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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  2016 Highlander - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Lee V - November 5 - 12:59 am

  Shop around before buying. Different dealers have slightly different promotions and pricing.

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  Very Good...Could be better - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By sabadir - November 4 - 11:10 pm

  I bought this used in 2010 w 45K miles. It has 119k now and is in very good shape. Its a great and comfortable car. It keeps me safe and gets through all the weather. Its pretty darn comfortable too. I feel safe in it and frankly I like it. I have a Yakima roof rack and I added a 2" trailer hitch to pull a small trailer. Its perfect for me and my two kids.

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  Happy so far - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Jagannath - November 4 - 3:46 pm

  Its about 2 weeks now since we got our Prius and we are pretty happy with it. Many features; we are trying to figure out many of them. Bluetooth setup is acting a little weird-not recognizing our iPhone. Mileage in the city is yet to be really tested. We took it on a little drive (180 miles) to test it on the highway and was very happy with the handling-braking was stable and though lacks the punch in acceleration, am not going to cry over a compromise. Got 48.5 mpg! Thats what I signed up for and hopefully will stay that way. Is comfortable,6-CD changer+JBL is awesome.

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  2005 sequoia - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By jrodgers - November 4 - 1:40 pm

  Very comfortable drivers seat. Have a back problem and traded in my 4Runner on the Sequoia. Big! Lots of room! Gas guzzler, but that is to be expected. Reverse detent not easy to get into. Gear shift on the steering column not a plus. Terrible turning radius. Excessive idle speed for about three to five minutes when first started. Could prove dangerous. Vibration at 30-50 mph when climbing a gently hill.Feels like a missfire, but the dealer here said all is ok. Park distance warning a must for this vehicle. Tires seem to lose pressure more quickly than other I have had. Have tire press. monitor system.

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  super basic transportation - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By tallguy66 - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I got this car to travel weekly between my home near New Orleans and my new job in Texas, 326 miles each way on the weekends. Am getting 39 miles at 70 mpg on highway, no problems at all. I am very tall and need seat to go back farther, other than that am fully satisfied. My last four vehicles have been Toyotas, super dependable, never in shop.

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  Great Little SUV - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Superwoman - November 4 - 10:00 am

  Love this little SUV! A little slow at first, but once you reach top speed, it flies! Very quiet inside when windows closed. Very stable in high winds and bad weather. Stock Air and stereo/cd package quite good.

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  I LOVE IT - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By NORTHRIMRN - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE IT. IVE HAD SO MANY COMPLIMENTS ON WHAT A GOOD LOOKING CAR IT IS. THEY ALL ASK WHAT IS THE MAKE OF THE CAR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADVERTISE THIS CAR MORE. I WAS A NURSE TRAVELER WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NEEDED A CAR THAT I COULD MOVE AROUND IN. THE TRUNK SPACE AND POWER OF THE ENGINE OUT DID EVERY OTHER MAKE OF CONVERTABLE THAT I RESEARCHED ON LINE

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  LOOKER - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Vitaliy - November 4 - 10:00 am

  GREAT LOOKING CAR. 2 DR. LEXUS FOR TWICE LESS MONEY. ENGINE IS POWERFUL AND SMOOTH. NICE INTERIOR MATERIALS. UNLIKE REGULAR CAMRY, DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A MIDDLE AGE DRIVERS CAR.

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  GREAT CAR - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By PATTON - November 4 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS A FUN CAR TO DRIVE, WITH ITS GREAT LOOKS AND SMOOTH RIDE. YOU DONT HAVE TO SACRIFIC RIDE AND REFINEMENT FOR THE SPORT HANDLING.

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  I am so glad I bought this truck! - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Tedzwife - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I got tired of my mini van and decided to get an suv. After days of research, test driving and comparison shopping, I finally found it! The body is nicely contoured. Not too rugged. The interior is driver friendly, everything where you need it and sleek. The safety features are a major plus! the break assist and anti skid protection make me feel safer driving in poor weather.