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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  Great ride! - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By leo416 - April 19 - 10:11 am

  I really enjoy my 2010 Toyota Highlander Limited. This vehicle definitely has a great amount of power along with a smooth and quite ride. I have previously owned some of Lexuss high end SUVs and I must say I dont see much of a difference in the ride quality, features, style, etc. Granted I did purchase the limited so the features are much improved over the base model. The only thing I can say negative about the highlander is fuel economy. I get around 16 mpg with a good mix of highway and city driving. I understand that is not awful for a midsize to somewhat larger SUV but I just dont like that they state its 20 city & 27 highway. That being said BUY THIS VEHICLE!

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  Love this car! - 2002 Toyota Celica
  By Rettsie - April 19 - 10:00 am

  The Celica GT is a great little car! Especially in Red! My daughter calls it the "stud magnet"! It is definitely an eye catcher! It handles nicely and has great power for a V4. Only complaint I have is that when you move the front seats to get into the back seat the seats dont go back to their original position.... Toyota please take note!

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  The best what can I say - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By mishdoob - April 19 - 10:00 am

  I had a Dodge before this. It had nothing but problems. I have had none with the vehicle.

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  I love it! - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By jonny - April 19 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle, buy two

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  Best car we ever bought--get one now! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By GNR8 - April 18 - 5:16 pm

  Have had it for 3 weeks and about 1200 miles. We are just thrilled with this car! The combination of sophistication, engineering, convenience features, styling and value are unbelieveable! The quality is excellent -- first car we ever bought that did not have to go back for any "adjustments". It is fun and nimble and incredibly silent. Pick up is fair, but if you step on it the engine and electric motor together give it some kick. Mileage in January has been 34-35. The single setting heated seats work very well. The turquoise center stack around the nav screen is too bright and when you dim it the gauges are not bright enough. Try an after market interior wood kit -- awesome!

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  SR5 4WD Toyota 4Runner - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bill - April 18 - 11:30 am

  One of the best vehicles I have ever owned. Really nice ride, excellent quality, the only complaint is the brake being too close to the accelerator.

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  BestCarOutThere - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Naum - April 18 - 10:03 am

  This is trully the best car on the market. I bought a used one with 40k miles and drive it for 2 years now. Not a single problem with it. This car is so reliable that you dont have to do anything just get some gas and change oil regularly. THATs it. It is very quiet and sometimes I am not sure if the engine is on or not. It is pretty fast too. I test this car to its limits and it never fails me. It can compete with many sports cars and will lose just a lit bit. I raced a Lincoln MarkVIII which was ahead of me about one body length at 80 mph. In other words its pretty fast. The driving experience is excellent. Its like riding a dream. There are no compromises.

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  My car Camry - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Frank Jowitt - April 18 - 9:33 am

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  Moving fast and forward!! - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By thill357 - April 18 - 7:47 am

  Wow! Do I love my 2011 Camry SE! This car is a true "sporty camry" and this is no ordinary Camry! Just from the exterior styling you can tell it is not. Fog lights, blacked out grill, spoiler, and dual exhuast! Yeah! Looks like a luxury car and drives like one too! It is tuned to take those turns and constantly says "push me!" For a 4 cyl family sedan, this car is quick and nimble! The 6 speed auto does a very good job of shifting gears when you need them too and even returns gas mileage of 31 mpg combined! The trunk and backseat is large and the seats and cloth are very comfy. Wish I got the V6... This is not my first toyota and not my last!

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  I love it!!! - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By Scogginisland - April 17 - 5:56 pm

  I have had many trucks, all brands, some have been better than others but this Tundra is the best one that I have ever had. It is so much fun to drive that Im looking for reasons to go out! I bought a 2007 SR5 SB in Nov 07 and while it was OK, I really wanted the LB version without the Off-Road package. So I sold the SB with only 1389 miles and bought the SR5 LB and couldnt be happier. It rides smooth, has unbelieveable power, and gets decent mileage. I have installed a back-up camera, fog lights, self-dimming mirror, in-channel visors, sill protectors, duals and bed extender all OEM and the great thing is that it was already prewired for all the electrical installations. I love this!