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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  wanted a 300c - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Ring - March 30 - 12:16 pm

  Put an L on the grill. This compares to the Lexus without the price!!! Gas mileage is terrific.

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  Rollover survivor - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Deb - March 30 - 12:10 pm

  I rolled this truck after hitting ice in a snow storm and walked away without a bruise. The pros who came to the site said they expected to be pulling me out on a stretcher. I felt secure and safe even as we flipped and Ill buy this same truck again. Im glad the 2005 model has the bigger back area on the access cab as it was toooo small on the 2004

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  I love my Sequoia - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Regena Hoglan - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Sequoia since November. Have had no problems. Just took a family trip in June to the Mountains. Very comfortable ride. My 2 kids loved having their own row of seats...

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  Test of Time Prevails! - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By HilndrFan - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I lied- I actually have an 02 AWD 3L 6cyl model (purchased 11/01). The last 2 1/2 yrs in it have been WONDERFUL! No problems, and still as smooth & quiet as ever. Best vehicle Ive ever had! Passengers cant believe its not new, as it still rides like one. Drives fantastic in the Colorado winters.

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  cool car for cool mileage - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By jbdvm - March 29 - 10:00 am

  Just obtianed 38mpg in mostly interstate driving with A/c on. Very comfortable and well-mannered on the freeway. Great combination of power and fuel economy with the manual tranny. Only complaint is some buzzing coming from the rear headliner and dash at certain RPMs not a good thing for a Toyota.

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  WOW! What a CAR!!!!! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By jdz - March 29 - 10:00 am

  This car is awesome. Its the first time Ive owned a Toyota and I wont buy anything but one now! The car is beautiful and lots of fun to drive. This has to be the best sedan on the market. No wonder the Camry is Americas best selling and rated sedan.

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  A Joy to Drive - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By sdallenhou - March 29 - 4:53 am

  Ive never enjoyed a vehicle as much as Ive enjoyed this one. The styling and layout are perfect, and the handling is smooth. The navigation system is more difficult to learn than I thought it would be. There are a couple of visibility problems. First, there is a wide blind spot with the roof up - good luck backing out of a parking space. Second, the top of the windshield hits just so that I cant see traffic lights if Im first in line. Other than those two flaws, this is the perfect vehicle. I drove a 2006 Solara I4 coupe for several months and replaced it with the SLE convertible and am thrilled that I did. Gas mileage isnt as good on the V6, but it is much more enjoyable!

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  Fantastic Vehicle - 2011 Toyota Sequoia
  By pmm12 - March 28 - 7:41 pm

  I do not often take time to write a review but since I used the reviews on this site for a variety of auto purchases I thought it was time to contribute. The Sequoia is a terrific truck. Handles very well, turn radius in tight spots is remarkable for a big truck and the pick-up is much better than any of this trucks competitors we have driven. The 4 wheel drive is the best I have ever used. We saw many off road jeeps get stuck in the sand and mud but the Sequoia did not. Plenty of room inside and comfortable, cruises on the highway at 70 to 80 mph with no strain. Second and third row seats can be adjusted and changed simply. Loves the snow and built like a tank.

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  Great car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By ED - March 28 - 8:33 am

  I have driven this car less than a 1000 miles and I like it. My only complaint is not sufficient foot room between the accelerator and the brake pedal. My size 14 s sometimes get caught under the brake pedal. NOT GOOD!!!!!

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  Great SUV so far - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mike - March 28 - 6:50 am

  I have 61,000 miles and so far this 4Runner has been like any other Toyota I have owned, GREAT. The exterior and interior design is great and this is one of few SUVs that you can actually take off-road. The power is good for a V6 and it tows my motorcycles just fine. It feels very tight and solid for a vehicle which is almost 8 years old, great build qulity. The ride is comfortable except it seems to pick up every imperfection in the pavement on the hwy. Plenty of room for passengers and cargo and the power roll down rear hatch window is awesome if you have a dog. Dont know of any othe SUVs that have this feature. Only problem so far have been a leaky AC system which I will have to get fixed