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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  Awesome Power and Looks - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Hutch - June 20 - 10:00 am

  The back has plenty of leg room and the A/C is nice and cool on those 100 degree Georgia day.

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  A Recent Convert - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By frmiami - June 20 - 10:00 am

  First change from Ford in 17 years. Am impressed with the looks, performance and tightness of the suspension. Agile in handling and braking. Spartan in the interior design, but functional except for the clock. Am very impressed overall and happy with the purchase.

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  Great car - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By JakeBlues - June 20 - 10:00 am

  We love this car. It has a great ride, is mechanically sound and the V6 engine gives it plenty of power. We are quite happy with it.

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  A new definition of excellence - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By ruthkin - June 20 - 10:00 am

  Excellent in every way-- best car I ever owned.

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  Highlander Limited 4WD - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Sam - June 20 - 8:10 am

  This is a great vehicle. Fuel efficiency with good power performance and fun features made this a good choice for me. I needed the room and convenience of an SUV with 3rd row without the need to tow. I travel in field sales so comfort was essential but I also wanted some extras that were available on the Toyota at and affordable purchase & operating price. The navigation system is cool but complicated at times and is tied in to the audio & AC making them the same. The accelerator has a "hair trigger" and takes some getting use to you will experience lunges at low speed until then. The retractable trunk cover was a bad after thought. Certainly not enough to give bad marks to the Highlander.

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  Fun to drive our Prius C - 2012 Toyota Prius c
  By satx2 - June 20 - 7:55 am

  We have about 4000 (most city) miles on our Prius C and really enjoy it so far. It has adequate power to get onto the expressway and behaves well at 75 mph. What we like most is that this car is fun to drive. I dont try to baby it to get maximum mileage, but it still gets 42-44 mpg overall. Were still getting used to all the electronics, but are enjoying the Bluetooth feature and satellite radio. If you can live with a little less power and comfort, the Prius C is a really good buy.

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  2011 Sequoia Platinum - 2011 Toyota Sequoia
  By 02z71 - June 20 - 6:41 am

  Overall, great truck. My first Toyota. GAs milage far better than I expected at 19.5 highway and 17 around town. That includes Firestone Destination AT aggressive tires. Ride is smooth and the room is amazing. Storage space is unparalleled. I got a great deal at the Toyota dealer in Auburn Mass and could not have been happier with that. aggressive off-road firestone destination AT,

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  Great Truck - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Kip - June 19 - 8:36 am

  Just traded off a 97 T100 4x4. Smooth ride, great excelleration, plenty of room for my long legs, even in the back. Lots of storage and a good range of accessories to choose from. Have not yet used the bed tiedown feature but it looks promising. Overall I am very satisfied with this truck

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  One Great Little Ride - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By John - June 19 - 8:16 am

  I drive about 120 miles a day and I am getting 44 mpg on the highway. Blended city/hway Im getting 38... If you drive hard you will get a bit less but doing 70 and hold back on the jack rabbit starts and you should get the same. I have the automatic and the performance is fine. Its not the fastest car, but there is plenty of power to hang out and pass on the highway. Overall the car is great, it runs great, rides great, just a great price performers.

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  Great Reliable Truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By J Rivera - June 18 - 8:20 pm

  Great truck all around. I drive 20K per year through mountain roads in Puerto Rico and currently have 65K. I had one minor leak with the power steering fluid that was covered by warranty. Other than that, the temperature/compass display was damaged a month ago is not covered by the extended warranty I purchased! Its a great solid truck. Very reliable and lots of aftermarket goodies to customize it and make it your own. I have performed all tune-ups at the dealer and have never been strained on the road. The average MPGs are 17.8 with a best of 20.7 and a worst of 16.7.