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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  2zz swapped spyder review with TRD suspension - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By jlevy2 - October 18 - 4:48 pm

  My review may not be a fair one since my spyder is not really close to stock. Ive got a 2zz-ge engine and 6 speed from a 2001 Celica-GTS, the factory TRD suspension and bracing, additional under body bracing (breast plate), and much of the suspension rubber replaced with urethane. The car drives great and is my daily driver and has been very reliable, especially for a 14 year old car. Handling is very confident and acceleration with the 2zz engine is good. Ive also got the TRD clutch-type LSD which I would not recommend - I would prefer the factory helical LSD option instead.

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  My FJ - 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Edward Sanders - October 18 - 2:03 pm

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  Toyota Camery SE V6 - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Gort1 - October 18 - 3:53 am

  Good Looks,solid,roomy,quiet handles beautifully,powerful brakes. Get more stares than we thought possible, even from new Nissan Altima owners. We love this car, fun to drive.

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  6 Stars Anyone? - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Sonny - October 17 - 8:38 pm

  If there was an option for 6 stars for this specific vehicle, I would be the first to check that. I am a very picky individual and my taste in choosing my vehicles are very unique, in my opinion. First off, I highly prefer vehicles fully manufactured in Japan. Guess what? The Prius is one of them. Most importantly, Toyota has truly made a huge leap with their redesign on the new Prius. Yes, the exterior design gets a lot of heat and negativity, but if you have the courage to look past that and focus on the essence and beauty of the vehicle, it truly is an engineering marvel. The L.E.D lights - front and back - are state of the art and look like laser lights, especially from the rear. The interior is like Ive never seen before, and when I sit in, it feels so driver oriented - Im thinking Toyota has taken ideas from their sports car - the 86. The road holding and balance is so incredibly tight and smooth. The steering has so much richness and its very well weighted with an expensive feel. I opted for the version 3 since it seems to have the best value with its features - nav, L.E.D lights, lithium ion battery, 3 door smart entry, alloy wheels with two tone cover, Softex steering wheel, etc. The Prius is struggling to sell as of late - probably due to the low fuel prices, plus folks arent comfortable with the polarizing looks and are taking their time to get used to the latest design which represents the future. And so I took advantage of Toyotas incentives to push these vehicles. Got a fair deal with their 0% financing along with over $3k off the purchase with no trade. Ive owned nothing but sports cars in the past, and the latest Prius doesnt make me miss them whatsoever. Its packed with so much excitement if you know where to look and how to appreciate. Its only been 200 miles since my purchase, and this car is the very best one Ive experienced - and trust me, Im all about that experience.

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  Luxury for the little guy - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By James - October 17 - 8:30 pm

  This is the first luxury car that I have owned and I am throughly pleased. I have ridden in other luxury cars. The Avalon is just as nice if not better. The only problem that I have had is a vibration at 65-70 mph. I had to take it to the dealer three times before they determined that at least one wheel was out of round. I have two new tires and two new wheels. There is still a very minute vibration but barely noticeable. There should not be any vibration. The average mpg should allow the driver to reset anytime and not just on fill up. It would be nice to illuminate the area around the car at night with the headlights and backup lights when unlocked with the key fob.

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  Had I Only Known - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By flanagan - October 17 - 8:03 pm

  Spent last year looking at vehicles from a-z. Hands down this is the best vehicle purchase of my life. Rarely are expectations met and even rarer are they exceeded. Almost bit on a Land Rover LR3, about $15k more than my Limited 4Runner - thank god i didnt. I love this vehicles looks, ride, tightness and overall quality feel after 2500 miles. First time Toyota owner and I am impressed. I really trust the vehicle.

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  2009 Tacoma worth the wait - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Pat - October 17 - 9:20 am

  Brand new truck, was supposed to get a 2008, but production ended early. Glad I waited for all the new features. Truck runs great, very tight, great power (much better than my V8 F-150) Truck is just the right size, fuel mileage much better.

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  205,000 miles still rolling - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By JAS - October 17 - 8:00 am

  I bought this new from a dealership in 1999 trading in my 1996 Tacoma with 300,000}+ miles on it (should have kept it as back up it was still running great but was STD cab) This truck has been through 2 front end collisions one costing over $16,000 in damages, two side hits and one roll down a hill! It has spent many months in body shops. Regardles of how hard I beat it to death it still keeps going. Ive had to replace the clutch at 200k which was the first major part excluding parts replaced in accidents. All in all I will never buy another make or model. Hopefully Toyota will see this and send me one for my family of 5. Its a bit cramped! Ill drive it to death & then try to buy another

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  A good SUV with a few flaws - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Scatterax - October 17 - 6:23 am

  Had it for 6 months. Previous cars include Accord, Nissan Quest. Good power, comfortable and solid. Handles nicely. Quiet when windows are closed. Performs well in snow/ice. I truly enjoy driving it. Music system is excellent, NAV is very confusing and appears less capable than the Honda Pilots. Susceptible to easy scratching inside and out. Wind noise is bad, but the low frequency reverberations when the back windows are open or sometimes when the moonroof is open by itself produce intolerable discomfort. A tolerable ride with moonroof or windows open without too much noise requires continuous adjustment of the windows depending on the speed.

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  a great car - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By robert r - October 16 - 8:13 pm

  finally.. after toying with a armada for a year.. I got this sequoia. It has everything.. I would suggest it for anyone that wants comfort and style.. it is great.