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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  I Love My Camry SE V6 - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By IndyMacAddict - April 3 - 12:33 am

  Ive always wanted a tough looking car with the muscle to back it up. But, my family demands more functionality than a small two door hot rod. The Camry offers everything I was looking for. Power, looks, comfort, room, and fuel economy to boot. The Camry has it all. It drives like its on rails thanks to the sport suspension. This is not the boring Camry of old. This car can move! Acceleration is outstanding. I have had the pleasure of proving this to unsuspecting Accord V6, Malibu LTZ, and Altima owners with a good stoplight whoopin. At the same time, we enjoy state to state road trips due to the quit, comfortable ride. The Camry SE V6 does it all.

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  Excellent Minivan - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By MD Gene - April 2 - 6:00 pm

  This is a fantastic vehicle. The AWD has already saved us in the snow here. The kids love the seats and the space (we havent fired up the DVD yet). We love the stereo and other convenience features. The controls are mostly intuitive, although a few require some trips to the maual. The seats are very comfortable and very adjustable and the leather is luxurious. Handling is unexciting but acurate, competent, and forgiving.

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  Schools still out... - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By bart - April 2 - 5:26 pm

  Having owned fords, chevys and everything in between, and using them professionally I can tell you that I havent made up my mind on this truck. You cant beat the power of the 5.7, but the oil changes are murder. Why Toyota decided to go with cartridge filter and have to pull the skid plate, and use special tools and 5w20 synthetic, who knows??? Tires only lasted 28000 miles. Bad pavement and you get the roller coaster effect. Ive already had the torque converter replaced (under warranty). Makes a roaring sound when starting it after not running for four days and I still havent figure that one out. All the black pieces on the exterior of the truck are beginning to suffer uv damage.

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  A great car - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Antonio Ventura - April 2 - 3:58 pm

  It is in my opinión the Best med size pick up ,i own a 2001 tacoma ,and just purchased the 2016 trd so far i líke everything about it

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  Great car - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By fishera - April 2 - 12:28 am

  Bought it in 2008 with around 180k miles and drove the heck out of it. I could always count on it to start and get me where I needed to go, and easily hit highway cruising speeds. It was a very smooth and quiet ride. Previous owner told me about the abuse he heaped on car, driving it off road and through standing water, but that didnt affect its performance for me. Clutch burned out at 210k, was the only major repair I had to make. Leaked oil, but thats not bad if you keep up on it. Eventually sold it to a coworker last spring, at around 220k miles. Its still going strong, and I expect it to continue so. Sometimes I regret selling it.

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  Toyota Sequoia... Best big SUV any day! - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By Gabriel - April 1 - 11:36 pm

  I am writing this review after 9 years of ownership. Our Toyota Sequoia is nothing less than the perfect big SUV for our active family. It has hit the 100,000 miles without a single mechanical problem, not a single incident. It has towed our boat to many lakes, taken us to the deserts, mountains, favorite off-road camping spots, long summer trips. This vehicle is a pleasure to drive on and off road, comfort level is only surpassed by the Land Cruiser, which we own, but our Sequoia is king for hauling our gear, bikes, and all the equipment we take on family outings. We tow our boat about three times a week over hilly terrain and our Sequoia does it with no effort at all. Simply the best SUV

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  love my convertible - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Dallasgal - April 1 - 11:26 pm

  The car is so much fun. It has been a very dependable car. I was tboned in a bad wreck. I walked away without a scratch. The car is very solid. The service at my dealership is outstanding. The rear window is hard to see out of when looking for traffic. My right convertible side is hard to lock when putting the top up. But would I buy this car again? Yes

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  Smooth and Very Quiet - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By RJW - April 1 - 11:06 pm

  The Sport AWD glides down the road. The 270 HP power on the V6 is incredible. Handling is very good and the traction control system is better than found on other similar SUV crossover vehicles. With the premium JBL sound system is very good. The backup camera is a nice safety feature. Our model came with heated outside mirrors which will help during the long Indiana winters. Overall impression is very good for the price. We plan on keeping this vehicle for many years to come.

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  Toyota may have saved our lives! - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Peggy - April 1 - 10:46 pm

  Loved our 2005 Toyota from the beginning, but even more so after a side impact crash. We dont have side airbags. We were hit by a pickup truck going 30mph. Hit was mainly to sliding passenger door. This vehicle held together like you wouldnt believe! There were 2 of us in the front seats, but we only received seatbelt bruises.

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  Whoa! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By paterick - April 1 - 2:23 pm

  I have about 1500 miles and this engine is more powerful than I realized. I never have to break 2000 rpms generally in town, it hums at 1200 rpms to 1400 rpms and that is accelerating from stop to the local speed. Gas mileage is very poor but that must be from the high compression engine. This car seems like it could use another gear which could improve mileage. Getting about 19 mpg. Cant imagine what it would be if I had a heavy foot. Women told me I looked handsome driving this car. Made my day.