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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  jt3hn86r1v0116232 - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By RAMON LOPEZ - June 22 - 10:23 am

  This vehicle is excellent, very safety and Beautiful.

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  Great Vehicle - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By JNLR - June 22 - 12:13 am

  Traded my 06 Highlander (4cyl) in on it because it had been in an accident. We really enjoyed that car; however, it was a base model with no added features. We chose the Sport for all the features. Wow, what a difference! Loaded with creature comforts; quieter, more comfort, power and almost same mpg. Took a 1900 mile trip and averaged 28 mpg at 70 mph. The trip was two adults with luggage. My average in town is 21 mpg (only 10% hwy). We live in Houston so we did not need or want AWD and did not choose the third row seat. We could never find any on the lot and had to order one which was good because it kept all the expensive dealer add ons off.

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  Toyota Fan - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By H Foust - June 21 - 8:06 pm

  I have owned several different kinds of toyotas, but my favorite is the Camry, this is my second one and I have had absolutely no problems out of it.

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  Leave Me Alone, Im Happy - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Sal - June 21 - 6:53 am

  I bought a 2009, Barcelona Red, Toyota Corolla LE with cruise control, in May 2008, and absolutely love it. I get over 40 mpg on the highway, and get about 28-30 mpg around town. It has a roomy interior, for a small car, and has nice pickup, for a 1.8 liter 4 cyl engine. I especially love the look of the headlight, and tail light displays, (which is very important to me), as well as the redesigned front grille look. The car steering/handling feels good, and the red color makes the car look bigger. The remote, tire low pressure indicator, adds a nice safety touch. All in all, this is a nice, good looking car.

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  Our 2nd Prius! - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Ryan - June 20 - 11:43 pm

  We just got our second Prius, an 08. The first one is an 05. We liked the 05 well enough to get a second one. Its a nice car, good space inside, flexible with the different configuration options of the seats, big enough to carry 3 other adults to lunch, plenty of pick up, nice interior, quiet ride. Overall, Im very pleased (although Ive only had it for one day!).

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  Great Job Toyota, Thanks for making it! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Rick - June 20 - 11:06 pm

  Great ride, performance, style, and engineering design. Job well done on Toyotas part. I can appreciate Toyotas bold move to make this vehicle happen for the consumer. This means a lot to auto enthusiasts.

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  Best SUV - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By star - June 20 - 10:00 am

  I have had my 03 SR5 2 weeks traded 02 trailblazer. This Toyota is OUTSTANDING no more chevys for me.A very nice quality machine. Great ride. I am so happy not sure what i can say except its not a GM. This is what a car/SUV or vehicle should be.

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  Better than a Harley! - 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By dealerM - June 20 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, surprisingly comfortable, you can drive it 90 MPH with the top down and still enjoy it! It gets a lot of attention too.

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  Why Cant the Germans Do This? - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By CaliforniaDrivin - June 20 - 10:00 am

  Comfortable, fun to drive, economical and quality, quality, quality. Just read reviews of the Jetta and/or Passat I ALMOST bought. Nice to have made the right choice. Excellent dealer service and attitude as well. Comfortable on long trips up the California coast. No street racer but does not claim to be.

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  Sharp looks plus Great Ride - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By aufan - June 20 - 10:00 am

  Just this month brought home my 4 Runner after trying to decide between the 4 Runner and the new Honda Pilot. The 4 Runners looks won out. After driving it home loved it even more. This is the best of all worlds. Seats and ride are plush and the navigaion system is unreal. You cant go wrong with this vehicle.