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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  4runner over ml320 - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By rogerw6 - September 20 - 2:00 am

  So far this is the finest vehicle I have owned. My ML320 was very troublesome and I expect Toyota to be reliable. The 4runner is fun to drive and handles more like a car than a truck. The interior design is useful and attractive. The Nav system is the best of the three I have tried.

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  built to last - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By quocbt - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Great car, very reliable. This this the 6th Toyota car that I own, most of them run over 160,000 with very few repairs. If you want quality car, take my advise, dont buy anything else.

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  Lovin My Camry - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By mn011890 - September 20 - 1:06 am

  I am 18 years old, and this car is the first stick shift I have ever driven/owned and it was great to learn on. The performance is decent for a 4 cylinder, although it could be better. For me personally, the manual makes it blast to drive, but during sharp cornering there is quite a bit of body roll. Despite the body roll, handling still feels fairly secure. Gas mileage is good, I get about 21 mpg in the city. Perhaps my favorite part is the way it looks. The lines of the car are gorgeous, especially in the blue ribbon metallic color. If you want a car that looks good, is good on gas, has pretty good performance AND is cheap (got mine out the door for about 18k) then this is the car for you!

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  Car of 2004 America & Car of 2005 EUROPE - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Puica C - September 18 - 7:46 pm

  Absolutely EXCELLENT! Car of 2004 in N America & Car of 2005 in Europe! YES! enjoy every minute driving this hi-tech jewel! (And other drivers peeping and pointing with their finger toward my new Prius!) Coming from Toyota RAV4, I found turning visibility a little obstructed by bottom corners of the front windshield. Also too bad those Edmund editors forget that Prius is a midsize sedan and comes with full side airbags …. (!) – HM! Why is that? Where is the verticality and credibility of Edmunds.com? Should I contact the Better Business Bureau or the managers?

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  Nice Truck - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Frank L. - September 18 - 1:46 pm

  My truck has been wonderful to own. I have almost 25,000 miles on it and it has not given my any problems.

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  the best truck that Ive ever owned - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By mikethesatisfied - September 18 - 10:00 am

  This is the best truck that Ive ever owned. Ive owned several trucks, Mazda, Chevrolet,Dodge and a Ford. But as far as comfort and ride goes, Toyota can not be beaten.

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  Excellent - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By jimdan - September 18 - 10:00 am

  I got a very good deal for this puchase. The Toyota folks worked with me to find the car I was looking for and added a few extras in for free. The van is very roomy and rides like a luxury car.

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  My 1st Toyota and lovin it - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Rogo1976 - September 18 - 10:00 am

  Ive recently traded in my 2004 Corolla for a 2005 and Im glad I did. The 05 has a better feel, is smoother and quieter. I have been very pleased with the performance of this car as well as its reliabilty and think that it was the best purchase decision. The added power locks and cruise control option is definantly a plus and comes in handy. Will definantly purchase another Toyota product when I need to.

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  Great car - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By case - September 18 - 8:53 am

  I bought my 2001 Celica GT off of eBay in October, 2004. Its been a great car. Only thing I wish it had was a 6th gear, other than that it is an amazingly fun reliable little car. I would definitely recomend it if thats what youre looking for.

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  Wow! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By ech6548 - September 18 - 6:43 am

  I test drove a lot of SUVs and this is the one that rang my bells! This gets great gas mileage and is one with the road. It is truly a pleasure to drive.