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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  Toyota 2000 Avalon XLS - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Dan - July 6 - 4:13 pm

  Big car. Great when having friends or large family trips. 2000 Model looked good inside all controls convenient. Did not use sun roof but came with car. Skid control was not worth the extra I paid for it. Would not purchase that again even though I live in Northeast did not use it much. For 6 years most everything stayed intact and no problems. You have to love the interior room for everyone it is great! Also not that bad on gas. Had a very quiet ride. Into my 7th year things started falling apart. From 7th to 9th year replaced close to $1,300 in sensors over two years. Small parts started falling apart. Could not use mid grade had to stay with Premium or got poor performance. Leather not soft and plushy even started to wear a lot.

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  Much More Than I Expected - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By John - July 6 - 3:56 pm

  My new Prius is now two weeks old and has 700 miles on it. What a great car! Incredibly quiet, even when the gas engine kicks in. I am already getting over 50 MPG with a car that has plenty of zip when you want it. I am most impressed with the interior room and the seamless operation of the power train. The CVT is very smooth and quiet in its operation. After reading other reviews I was concerned the seats might be uncomfortable but have not found this to be the case. Very good back support. My wife feels the ride is choppy compared to the Chrysler van we have been driving but under most road conditions it is fine. I must admit I am finding excuses to go places in it!

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  Great Car for the Money - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Joe Pollina - July 6 - 3:43 pm

  Shopped around similar type cars and for the quality of car and past reliability history the Corolla is a great value.

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  Not for gravel roads - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Finn - July 6 - 1:06 pm

  We purchased this vehicle because we live in the mountains and need a lot of ground clearance and off road handling. The only area in which this car has disappointed me is in its off road handling, which unfortunately in our situation, is a huge chunk of time. When we purchased this vehicle we were aware of its "truck like chassis" but this car is downright scary to drive on our gravel (sometime washboard) roads. Im not going any faster than 20-25 miles per hour, usually less. This car fish tails or skids over the slightest washboard. I have talked to other people in this area with the same problem.

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  Cant beat it for the money - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By Ropiuwerpjf - July 6 - 9:53 am

  My 2000 Celica now has 93,700 miles and it still drives/rides like its brand new. It has had absolutely no problems whatsoever. For the money, it cannot be beat. The Celica combines good looks, good performance, great gas mileage and spectacular reliability. Few cars can offer what the Celica offers for the price. I have no plans to get rid of this car until it falls down in the road, which may take many more years. I couldnt be more happy with a car than I am with this one. Highly recommended!

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  AWESOME TRUCK - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By bro44us - July 6 - 6:26 am

  Great truck! This truck is a real head turner and a conversation piece. I purchased this truck after owning a chev ZR2 and there is not even a comparison between the two.

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  My 2006 Tundra - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By IQBALDHILLON2 - July 6 - 12:16 am

  My 2006 Toyota Tundra is a great truck. It is much easier to drive than a F-150. It has a super charged 282 horsepower. With a 7100 pound towing capacity. It will deliver about 325 pounds torque. This truck is incredibly smooth. One thing the Tundra lacks is towing and horsepower. I hope to drive out my Tundra to at least 100000 miles. Then I will trade it in for a 07 Tundra truck

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  I love my Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Steve Updegrave - July 5 - 4:43 pm

  Ive had my Prius for 2 1/2 months and 3500 miles and really like it. Its not only economical, but it is fun to drive- particularlly past $2.15/gal gas pumps. The High-tech display gives a feeling of driving a much more expensive luxury car. If you want XM radio which is not offered through the Toyota package- the XM modual for the Sonoma is plug in ready.

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  Quality SUV with a great ride - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By JLKent - July 5 - 4:16 pm

  After one year of ownership I thought it good to provide a review. My 4Runner has been one of the best car purchases to date. After two cross country road trips my family loves this SUV. The ride and performance is exceptional given the size and weight - it drives like a vehicle half the size. V8 Power is awesome and provides excellent acceleration and power with reasonable MPG (18-20 MPG).

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  2007 Tacoma Short Bed 4 Door 4wd - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By John M. - July 5 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a replacement for my 2001 Jeep Wrangler intending to do better than 12 mpg. The Toyota delivers about 18 mpg highway (thanks to the terrible new corn fuels that are terrible for the environment anyway) and 12 mpg city. After about 7 months of ownership, my check engine light came on. $6,500 worth of warranty work and 4 trips later, it is off. My dealer kindly loaned me a fully loaded Avalon to drive in the mean-time. I hate the plastic bed, but Im certain the decreased weight saves on gas mileage. The looks are ok, I prefer 4th generation Tacomas (2001-2004) over the 5th. Paint chips like crazy on my silver model. The painted plastic bumpers, etc are a bad idea.