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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  Bulletproof Tundras - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By raydoctor - March 16 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Tundra. My first one was an 02 SR5 4x4. It performed flawlessly. I recently purchased an 04 Limited. The V8 in these trucks is bulletproof. I do alot of highway driving but I also head back into the woods, mud, and snow loading ATVs and Dirtbikes. It performs excellent in all arenas. In addition, if I sepend 30K on a truck Id expect superior safety qualities which Toyota delivers. Just see the IHSS and Govt crash scores of some of the competetion out there and compare!

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  Buy a Tundra they rock - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Onlyunknownn00b - March 16 - 2:00 am

  The Toyota Tundra is a great truck we have a 20foot long boat and it total WT is 6000 with a V-6 it tows like a sun of a gun.

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  Camry very comfy - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By rraadd - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Very smooth riding car and quiet for this size and price range. Seats and roominess are very comfortable. Shifting is smooth, although acceleration for the 2.4L is not that great, but adequate nonetheless. AC works fine, although Toyota (as well as many other brands) has to get a clue about heating. As anybody knows, hot air rises; thus, put heating vents as low to the floor as possible. I find that no matter how hot and heavy I run the heater, my feet remain cold while my upper body burns up. Fortunately, I dont live in a really cold place like Minnesota.

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  Camry - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Misha C - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Great car a fantastic value, better than any American car I owned before

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  Excellent Avalon - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By DRJ356 - March 15 - 6:13 pm

  I have been driving my 08 Avalon Limited for just over a year & have 20k on it thus far. Overall I am quite pleased. Ive had zero mechanical problems. This car is supremely comfortable to drive & ride in - easily equal to my wifes Lexus. I commute 30 miles each way daily and this car makes the trip very pleasant. Comfort is excellent for 5 adults. Interior is outstanding but with a few cheap materials (plastic doors on console). Im 64" & 250 and have good space. Center console is a bit intrusive. Buy Garmin 700-800 GPS and save $2k. Its stupid not to include a back-up camera as standard equipment on a Limited.

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  Navigation issues - 2015 Toyota Sienna
  By Destiny - March 15 - 4:44 pm

  I love my Sienna and it is my most favorite vehicle. However the navigation shuts down while driving and freezes and the most disappointing this is that Toyota says there is nothing they can do about it. I bought a brand new car and there is nothing they can do. For that I give Toyota low marks for not finding the issue and not being willing to fix it.

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  White "Nite" - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Louis DiLandro - March 15 - 3:24 pm

  Despite the age it still performs as the day I drove it out of the showroom.

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  Great car! - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Eric - March 15 - 2:33 pm

  Excellent 4 door sedan. It is as smooth, quiet and comfortable as most luxury sedans, and despite being nine years old with over 100,000 miles, still drives and looks like a new car. The gas mileage is better than many smaller cars (27 in town, 35 highway), and this vehicle is still roomy and comfortable for four good sized adults. The four cylinder engine has better power than I would expect, and handling is not bad for a family sedan.

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  My Camry - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By spsims - March 15 - 10:00 am

  I have throughly enjoyed this car. We have traveled extensively in it and have always been comfortable. It is roomy. We have carried our three grandsons (now ages 12,14,1nd 16) on numerous trips with us. The trunk is large enough for all our luggage. The gas mileage is good, getting on average 25 mpg.

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  Good Basic Car! - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By ToyotasRule - March 15 - 10:00 am

  My Toyota Corolla has given me ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS for the entire time Ive owned it. Ive only changed the oil and filled it up with gas...nothing else. It gets AWESOME gas mileage...higher than 30 mpg on the freeway and close to 30 in the city. It is a good, simple, basic car. Nothing fancy about it. Toyota spent the money and time on building a reliable car here, not a fancy one.