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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  06 HH - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Bob259 - April 7 - 2:30 am

  While not getting the mileage they like to advertise at the dealers it is a great riding and has the performance of a V8 at the fuel cost of a 4 cyl. How can that be bad!!!! :-)

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  Love My New Camry!! - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Amy - April 7 - 12:13 am

  Ive had my 2010 Camry LE for a week and a half now and I cant say enough about it. The ride is smooth and quiet, the seats are comfortable, my husband loves the lumbar support button, and the kids love the roomy rear seats. Okay, so the interior isnt flashy. So what. I care about safety, reliability and comfort. This has all of that. The trunk is HUGE. I got the Barcelona red and it is a good looking color. I am very happy with my purchase.

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  Driving fun!! - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Joe V. - April 6 - 8:30 am

  I traded my 2005 Corolla for the Yaris 2 door hatchback w/power package. My insurance decrease, my payment dropped significantly, and I get lots of oohs and ahhs from friends and colleagues. The car is extremely economical. Im getting a tad under 34 mpg around town: I have yet to do the highway, longer drive scenario. It is roomier than the Corolla was.... has more safety features, and is just fun to drive. Its a great second car backed by Toyota reliability!

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  What a Car - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By resoh02 - April 6 - 7:40 am

  I have a 2006 with 27000 miles avg between 46 to 50 mpg. Absolutely think this is the best car on the road dollar for dollar. I cant believe the car, ride, room, and mileage.

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  2004 Toyota 4runner Sports Edition V6 - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Marky Mark - April 5 - 9:56 pm

  I was looking for a used 4runner that was in my budget 15k to 17k. Within 2 weeks I found a Metallic Titanium with Weld rims, front windshield deflector on the hood, Mean Extras! Exterior in top condition. Interior spotless, I was very impressed with all the accessories with the controls fully loaded. The ride is awesome, acceleration very powerful. V6 engine daily maintained by first owner, super clean!!! 80,000 miles, a little concerned but, every service was documented on file. So I couldnt pass up this deal or STEAL!!! AWESOME !!!

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  Sweet Little Car - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By chumd - April 5 - 7:33 pm

  This is a very nice car. Getting from point A-B hasnt been an issue for me. Very reliable & fun-to-drive. Havent had any mechanical problems and absolutely love the durability of this car. Has tight/firm Handling & is almost "go-kart" like. Great on gas and has effortless style points. I chose the 6-speed manual to better my gas consumption and wouldnt recommend anything else(especially if youre looking to enhance performance). I have (ashy)grey cloth interior that has held nicely for 13 years now. All electrical units have lasted and honestly havent had a bad experience with the car yet. All-together a great, fun, and exciting car to drive down the highway. 2 thumbs up!

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  Surprised - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Shel - April 5 - 4:50 pm

  Ive just had my 2005 Camry LE for three weeks. My previous car was a Lincoln LS-V8. I was very pleasantly surprised at the standard features on the Camry, how comfortable and quiet it is, and how the performance is very acceptable to me with the 4-cylinder automatic. Cost of driving is about 50% of my LS considering the increased mileage and regular vs. premium gasoline.

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  GREAT Vehicle - 2010 Toyota Sienna
  By Duke - April 5 - 10:50 am

  I purchased my Sienna XLE with value package #4. The car handles great and is fun to drive. It does not feel at all like a mini-van, but more like a smooth sedan. The interior is well laid out. NAV/DVD systems are very good, but I would like to see an option of allowing a passenger to operate the NAV system while the car is moving. I also wish Toyota would allow loading of the DVDs in the center stack like the Odyssey, but instead you have to reach in the back to load a new DVD for the little ones. I did a lot of test drives and research between Honda and Toyota. Toyota prevailed and I paid $2000.00 less for a more equipped 2010 Sienna than I did for a less equipped 2009 Odyssey.

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  RELIABLE FAMILY VEHICLE!!! - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By anthonydw6 - April 5 - 9:58 am

  bought this truck used in 2009, i wish i knew how many miles, anyways we always traveled back and forth from Houston to Louisiana, in 10 we got a new battery, in 12 we replaced the alternator. We recently sold her because we got 3 new vehicles and this truck was almost at 200k miles and needed some tlc, we just did not have any money in the budge with 3 other car notes. But this baby was a joy to have and we always felt so safe inside. The day we let her go was just hard to believe, but we do hope she will bring joy to another family or something

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  2010 Corolla LE, Nice car! - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By dozosu - April 5 - 7:33 am

  Having been a loyal Honda Civic owner for many years I made the switch to a Corolla. The Corolla rides better and is quieter, 2 features that Ive grown to appreciate as Ive gotten older. I paid 16,500 for an LE with automatic, remote entry, cruise, 6-CD changer, and heated outside mirrors. To me thats a bargain considering the average price of a new car sold these days. This car does everything very well and spending more seems like a rip-off.