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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  Love my Corolla - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By rjr - October 14 - 6:53 am

  Great car. Roomier than I expected. Agile, peppy. NEVER a problem, very reliable. Always runs like a top. And best of all, it uses only 6.1 L/100Km city and 5.1 highway. I save so much money on gas that it pays for the car. On one trip I used only 27.9 L to go 697 Km, 4.0 L/100Km, 58 miles/USA gallon.

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  Loving the Sequoias power, comfort and reliability - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By sjhanks - October 14 - 2:58 am

  Need a big SUV to haul people, gear or tow. Its the best. Had a Yukon XL and it was plagued with problems. Didnt tow really well either. So we purchased the Toyota and spent a little more on it than other similar SUVs, its my third Toyota and I think a few extra bucks is worth it. I do miss the Yukon XLs rear storage. But we just fold one side of the third row down and we have lots of storage. I also have 3 kids almost 6 foot or over 6 foot and they can fit really comfortably in the 3rd row because it is so roomy. Love all the power too, it tows so much better than the 2003 GMC. Pulls right up the hills with no problems

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  2015 Tundra Platinum Crew Max 4WD Awsome - 2015 Toyota Tundra
  By DJ - October 14 - 2:40 am

  Great reliable truck.

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  Awesome van - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By minime51ad - October 14 - 2:24 am

  I bought this AWD van with 150K miles on it. It doesnt use a drop of oil, rides smooth and is free of major body defects but the prior owner did have it rustproofed regularly. I now have 180K miles on it and it is still running strong. The only serious problem has been a rear wheel bearing which cost less than $400 to repair. I love the sure footed feel of this van in our snowing northern climate.

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  Love my car! - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By JanS - October 14 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. I have severe back problems and this is the only place I can actually be comfortable. The only flaw I found was in the cruise control. It does not maintain its speed on a decline. I have never been happier with a car than I have been with this.

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  Recommended Vehicle - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By Arnie7 - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Great truck to drive. This is the first Toyota pickup, I have owned. I have owned a Ford and several Chevy pickups in the past. I heard about the dependability of the Tundra and took it for a test drive. I was amazed by the way it handled. I havent had it for very long, but am extremely happy with it. I bought a used Rav4 a couple of years ago and it has over 135,000 miles on it now and have never had to have anything done to it. I decided to try their pickup, and am glad I did.

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  Great all-around truck - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Jerre - October 14 - 2:00 am

  The new 2004 version is a nice upgrade over 2003 and includes standard ABS and steering wheel controls. Well designed interior for practicality and convenience. The new engine is quicker and quieter which is a long overdue improvement. The manual trans. is smooth and easy to operate...unlike the poorly engineered CRV clutch. Major flaw- an oversized, ridiculously heavy rear door with a window that wont open. Puzzling why Toyota failed to re- design such an obvious flaw?! Also, the RAV4 could be a little longer for more cargo room. Overall though, this is a very well constructed vehicle and rates the best out of all small SUVs I test drove.

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  No Regrets - But..... - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By bballbm - October 14 - 2:00 am

  I have no regrets about my purchase of the XLS Camry. The ONLY problem I have had is the breaks. The only way to describe the problem is by saying the breaks are comparable to manual breaks. VERY HARD peddle with little reaction. Dealer has told me twice that it is just a typical "TOYOTA" breaking system. I dont buy it. That said, I love everythging else about the car. It has respectable handling, enough power (only got the V4), and the interior and exterior are very pleasing. Would highly recommend. The breaking issue is an isolated thing I am sure.

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  Good car, but not perfect - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Ross Purdy - October 13 - 2:36 pm

  Currently we have 63,000 miles so we have considerable experience. Reliability has been superb. Things to fix: 1. Original tires are awful. Why not give us a good set? 2. Seats lack lumbar support. I had to find some special pads to drive more than 100 miles. 3. Allow the front seat to move farther back. Im only 6 tall and Im crowded into the wheel. 4. Move the shift lever so it doesnt bang my knee. 5. Fix the gas tank so it doesnt belch gas all over my feet. (Ive learned to gas up standing well to the side.) 6. Improve the headlights. The lights on my Toyota pickup are infinitely better. 7. Allow more movement of the adjustable steering wheel. Thats a start.

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  Great truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By JG - October 13 - 11:53 am

  Had an ’03 Double Cab and totaled it in an accident. The truck saved our lives and bought the ’05 because I believe that Toyota’s are built to last. The larger interior is awesome and the truck is so comfortable to drive; rides like a luxury car. No complaints about this truck and enjoy driving it everyday.