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 little car - 2012 Toyota Prius c
  By main1462 - April 23 - 6:35 am

  I bought a red Prius C Two a week ago, and its as good as advertised. I live in a small town, so most of my trips are no more than 4 miles one way. Im averaging 57 mpg right now. I owned a Prius sedan before this, and the Prius C hybrid system seems to warm up faster, which translates to better mileage on shorter trips. The ride is smooth. It really is a fun car to drive. Im very happy with this car so far.

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  My 2nd Sienna - Great but nav is awful - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By New England Family - April 23 - 4:53 am

  This is my second Sienna (the first was a 2004 and was great). We bought this with the package #4 (rear DVD, navigation, leather) and like the comfort a lot. What is clear at this point though is that our $799 Garmin 760 add-on for our other car is MUCH better for navigation. On a recent trip from between New England and DC, the Toyota system kept trying to take us off the obvious main interstates onto other interstates and side highways and some local roads - even with interstates allowed in the options - it did this again and again and has left us VERY disappointed in what is supposed to be a high end feature. The van itself is wonderful - best for comfort / quiet / ride.

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  I Love it ! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Eby - April 22 - 4:50 am

  this is my first Tacoma truck, and second toyota vehicle after my 2004 Sienna. Im getting 19-20 mileage (Hwy) on my truck which i expect from a toyota.Exterior and Interior designs are really fantastic. High ride, really good control and fast pick up. My wife who hates trucks loves this, that says all.

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  Pretty Good Car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By N Myrmel - April 21 - 11:06 pm

  I love the external appearence, but the cost to fix is very pricey. I put lots of miles on in a year and after hitting 90k a coil went bad causing a O^2 sensor and catalytic converter went bad. The camry has two O^2 sensors, one costs $160-180 but the other costs $360!!! In all it cost me $1200 to get it back on the road. The steering has always squeaked for me at low speeds (generally during parking) but other than that it has been a great car. I now have 135k on it and the above issue is the only one I have had. I replaced my brake pads at 115k and they were very easy to do. Oil filter is a little hard to get to, but all in all things are easily accessable.

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  179,476 miles and still going strong - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By ehaw - April 21 - 9:08 pm

  LOVE my Prius! We are high mileage commuters, perfect car for the miles we drive. Purchased for $15,200 in 2009 used with mid 20k miles. Use Michelins for a better ride and gas mileage. We are getting 44-56 mpg depending on how much we run A/C (Hey its Texas, so most of the time) Early morning when it is still cool can easily hit 52-56 since most are highway miles. Expenses occurred so far: Use a K&N engine air filter which saves on air filter expense - not that hard to clean and recharge. Oil changes at 5000k, wiper blades, and I change cabin air filter myself to save service charge. Biggest expense - replacing a part that controls the changeover between electric and gas. $500

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  Prius - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By Mark - April 21 - 5:16 pm

  Im 6 4" and the front leg room is very tight. It is also a bit narrow. The fit and feel is very good for a mid size car. Its so quiet on start up. Acceleration is slow but reliability should be outstanding.

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  Excellent, Fun, Fast and Fuel Efficient - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By cbmd - April 21 - 10:00 am

  This is the most technologically advanced car on the road and its Honda competitors are not even near the usefulness or speed even though slightly more mileage with Insight. My Prius has had three small problems. Tire wear was the worst, but a tire or wheel change should fix it nicely on the 2004 model. Toyota and the dealer replaced the tires and have done all servicing without any charge.

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  Toy equals Joy - 1996 Toyota Tacoma
  By BIGRED - April 21 - 10:00 am

  Great all around vehicle, never had a single problem mechanically and absolutely wonderful to drive.

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  IM IN LOVE - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By RIC - April 21 - 10:00 am

  IVE OWNED OVER 20 VEHICLES IN THE LAST DECADE AND A HALF. NEVER HAVE I HAD AS MUCH FUN AS I DO WITH THIS CAR. IT IS RESPONSIVE AND POWERFUL WITH EXCELLENT ROAD MANNERS. I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS !!

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  The best midsize suv - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By kenneth 2 - April 21 - 10:00 am

  Pleasure to drive, excellent fuel economy, toyota reliability, toyota quality,inside and out.