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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  Fantastic! - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Chunster - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I love this car... Simply the smoothest ride for the buck in its class... Would have been nicer if all the models have black leather interior, but gray isnt bad... i love the power, which is plenty for me... great buy

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  Wow Factor - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Kpreede - June 8 - 10:00 am

  We traded in our 2001 Pathfinder for the 04 Sienna XLE after finding one with the option package we wanted -- leather seats with side curtain airbags in the back -- and couldnt be more pleased. The pickup and ride is excellent and compares well to the 240hp Pathfinder, the interior and exterior design are excellent and the size is HUGE. It has made moving from "cool" to "minivan" easier!

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  Constantcamry - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By chris gates - June 8 - 7:22 am

  I think my Camry was an outstanding value, extremely well made and durable.

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  Green can be great! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By TBone - June 8 - 3:00 am

  Car gets 36 MPG without any change in driving style (compared to the 20 I got previously). With a little effort, Im able to consistently achieve 40 MPG, more than double what my old car got.

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  Tundra can Tow - 2012 Toyota Tundra
  By deejay8 - June 7 - 11:43 pm

  We got our Tundra from Cowboy Toyota. Billy Goss and James Smith provided excellent service. We previously owned a Nissan Frontier. There is no comparison between the towing performance of the Tundra compared to the Frontier. We just returned from our trip to New Mexico. The only "problem" was that we kept forgetting we were towing the camper. The 4.6L engine worked great. Im glad we didnt get the bigger engine because it was not needed.

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  New in 99, Bought again in 02 - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By mikemath - June 7 - 9:13 pm

  Toyotas 4-Runner is an outstanding vehicle. I leased a new limited in 1999; the ONLY thing I did to this vehicle was change the oil and rotate the tires. I did not have a single problem. The ride is smooth, quiet, and safe. I love sitting up high to see over traffic. Most of all, the reliability/dependability is first class. I HIGHLY recommend a Toyota 4-Runner!

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  My Energizer Bunny - Toyota Corolla - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Janie - June 7 - 8:17 pm

  Drive it first. The noise level is pretty high. That said, things that matter more to me are this cars strong suits. The gas mileage is phenomenal. It is STILL getting 32 or so mpg, and we drive back roads more than highways. Its got a lot of miles, but just goes and goes and goes. We do maintain the oil changes religiously. We were told not to bother tuning it up as long as the mileage is so good, so well do one when/if that starts to fall. We did replace the belt (theres only one for everything). It didnt cost that much. Weve kept good tires on it. If you care for it, itll care for you.

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  Amazing Fuel Economy - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By D Kramer - June 7 - 5:56 pm

  I needed a car with at least 30 MPG, but with style and some element of fun. I made a good choice and after almost 7000 miles, Im averaging over 38 MPG. The trick to this exceptional mileage, almost all highway, is to use the cruise control. I am getting just over 600 miles out of each tank. Thank you, Toyota!

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  2004 Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Hodges - June 7 - 1:40 pm

  We traded in a 2001 Prius for the 2004 on the premise of better mileage. Both vehicles average 40-42 around town and 50-52 on long freeway drives. Both vehicles have had computer problems which did not affect the operation of the vehicle but merely an annoyance. The Hatchback design of the 2004 is a great improvement but the split rear window creates a rear vision problem. Having an battery upgrade to increase fuel mileage sounds promising, if the conversion price is reasonable.

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  Love My 4Runner - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By DoomerMan - June 7 - 1:30 pm

  This is my fourth 4Runner by my first one with a V8. Traded my 2001 4Runner in for this one because I purchased a new camper. Love the V8, a lot of power, very smooth and comfy. Pulled my 5500 lb camper in the mountains with no problems, went up some steep mountain passes. That V8 is a beast. :)