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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  Where is MPG? - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By george - March 16 - 6:50 pm

  I have not gotten an MPG over 20 mpg (mainly stop & go traffic), with the panels in the door column coming off. Mechanical noise coming from the engine contributed to the gas by the toyota dealership. the head rest is uncomfortable and unmovable. I thought Toyota was famous for their quality.

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  Awesome! - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Kathy - March 16 - 1:03 pm

  I love my RAV-4! Highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a smaller sporty and functional 4WD/AWD vehicle. The gas mileage with the 4 cyl. is just as good if not better than most cars! This is a great value and a sharp looking vehicle! Although Toyota does not recommend having a remote starter professionally installed, I did and dont regret it! No problems whatsoever. Plenty of room for our bands gear, too. This little SUV is sturdy, reliable, and comfortable. I just LOVE it!

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  Long Term Review - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By CJH - March 16 - 5:20 am

  Ive owned the Yaris since it first came out in July of 2006. Mechanically speaking, this car has been perfect. Never had a problem with 45k miles on it. That being said, this car has serious faults in other aspects. 1) The interior quality is abysmal. Ive had a dash rattle for 3 years now that 3 dealerships have been unable to fix. My window roller broke within 3 months, and the trunk has had issues with sounds and closing. 2) This car failed me in the snow, spinning out and nearly getting seriously wrecked. 3) Over time you feel claustrophobic in here. 4) Jumpy acceleration is unpredictable from a stop, sometimes hurting my neck, or almost hitting other cars. 5) Serious lack of power.

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  Oliveras Celica - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By Olivera - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I love my Toyota Celica. I was the happiest person alive when I finally bought my Celica. I love everything about it. I just hope it was a little faster.

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  Every car should be this great! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By John Moss - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my 2004 Prius (Package #9 - loaded) since October 15, 2003. I believe I was one of the very first folks to take possession of this incredible automobile. I have been driving luxury and sport cars for more than 35 years, and I have never gotten as much pleasure behind the wheel as I experience daily while driving my 2004 Prius. The technology is a marvel. From the bluetooth phone to the Navigation to the voice activation to the driving in stealth mode, this car is a blast. In every way, owning a 2004 Prius has exceeded my most demanding expectations.

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  Mileage mistated by Toyota and dealer - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Patrick W. - March 16 - 2:00 am

  After 3500 miles, ave. mileage is 45. Never came close to advertised mileage. This was expected as Prius owner-friends said same. OK except, when I suggested to the sales person at the time of purchase that the advertised mileage was "optimistic", he assurred me that it was accurate. Yeeah, right! Great car but I have had better buying experiences.

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  Little to compromise - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By efusco - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Id like the interior tweeked a bit as the drivers seat comfort is lacking somewhat. The fuel guage is not the most accurate Ive seen in part due to the inner bladder design which helps further reduce evaporative emissions. But I cant remember when I had this much fun driving a car and feeling so good about what Im doing for my pocketbook and my world....without compromising anything.

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  southern CT prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Tom Conti - March 16 - 2:00 am

  The dealers were adding $5k to the sticker and telling me that there was a 12 to 15 week wait for a 2004 Prius. I called a dealer in Va and told him I would be in his area in 10 days or so, on a business trip, and I would like to pick up a new prius while I was there. He said " sure, what color do you want?" I told him red would be nice. He said he would have one ready for me when I arrived. I arrived on schedule, bought the car and drove it home to CT. No waiting, no $5k dealer premium, no problem.

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  Why not get a TDI? - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Jason123 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I was not been impressed with the Prius. It actually pales in comparison to the Volkdwagen Jetta TDI. The Prius has no power and its MPG is overrated. It gets on the highway about 43 mpg. I traded my Prius for the diesel Volkswagen Jetta and have been amazed by the TDIs power and handling. It also gave me 43 mpg. Another plus was the TDI had no waiting list and was under $20,000. Toyota dealers have taken advantage of the purchaser and mark the car up. My Prius was marked up $1000 over the MSRP. I got my TDI for delaer invoice. Same MPG but the TDI has better handling and power.

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  Quality, power and good looks. - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By Timr - March 16 - 2:00 am

  This is my 5th toyota and so far these vehicles have never let me down. I havent owned this truck very long but I do feel this truck is going to last me many years with minimul problems.