile trip last summer from Harrodsburg, KY to Tazewell, VA, Geneva, IL, Fond du Lac and Spooner, WI, Story City and Amana, IA and back to KY we averaged 51 mpg. My wife is finally getting used to the quietness. Its fun to drive and has great cargo capacity. Yes, Im a happy senior citizen. 84 this year.

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  An Absolute Winner !!! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Larry - December 9 - 3:30 pm

  I bought this as a follow-up to a 99 Corolla that is still in the family. This one is loaded with a 5-speed and cruise control - I get 33 mpg in the city and 42-44 mpg on the highway with cruise on. This car is extremely fun to drive, very responsive, and for a smaller car is very quiet on the highway. The AC works great in 90-100 temps. Standing 63" I cannot believe the leg room I have in this car, and, I dont even have to have the seat all the way back to drive. The seat is very comfortable as I went from Ohio to Philadelphia without getting the back ache or lower body aches. I highly recommend this Toyota winner !!!!

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  Buy this Van, its awesome!!!! - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Dave - December 9 - 9:00 am

  We switched from an SUV to this van and have never regretted it for one second. Its sporty, lots of pep, and drives like a luxury sedan. We like everything about it!!!!! We compared the Dodge,Honda, and Chevy Uplander.The dodge felt very cheep, drove like a 1995 caravan with different body and the seats were razor thin and very hard (but I guess you have to give up something for 2nd row stow and go....) and the Honda felt like you were driving a very big full size fan that was about an inch off the pavement. The Uplander was underpowered, exterior design is terrible, and doesnt have a lot of the little handy items that the Sienna has. Dont waste your time comparing, go for the Sienna.

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  Excellent Value for Money - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By Marut - December 9 - 7:13 am

  I bought this truck in 2005 just before Katrina hit and it was just for family weekends. Now I am driving it 3 days to work and even with the high gas price I manage it as I am getting about 17-18 miles a gallon (90/10 hwy/city). I have been thinking of getting a smaller commuter car but was rear ended couple of days ago at about 50 mph and the other car was smashed up badly and I had to literally go out and try to find where my truck was damaged as the hitch had taken all the brunt of the crash. The emergency responders as well as police and fire personal were awed by the vehicles safety so now forget the small commuting car as I probably saved a lot more than few dollars in gas - MY LIFE