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!! - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By wake - January 16 - 8:40 pm

  My Toyota Corolla is an excellent car. It gets great gas mileage, is very reliable, and is actually somewhat peppy for having such a small motor (if i wanted a fast car I would not have bought a Corolla). This car is excellent for people who want a car to get from work and back, or for a small family who want a reliable car at a decent price.

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  nice truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By john - January 16 - 6:30 am

  This is a TRD I bought and am very happy with it. Getting in and out of it is a problem sometimes. The step bars are nice, but then you bang your head on the door frame. The clock placement is demented. I have never been able to see it without looking around the steering wheel. I miss full set of instruments on the dash in front of me, and a locking gas filler. All said, still enjoy owning and driving it.

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  Highlander Hybrid is awesome! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Sue Levy - January 15 - 10:03 pm

  We love our hybrid Highlander! We feel safe and very comfortable in it. The engines are very powerful. We can really turn on the power when we need to. Smart design, good storage, efficent, and were averaging 23 mpg. Id like a little more fuel efficiency but were happy to support the hybrid technology. The car is very quiet, too.

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  2004 Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Reola Melton - January 15 - 7:43 pm

  We have really enjoyed driving this car. We have over 40000 miles on it in 2 yrs. The overall average miles per gal. ranges from 48 to 52 . The city miles are not 61 miles per gal. as advertised.

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  Montana camry - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By montana mama - January 15 - 4:23 pm

  This has been a great car. My husband and I travel a lot and we have been so blessed by the reliability of this car. We are so thankful. We have driven it in a lot of different conditions and it has handled well. Our car has over 208,000 miles and its still kicking. We hope to have it for another 100,000.

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  mr2 fun - 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By sharon koelsch - January 15 - 3:26 pm

  This car is a blast to drive, fun, fun great gas mileage, not very many on the road and get a lot o looks from other drivers. Most think it is a Porsche. I love driving it every day. It is just a fun car all around.

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  Loving the TCH - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By mjw71772 - January 15 - 3:00 pm

  I hear mixed reviews about this car, but I will say I love it without question. Some features could use minor work but all in all this is the best car I have ever driven. I think it beats out my wifes Lexus IS 250. I get great gas mileage plus a good handling, nice looking ride - it is like the best of both worlds. I just cant wait to get back to some flat terrain to get my MPG higher than the 38-40 I am getting now.

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  Yaris S Automatic Review - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Abby Roberts - January 15 - 10:30 am

  The car fits anywhere I want to park it, and its extremely eye-catching. Looks more expensive than it is! Smooth ride on the road, very good brakes - slows down quickly. A/C is great! I love the CD/MP3/WMA player. My parents bought the Yaris Sedan and suggested I get one. Then I got the S. I absolutely love it.

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  A great truck! - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Todd Griesmann - January 15 - 4:10 am

  I bought this truck with 19k on it, it now has 55k,it has been great, only problem was a tire sensor went out, i tow a 6500 lb travel trailer with it and it does well, works, but does the job, only problem is it gets about 10 mpg towing the trailer. comfort, style and power, it has it all.

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  Best car I have ever owned - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By A_Jaramillo - January 15 - 3:10 am

  I have had the car for 4 months now and havent had any problems. My wife loves it! We bought the 4dr sedan and it has plenty of room for our family of 3. Large trunk for a small car. We drive around town a lot and have NEVER averaged less the 36 mpg! We took road trip and averaged 56 mpg hwy! Best deal for your dollar.