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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  Glad I test drove it - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By phandy - October 15 - 10:00 am

  I looked at various cross-over and small SUVs for a year and thought the Subaru Forester was the one I wanted till I drove it. Didnt feel comfortable for my size. Then there was the Honda CRV, but it seemed kind of blah inside and the dealer didnt budge on the sticker price. Fortunately I kept looking and tried the Highlander. I love it and am so glad I kept test driving different models till I found just the right one. Had it for 5 months and am looking forward to taking it on vacation this summer,

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  Love it!!! - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By BevK - October 15 - 10:00 am

  We love this car. I cant keep my kids out of it. They beg me to go sit in the car even though we arent leaving home. We all love the rear audio the most. I can listen to the radio up front and they can listen to their kids tapes/CDs in the back. Toyota really paid attention to the details on this car. I recommend it to all!

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  Tundra Rides Poorly - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Farley - October 15 - 4:26 am

  I have about 800 miles on my truck and its ride is awful. It literally bounces down the road. Although it has 4WD and an 8 foot bed, it was delivered with passenger tires! I have replaced them with 10 ply Goodyear tires but the ride is still bouncy due to 2 ply side walls. I plan to replace them again with BF Goodrich A/T tires which have 3 ply sidewalls. Hopefully this will cure the problem. The truck is beautiful but is a monster to drive. Visibility is awful and its dangerous to back up. Towing mirrors have two side mirrors on each side which makes it confusing to check vehicles coming up on you. Toyota did not do their homework on this one and I would return it to the dealer if I could.

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  About to put on 4th SET of tires and only have 72,000 miles on car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By lucy123 - October 15 - 1:07 am

  I bought my camry off the showroom floor. It is a 2007 SE. Less than one year from the date of purchase I found myself back in the dealership to purchase NEW tires. The dealer gave me a "discount" and said the factory tires were "softer" therefore wearing out faster. Since then, I have put on 2 more sets of tires, ONE set per year and I in less than a month, I will have to purchase my 4th SET of tires! These tires are not cheap! I bought the camry because of the low maintenance reputation. I was wrong! Did I mention that I have had the two front bearings go out and a water pump? YES....my 2007 Camry SE is a LEMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  1998 4x4 Tacoma - 1998 Toyota Tacoma
  By steve - October 15 - 12:26 am

  I bought this truck new in 98 and have never had any problems. Only expenses have been reg maint and gas. In the snow this veh is unstoppable. Best truck I have ever owned. The 2.7 4 cyl is a little low on power, but has never really been a problem. I always average about 20 mpg. After 155,000 trouble free miles I would only replace it with another identical Tacoma.

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  Great value - super reliability - 2013 Toyota Corolla
  By Drew McCartt - October 14 - 7:07 pm

  Super car for the money with great features for the price... interior is surprisingly roomy and the features and options are nice. Great trunk space.

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  The Best Lookin Convertible On the Road - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By David Rifkin - October 14 - 6:10 pm

  This car is a "dream". It looks great and drives even better. The style is a class act. Everything about this vehicle says "wow!" It seats 4 adults very comfortably and even is fine with three kids in the back. It handles well with no vibration like many convertibles; because of the lack of support near the windshield. This car drives solid. I have owned Toyotas for the past 20 years and this one is, by far, my favorite.

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  An Awesome Buy - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By JP - October 14 - 7:26 am

  I just bought the 4 door in the magnetic charcoal grey color. All I can say is it is an awesome looking truck, that rides excellent. Toyotas are very reliable cars, everyone in my family has one, so I do not worry about having bought an unreliable product.

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  Love the car-highly recommend - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ozziecookie - October 13 - 10:19 pm

  We purchased this 3 year old 2008 Highlander Hybrid 3 months ago and we could not be happier with it. It drives very well with excellent pick up. With time we have gotten familiar w/ the car and what it "likes". For example, on the highway, there are certain speeds-62 and 66, that it uses the electric power. Also, we are all driving less heavily on the pedal. It probably is good training to drive any car more efficiently. Overall, we get average 25 mpg. I am the main driver of the car. I use it to drive my son to school and back each day and after school lessons for both kids. My husband drives it occasionally and he loves it too. Whenever I am not using it, he uses it.

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  Buy it. - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By Michael Templeton - October 13 - 8:13 pm

  Its really a great car. Almost every review is a big success. I have immensely enjoyed my yota. It had 67,000 mi. when I purchased it. I road- tripped out to Oregon from Michigan in April 2006 (6,200 mi. round trip) and it was a dream. Nothing went wrong with the car, we had only to change the oil once, and thats it. It never overheated, and it took on the Rockies with valiant spirit. One thing that DID go wrong though, as strange as it may sound, was that the cd player and volume knob broke. But we discovered later that SOMEHOW the volume was now fully controllable through the dashlight knob, and the headlight stick would turn the sound off and on...?? Weird. My experience earns a big nod!