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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  Tall guys will love it! - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By jason - January 11 - 2:00 am

  Fantastic truck! Besides the looks, besides the massive towing abilities, besides the power, this truck just fits. Just driving it you feel in total control. Regardless if your towing a 10,000 lbs piece of equipment or a bed full of whatever, this truck does it with confidence. And I have to say being 63"(ish) I love how much room I have. Not to knock the other full size trucks, but I just felt cramped. If you like everything right in your face then this truck may not be for you. But if you like room, serious power (all available at low rpm by the way), and a great ride all with more cup holders than people can handle - then this is for you. And its built in the US!!! Yes!! Texas

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  My newest Camry - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Janice - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I have owned 3 other used Camrys (1997, 1997 and 1999) and I wanted a newer model. Did some research and lots of test driving, and this 2005 is solid, sturdy and dependable. It is spacious and very user friendly, with all the push button controls. I really do love this car, and am happy every time I get inside to drive it.

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  Toyota Corolla - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Jeremy - January 10 - 11:46 pm

  This is the most realiable car you can get!!!

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  Best car I have ever enjoyed - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Baz - January 9 - 10:09 pm

  I purchased the V-6 XSE which is getting me a very consistent 34 MPG (Imperial) or 8.3 l/100 km. I test drove every mid size sedan and some small sedans such as the VW GLI and Audi A3 Quatro. (while these two would have been my 3rd & 2nd choices, I could not justify their price & reliability ratings compared to the Camry. The Camry has been absolutely trouble free, with not so much as a rattle developing. I anticipate that this car will see the dealer as much as my last Toyota Corolla which saw the dealer only once to get a recall repair. Power of this auto is the most surprising and fun aspect.

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  2006 SR5 4WD 6 Cyl - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By neprop - January 9 - 7:53 pm

  Purchased vehicle at end of 2005. Im 62" and I have the sunroof. At first the I thought that there wasnt enough headroom, but there is. Anyone slightly taller ought to consider no sunroof. The 6 cyl deliver more than sufficient power for most needs. The vehicle is quiet to drive and responsive. I used to drive a Subaru AWD that weighs 800 pounds less, but I only got 18-20 MPG City. The 4 runner is delivering 17 MPG so far during the break in period. The engine revs low and upshifts quickly to keep revs low and mileage high.

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  I love it,Because no one has one - 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Jon Bledsoe - January 9 - 4:19 pm

  I bought this for my wife, because her Sequoia is too big and the 4Runner was to small. Its perfect size but its very very expensive.Plus researching the Land cruiser has extremely good resale value . So long story short youre not paying for all of the MSRP unless you keep it for a long time youre just paying for the depreciation of the vehicle if you look at it that way your not paying a lot for the best Toyota out there.

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  A nice surprise after having a XLE Camry - 2012 Toyota Prius
  By Ev - January 9 - 3:10 pm

  We had 12 years with our Camry and loved it. This car was purchased as a result of totaling the Camry. Smaller but a very good step over from the Camry. The fuel economy is very satisfying. If I am gentle on the throttle I can frequently see mpg in the low 60s, We are currently being tempted to upgrade 5 years worth and try a new one. We have over 93K miles on ours with not a lick of problems, just routine maintanence. We highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Best Pick-Up - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Oregon Pick-Up - January 9 - 2:33 pm

  I have been looking to get a tacoma since 2005 when the reviews came out on the new v-6 with the 6-speed manual. my wait was well worth it. I love this pick-up. plenty of power and all but one very small feature I wanted. Best in class by far I research for 2 and half years and always came up with the same answer for what I wanted. Toyota Tacoma

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  Still Goin Strong - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By Taco Lover - January 9 - 5:56 am

  SR5 V-6 5 spd 4WD EX Cab - I cannot tell you how much I still love this vehicle. I cannot think about buying a new one. Oil, front brakes, water pump, battery and timing belt is all it has new in 105k. Still get 20.5-21 mpg overall. Best mileage has been 23 but that was puttin at 65. Taco is easy to work on and it has never left me stranded. I have done things and gone places in this vehicle that I thought were impossible. I keep maintaining it and it keeps me down the road. I bought used w/ 32k but I wish I bought new so that I would have owned it for longer. There really is no telling how long this baby will last. It still looks and drives too good to buy new.

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  Experience with my 2008 Corolla - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By cja - January 9 - 4:00 am

  This car gives a nice smooth ride for its size. Acceleration is smooth and the transmission shifts great. This car rides a bit high and the drivers seat is adjustable; all nice features. However, I find the steering wheel a bit too far away, making driving a little uncomfortable and the knee ends up too close to the console. Im somewhat disappointed with the fuel economy (rated at 26/35) when my bigger accord of 1988 produced 30/34 mpg.