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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  I Love My Toyota - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By Patricia A. Campbell - February 9 - 4:40 pm

  The Highlander is really a great car. It is fun to drive, has enough horsepower, and is roomy enough for all 4 of our grandchildren. It drives well and handles quite well in all types of weather. It is so dependable! I looked at a lot of SUVs before choosing this one. No others were even tempting.

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  Its a beauty! - 2014 Toyota 4Runner
  By William Robert - February 8 - 10:33 pm

  Attention to detail inside and out. The KDSS is awesome and the thing drives like a sedan. The trail edition is packed with every off road gadget youll ever need for camping trips to the desert or mountains. Love the aggressive styling. I smile every time I drive it.

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  it took me over a year! - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Todd - February 8 - 10:50 am

  I wanted to write this review for anyone who is or has gone on the search for a new SUV in todays market. With gas being so inflated and a wide choice vehicles I really took my time to find what I thought would best serve my domestic and male ego needs. I test drove and could of afforded any suv out there, but the truth is that for my money and long term investment I decided to go with the 4runner limited fully loaded... and I love it. Perfect for my 3 dogs (terrier, boxer, mastiff). Get in the mountain snow, off road and in the city. decent mpg. avg.17.8.

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  Best SUV I have owned - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By Tavy - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought a 99 4WD SR5 in 12/02. Since then almost 30k miles later, it has been trouble-free. I added fender flares, and have noticed much less road debris on the sides since I put them on. I also added acc fog lights which much improved highway visibility when I cant put high-beams on. Wish I had leather, and you cant add power seats to an SR5, so finding used leather replacements is near impossible. Only complaint is rear end slide in any light rain. As far as fun-to-drive and reliability, I love this truck and would by another.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever owned - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By tberkla - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I love my truck. I spent 6 months researching and test driving before I bought my Tundra. The chevy just felt like I was driving a boat and the ford just felt cheaply made. The two things that set the Tundra appart was the smooth responsive engine and the substantially higher quality interior. The only truck that comes close it is the new Nissan Titan. Even with the new F-150, American brands have a long way to catch up.

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  Not Your Mommas Station Wagon - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By thirtysomething - February 8 - 10:00 am

  We were shopping for a car that could hual 2 adults and 2 babies with all their gear and still be fun for under 25k. This is it. Forget reviews that suggested sticking to the XR - its fun to rev a car up to nearly 8 grand on the tach. Open the moonroof, turn up the great sounding JBL soundsystem with 6 speakers + subwoofer and let it scream. We needed practicality, we wanted fun, the XRS delivers both. Still a safe car - front and side airbags, ABS and the best brakes Ive ever stomped on. Comfy seats, roomy all over for a vehicle in its price range. Drive it and smile.

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  Its all good! - 2004 Toyota Avalon
  By two jay - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Roomiest, most comfortable car we have ever owned.Good value compared to other cars in its size class.Extremely quiet in town and on the highway.

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  What a Truck - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By ChristianHogle - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I walked into a great truck. After checking out Fords we decided to just check out Toyotas. What a shock. Bigger, Better, Bolder. This truck blew the doors off Ford. Great power yet so quiet and smooth. the interior is easy nothing difficult to reach lots of cubbies and a CD player standard. Real cloth seats carpet Auto windows and door locks, I would have had to pay extra for these with a ford. Rides is sturdy not overly stiff and it feels fun to drive. I feel like I got a lot of truck for a decent price where other trucks seemed cheaper in quality but more in price. Incredible looks by the way

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  The Competiton is Not an Option - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By OffRdWarrior - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Dont waste your money on the TuRD package. Get aftermarket suspension - For cheap get coil spacers, slightly more go "Old Man Emu", or the bucks get coilovers. Aftermarket lockers and your unstoppable.

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  I love my Tacoma! - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Truckldy - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought this truck in June of 2002, when they were still relatively new on the market. I love the sporty style and how it stands out in a crowd of other trucks. It now has 67,000 miles on it and I have never had a problem with it. If you are looking for a truck and still want to be able to take your kids with you... this is the one for you!