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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  A Very Good Car - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By gejr - October 29 - 10:00 am

  Have only had my LE-V6 for a couple of weeks but my last was a Saturn LW300 and you cant compare the two. This is my 5th Toyota and they have all been good, dependable autos. This latest Camry is smooth, powerful enough, quiet, comfortable and very easy to drive. My wife feels the same way about the car. So far no regrets. Dealer was great and worked the Edmunds figures perfectly. A very easy buy since I was well prepared to deal.

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  Love it - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By simmadown - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I just bought my car 3 days ago, but I love it. I had my heart set on a Mazda 6 for a while but it was a little too expensive for my budget so my next choice was the Carolla. Just today, I was parked next to a Mazda 6 the same color as mine, and I actually like the body of mine better. Also, with gas prices so high, this car is excellent on gas. Its a fun car and I know Toyotas last forever. Id recommend it to anyone.

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  best car ever biult - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By killer xx - October 29 - 10:00 am

  i always love camry

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  Nice - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Car Los - October 29 - 9:10 am

  I bought this SUV for my family last year (wife & 1 yr old son). The style played an important role in the decision. We took it in a few road trips and were very happy with the general performance. Nice handling, lots of power (even for a 4 cyl engine) great traction on snowy roads and good stereo system with iPod/MP3 capability. The cargo area is pretty generous with under floor storage. On the other side the throttle feels a little too sensitive, specially when taking off and the tranny tends to have a delayed reaction when slowing down and pulling into a driveway or parking lot (I am not sure but this could be an issue just with my car; I havent had it checked yet).

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  New Owner 09 Corolla LE 4 dr - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Dena - October 29 - 12:20 am

  Just got the car on Tuesday. Didnt want a car but my truck doesnt get 30 mpg and I needed reliable and affordable for going back and forth to work. This is it! Havent finished first tank of gas but its already a winner as far as Im concerned. Already have 200 miles on it and am nowhere near needing to fill up. This is an Automat. and im driving at 63- 65mph. Driving is comfortable and surprisingly quiet. Very easy to get in and out of. There is plenty of room in the trunk. Leg room is great in the front.

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  Wow - 1997 Toyota T100
  By Bill - October 28 - 2:43 pm

  I bought this truck only a month ago, as a weekend toy/home maint vehicle. However, I have fallen in love with it and want to drive it all the time! Its my second Toyota and not my last. It has 193,000 miles on it, but looks great in/out, no leaks, no smoking. I was looking for a Tacoma when I stumbled onto this truck, this truck should have been better publicized!

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  one of the best values - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By skipk2 - October 28 - 12:20 pm

  I now have 24,000 miles on my 2010 base RAV4 V6. Its been a terrific experience. its very powerful and the mileage is good for a vehicle of its size. I get 28 mpg on road trips. i love its handling. this is one of the best values around. I intend to keep it for at least 250,000 miles.

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  Best Purchase Ive Ever Made - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By M. Rae - October 28 - 10:26 am

  If you are looking for a dependable, fuel efficient vehicle this is the car for you! I have owned my ECHO for nearly 3 years and never had a problem! While all my friends were driving gas-guzzlers, I could easily get buy without filling up for 10 days! The ECHO is fun to drive, not overly complicated, and simply a wonderful car!

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  My ICEBERG FJ - 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By FJ Rocks - October 27 - 5:46 pm

  Best vehicle i have ever owned. Best of both worlds. I live in a remote area an do alot of driving an when the weather gets bad i need a suv that will preform safely for me an my family. This one is the best i have ever had. Drives great on road an will go where i need to go. I have owned alot of vehicles but nothing even compares to the fj. If you want a vehicle that will go like a jeep but last like no other buy a fj. Toyota made another great product with the fj. Too bad they dont sell them anymore in the us. I love it. An the aftermarket parts selection are unreal. You can make it customized to your liking in no time.

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  c-hr what a car - 2018 Toyota C-HR
  By carguy - October 27 - 1:49 pm

  I think this car is underrated it has style with decent acceleration, comfortable seating and the best safety features offered by car makers the only down side is front wheel drive and not all wheel drive but it is definitely worth the price.