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:

• 

  Fun car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By kevin - September 15 - 4:43 am

  Fuel economy is great and you dont have to sacrifice looks to get this in a car. This is a very fun car to drive and I recommend this car to anyone.

• 

  Very pleased - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Chris Colbert - September 15 - 3:58 am

  Only owned this new car for a few weeks but are very pleased with everything this car offers. Will be taking our first long road trip in a few weeks.

• 

  The Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By T Jensen - September 15 - 2:36 am

  What a great vehicle. The Camry has a ton of style and lots of interior room without being to bulky on the outside. I wasnt looking to buy a Camry. The previous models lacked style, but this year it is modern. The gas milage is great. I have even reached 39 miles per gallon on long road trips.

• 

  Fixed in 2016 models?? - 2015 Toyota Tundra
  By Burner_T - September 14 - 3:46 am

  I agree with most of the other reviews - this is an awesome truck! The exhaust...remember the lion roaring at the beginning of movies? Yeah, that is this truck every time you start it. It has a nice rumble all around. I tow a 16 foot enclosed trailer with the ATVs and dirt bikes. It sounds cliche but you would never know it was back there. I came out of a 2007 Suburban that had a hard time pulling a little red wagon so this thing is fantastic. The seats...wish they were leather. The gas tank absolutely sucks on this model year. In a vehicle that only gets 13 mpg you would expect a little bigger tank than a puny 20 gallons. One thing I have not read in any reviews concerns the headlights. They blow. The brights are fine but the normal lights are flat out terrible. Thought maybe it was an alignment thing...but it isnt. Parking this thing takes a little while to get used to as well. I love the back up camera and usually back into the spots. Ive had an Excursion, F150, and Suburban and they were all easier to park than this beast. I freaking love it. So in sum - CONS: headlights, gas tank, and no leather seats PROS: I own one and you dont! :)

• 

  1 complaint - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By JMo - September 14 - 12:50 am

  I love everything about this car but 1 thing. Everything scratches / stains really easily. My pin strip is pealing off a little but toyota will fix it for free. I have a couple scratches in my glove box already and the floor mats soak up dirt like no tomorrow. I can over look it though because other than that it is completely outstanding!

• 

  Wonderful vehicle - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Hardycreek - September 13 - 10:03 pm

  It does all things well - carries our canoe, or our bikes, Ive even laid down the back seat & slept in it. Fun to drive, comfortable, great reaction. Love this Toyota!

• 

  THE BEST - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By kenny2 - September 13 - 5:16 am

  This car is best Ive test driven out of the other competitors in its class. I thank toyota for building such a superb vehicle.

• 

  Priusmobile - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By lhand - September 13 - 2:00 am

  Fun car. Plenty of zip on to the interstate and over the road. Better gas mileage on the highway than stop and go (contrary to the manufacturers claim). Maneuvers extremely well. Could use some work on braking capacity. Great trunk space. Tolerable back seat leg room. Good front seat room and comfort. 42 to 45 mpg real #s for me. Some concern about ultimate cost of battery replacement since I tend to keep cars a long time.

• 

  new Celica GTS - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By rchronis@yahoo.com - September 13 - 2:00 am

  New Celica GTS w/ the Action Package. So far, very fun to drive. In just a few days Ive had numerable compliments. Im sure as it is a Toyota it will be little trouble. Fantastic value / fun per dollar. Eye- catching fun sports car with every option for about 25k. Cockpit position - everything is exactly where the driver needs it. The action package is very attractive and a great addition for the money. JBL sound system is very good. Handling and driving are very good, especially with the 16" wheels. As long as you arent expecting Mustang GT/V8 acceleration...

• 

  love my car - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By blondesetter - September 13 - 2:00 am

  This is the most comfortable vehicle that I have ever owned. Even my 3 children like this vehicle. They say they have more room in the back seat then my other 4 door sedans. The folding rear seat makes all the difference. I love the sleak lines of my car. The only thing that disappoints me is the current trade in value. Not that I want ot trade, but I work in the industry and see what trade in is. Somewhere along the way someone forgot the true value of this vehicle!