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 no probs so far - 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Uncle bob - June 14 - 2:00 am

  The landcruiser is simply the best suv money can buy.

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  Muy Bien! - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By $am - June 14 - 2:00 am

  My 98 xls is the best car i have ever invested in. I enjoy the performance the most by far. I have taken it to speeds exceeding 140 mph and it rode great! i floor it everywhere i go and it drives the same as the day i bought it. It has 110,000 miles and the only problem i had was the front strut towers. I think thats from the off road adventures.

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  4RUNNER SPORT BEATS THE rest - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By northpolermike - June 14 - 2:00 am

  I extensively drove the competition over 2 months, yet none could hold a candle to the 4Runner. The new V6 and 4 speed transmission outperformed the Explorer & Mountaineer V8s, and felt better than the Envoy. The new XREAS suspension performs extremely well, and the VSC and MultiMode shift on the fly is great for my driving conditions. The build quality, quietness, tightness are just superb. The vehicle can meet and exceed the demands of our harsh Arctic winters and road conditions here in North Pole. I cant wait for summer to go off roading.

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  Very good job!!!!! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Rilke - June 14 - 2:00 am

  I have owned for 8 months. I have been fun with this black bear.

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  kayon - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By HENRY - June 14 - 2:00 am

  great car, perfect! At first i thought i wanted a big name car, and i was determined, but nobody could match toyota, there just great cars, and evry body loves them

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  kayon - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By henry - June 14 - 2:00 am

  great car, perfect! At first i thought i wanted a big name car, and i was determined, but nobody could match toyota, there just great cars, and evry body loves them

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  CoachPs Highlander - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By CoachP - June 13 - 7:13 pm

  As a man who has had 5 hip replacements and two knees, and was very happy with his two Odysseys, I was interested to look at the 08 Highlander. What scared me off the CX-9 was no Mazda store in town, and questionable reliability. I cannot be happier with the Toyota, nor with the way I was treated at the store (which I had never previously been in). The styling is outstanding, everyone knows Toyotas quality, and the mileage has been good.

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  Small but mighty! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Scott - June 13 - 4:56 pm

  The Yaris is a dream for long-haul commutes. I get over 40 mpg on the highway, and well over 30 mpg just tooling around town. Although small, I never feel cramped inside, and I love the control of the manual transmission. This car has zip when you need it and is sporty for such an inexpensive car. I commute 50 miles per weekday, and find I am filling up about once every 8-11 days. And thats a $30 fill-up! You cant beat this car for price, economy and style. I love it!

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  im getting another one!!!!...its that good!!!! - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By lori webster - June 13 - 2:34 pm

  best car you could get...money wise...safety wise....mpg wise......

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  Lotta Car For The Money!!! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Terry - June 13 - 3:43 am

  After 1 year of ownership, I have to say, I love this car! Never have I so throughly enjoyed a car before. Toyota has really made leaps and bounds in Hybrid technology. I seem to discover something new in the car every time I drive it. This car has ample space on the inside. you can actually put an 8 foot ladder in the car by folding the rear seats and the passenger seat. The voice activated control system is a little quirky to use but fun none of the less. The GPS is nice too. The Prius is a great conversation starter, whether you are at a party or at a traffic light. People are just curious about it. Im only too glad to tell them about it. You have to experience the Prius. I love mine...