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 Car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Jim - March 12 - 12:46 am

  Great car. Absolutely reliable, trouble free. Just preventive maintenance. One defect repaired without charge by dealer under a technical service bulletin. Great mileage. A little noisy at high speeds. Jim

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  2008 sequoia - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By hughs - March 11 - 9:23 pm

  Traded my 03 Expedition for the 08 Sequoia. This SUV drives like a sports car compared to my Ford. Very agile, fast and decent gas mileage.

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  Arizona Tundra - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Arizona Al - March 11 - 6:46 pm

  I plan on keeping my 2006 Tundra for a long time. I test drove everything else and was amazed to have headroom in the cab for my 64" frame even with the moonroof. Lots of room in the back seat for friends or my dogs. Very quiet cab and smooth ride. Disappointed that my new 271 hp truck gets much worse mileage than my 325 hp car. I got the truck for day to day driving and weekend yardwork. This truck fits the bill perfectly and is fun to drive to boot.

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  thoughts on camary se - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By otto - March 11 - 1:26 pm

  Nice car as far as outside design and also love the inside material, but riding comfort is poor. Jolts from running over depressions on the road. Overall comfort not the best .Long rides so, so.

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  Sexy little SUV - 2018 Toyota C-HR
  By A.Kocka - March 11 - 11:46 am

  This is the perfect vehicle for the woman in your life. At 5’2” it is easy for me to enter and exit the car. The front seats are very comfortable (being a person who has had back surgeries) that is very important for lengthy trips. I also like the fact that the rear camera is located within the rear view mirror as that is the natural place your eyes 👀 go to when backing up. The voice controls are awesome so you don’t have to figet around when driving. Nice night detailing. When you open the door Toyota CHR illuminates on the ground which gives it a classy feel. The ride is very comfortable and the safety features are amazing. I have only had my C-HR for a month and I really like it. It not too big or to small it’s just right.

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  The best for the best money - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By Walace Langame - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I"m very please to inform that this is the absolutely best vehicle for the money, not only but as well a fun car to drive. Thank you Toyota so much! Walace R Langame!

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By Bob Freed - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Except for maintenance items (battery, new brakes, timing chain, etc) I have put nothing into this car. It has never let me down. I would love to keep it forever. The V-6 is a bit of a gas hog and does not have "pin you back in your seat" acceleration, but is fun to drive.

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  Great Car! - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By Doppelganger - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I owned a used 87 Celica, then bought a new 2000 Celica four years ago. I still love my car, and get lots of compliments on it. Reliability is superb, handling is awesome, its fun to drive, yet comfortable, and it looks really nice. In addition to some comsmetic upgrades, I have upgraded the intake, exhaust, shifter, wheels/tires, and added a front strut-tower brace to make it even more fun to drive. People who complain about blind-spots need to adjust their side-view mirrors properly; true, it doesnt have the wide-open expanses of glass that some cars have, so it takes some getting used to, but I have no blind-spots.

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  new-age surf woody - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By CreativePro - March 11 - 10:00 am

  The Matrix XRS is quick, nimble, and comfortable. I could spend all day driving through the twisties... and I have tried, but have yet to find to edge of the latteral grip envelope. This thing sticks like glue! Top speed to date is 118 with more left in her. The rear hatch open two ways, and is great for hauling groceries or surfboards. Best of all, after 20,000 miles the only problem Ive had was a squeaky auxilory drive (belt was too tight) that Toyota replaced without hassle.

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  excellent - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By kalafa - March 11 - 10:00 am

  The back seats are not comfortable for full size adults.