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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  Great off the road - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Last Dollar - June 4 - 2:06 pm

  Just got back from a month in the Colorado Rockies. Had the vehicle over 13,000 ft and it was still looking for trees to climb. Best 4WD Ive ever had. Great size to get through narrow, one way passes. Short wheel base & turning radius make switch backs a breeze. One of the smoothest riding vehicles Ive ever had on the highway.

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  Camry vs Accord - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Greg - June 4 - 1:50 pm

  I bought the 2006 Camry SE 4cyl auto. I have also owned 3 new Accords (83,90,99)and 4 new Toyotas (81,99,05,06). Avg 100k each. Lets face it, they are both great cars for the money and deliver as advertised if you take care of them w/routine maint. I chose the Camry this time because it is much quieter on the hwy than the Accord, the dash seemed simpler, and the Accord too low to the ground (I am 62" 230#,it is just easier to get into a taller car). The SE is sporty w/the 17 alloy wheels. I also got the spoiler but dont really like the look of it. Next time I will order the LE, forget the spoiler and just put some nice chrome wheels on it.The LE has better looking trim/lights/lettering

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  Bumpy Ride - Sports Model - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Kumar - June 4 - 11:56 am

  Hi, I am very disappointed with the bumpy ride for my sports model with the flat- free tires. I am not sure if it is the tires or the suspension. Very annoying! Very annoying! Feels like I am sitting on some vibrator when going over normal road bumps. It needs a perfectly smooth road to provide a smooth experience - Just not possible.

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  An awesome experience! - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By Nash - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Nothing but the best to say about this SUV. If the fuel economy was better (but how can it? its an SUV from the 1990s), it would be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. Great on the road, off-road, and in between. Comfortable, and reliable. The best purchase Ive made in a vehicle in my life to date!

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  Toyota Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By GBajor - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Performs well even in mountains. Fuel economy not quite the advertised, I get 45 to 50 mpg

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  A Great Small SUV - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Eddie O - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Weve only had the vehicle a little over a month. My wife and I looked at several similar vehicles before settling on the RAV 4. My wife drives the vehicle to work daily and the RAV 4s safety and handling features were much better than the competition. Specifically, it was the only small SUV to offer stability control and traction control. We looked at the Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Ford Escape, Mistubishi Outlander, and Subaru Forester. To date fuel mileage is better than expected.

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  Nice Car - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By CJMara - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I just bought my Corolla S this week and even my parents approve of it for reliability and dependability. Its so much better than my nightmare Mazda 626. Its fun to drive with the stick shift and handles curves like a dream! I also like the way it looks, the last owner took off the red S and the Toyota decal on the off the back (so it only has the Toyota symbol and says Corolla) and I think Ill keep it that way. The paint is chipping and scratching pretty easily though so Im going to have to get the chips retouched and another layer of clear coat put on the whole thing.

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  TACOMA 4WD 2.7L 5 SPEED - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By KEEP-ON-TRUCKIN - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Ive always wanted a Toyota 4wd pickup, and I bought one about a year ago. It took me a while to get used to the 2.7L engine and the 5sp. But I was used to high reving engines, and this one almost runs like a diesel. Keep the revs low and change gears early, and she runs great. This is definitely a truck engine. You can feel the torque on the low end. I had an old Mazda B2000 and Nissan Frontier, and liked them both. But they would bottom out if I carried a heavy load. Not this baby! The Tacoma is made for haulin! But dont get the 4 cyl if youre always in a hurry. It has plenty of power to haul and tow, but its not a race engine. MPG: 21-22

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  Good Old Reliable Corolla - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By liane - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Theres really nothing to hate driving a Corolla. Low-end CE I admit, looks bland but the Sporty S really looks great and the road and wind noise is very minimal and for economy car, this is something to brag about.

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  2004 LE 8 Door Sienna - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By r123456 - June 4 - 10:00 am

  The Driver side mirror vibrates while driving at highway speeds and when on rough roads. Tried getting the problem fixed but the dealership cannot fix it. Actually, all models have a virbration, the intensity varies. Only XLE limited with special option mirrors do not have the problem.May have to go to arbritration to get it fixed! Poor customer servive...what do you expect?..They got your money.....