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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  Worth Every Penny - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Parrothead - March 2 - 12:50 am

  I have owned my Toyota PreRunner for over 2 yrs now and I have no regrets about purchasing this truck. It has met or exceeded my expectations, and is far superior in quality than the Ford, Chevy, and Dodge products that I have owned. My only complaint is the angulation of the center air vent on the drivers side; it blows air directly on the driver even when an attempt is made to angle it toward the rear cab. Domestic truck manufacturers have a long way to go to meet the quality and dependability of this vehicle.

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  great vehicle - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By CHRIS - March 1 - 8:10 pm

  comfort, handle, style, fuel efficient for size, extremely comfortable vehicle. we took this vehicle on a 18 hour drive to disney world and it is absolutely wonderful. other large sport utility vehicles dont compare. the expedition, navigator, yukon, hummer, cadillac, all fall a distant 2nd to the overall value, ride, and dependability. if you have the opportunity to get one get it.

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  My 3 month update on 08 sienna - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By krispykreme - March 1 - 5:46 pm

  This is my 3rd sienna. Replacing the 70k miles 04 in december. The new V6 is more powerful yet does not consume much more gas than 04 (20 vs 21.3). The navi is improved over the 04. The ride is just smooth. We also have a 07 odyssey, which ride much rougher and gets a lot worse gas mileage. Sienna handling is loose and brake are soft. However, the interior design is much better than Odyssey. We like the captain seat on the Sienna over the captains on the Odyssey. However, I really wished that Sienna offers 8 pax model for limited. One thing we also liked was that Sienna is a lot more roomier than Odyssey especially the 3rd row. Overal Sienna is just a superior van. Also love HID.

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  Sienna II - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Sienna II - March 1 - 4:13 pm

  We had a 2000 CE...the interior difference on the 04 is huge. So much more headroom and width! Very quiet, rides nicely. Hopefully it will be as reliable as our 2000 which went 78k without a single issue.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Lukky - March 1 - 2:13 pm

  I have wanted a truck for a while now and I did good to wait for this Tacoma after my ’99 Intrepid’s engine blew up. Excellent comfort in quad cab and my baby loves to sleep while I drive. The rev is low enough to keep the ride quite. The dog can finally go with me anywhere even while I put 8 snowboards in the long bed (great place to hang out as well). While not a gas eater like an 8 cyl, the TRD sport package engine is powerful enough for me to have towed a suburban with engine problem up and down hill in NC! It has averaged about 21 mpg with about 90% highway driving. I paid a little more for the roof rack and the side rails, but the look is very well worth it.

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  Perfect family car - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By mirandasmom772 - March 1 - 1:40 pm

  I have owned this car for a year and a half now. Bought it from an elderly lady who only put 48,000 miles on it from 1993-2006. The car is like new and I have only put tires, brake pads, and changed the oil in it. This is probably the best car I will ever own. My husband and daughter fit quite nicely in there with me, and we even use it to go to home depot, by dropping down the back seats. This car starts every single day and has never left me stranded. We just sold a 1992 Camry to our nephew and it had 187,000 miles when we sold it. Hes getting close to the 200,000 mark. Still runs & reliable as a new car. These cars are fantastic, I will always be a loyal Toyota owner.

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  93 Toyota Camry Auto 200k+ miles - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By ricecracker - March 1 - 12:14 pm

  This car was handed down to me through the family and now after 20+ years of ownership I am sad to see it go. No words can describe exactly how reliable this car is. It was also very comfortable, and this coming from a pretty heavy set guy. Overall it is a great great car to own even in this day and age, and I have no complaints about it what so ever.

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  Everything you expected from Toyota - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Brian - March 1 - 12:03 pm

  Feel great about my purchase. Drives solid feels solid. I had a ford explorer before and the 4runner blows it away in comfort, stability and performance. I wanted the limited for the navigation and leather but opted for the sport and put in after factory leather which was definitly the way to go. Most dealers work with leather installation companies. I will also put in an after market DVD navigation system from pioneer which has voice command. All told I saved about 5k and pretty much got a limited with the more agressive look the hood scoop on the sport provides. The dog in the back loves the window that goes down. Most important, my fiance says that I look hot in the truck. :)

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  Excellent and Fun - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By DC in Texas - March 1 - 6:13 am

  I wish I would never have tried anything else. This vehicle is dependable, stylish, built to last.

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  Best Truck Period - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By Toyota Driver - February 28 - 5:53 am

  Just switched from an 06 Tundra access cab to the Tacoma Double Cab. Aside from it being a double cab, the only size difference is the width. The Tundra was way too big for me but my new Tacoma fits me like a glove. Everything is with in an easy reach of the driver’s seat.