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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  Loving my Toyota - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By lovemytoyota - November 4 - 5:40 pm

  I love everything about my RAV4 I bought it in Feb. I find myself driving for no reason these days just to be in my car. I got the barcellonic red so when I am out I notice people looking at my RAV. It is also roomy and comfy my backseats are even bigger then that of a friends grand cherokee.

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  Peaceful, fun, quiet - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By stan - November 4 - 2:33 pm

  I was surprised at how peaceful it is to walk up to the car without having to fumble around for a key, and just having to push a button to start the car (no engine noise at startup and at low speed), and the CVT avoids having to deal with feeling the gears shifting.

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  TRD Off Road Package #2 (OG) - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jim - November 4 - 8:36 am

  I have only had this truck a week and have 700 miles on it. It was pretty hard to get a 4X4 down here in Southern California. I had been searching about a month. When FINALLY a white one with the TRD Off Road package #2 (OG) hit ONE dealership. I took it up to Big Bear yesterday to check out the low range gearing and to try out the magic "Locker Button" (the rear differential lock). All went well and I am pretty happy with the truck so far. I figure mileage will improve some when the truck has a few thousand more miles on it. Its closer to 17 than 20 mpg. I am glad I waited for the white paint, I feel it looks better than the silver that they seem to be pumping out of the factory.

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  We love it! - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By Satisfied Buyer - November 4 - 1:16 am

  Our family of four plus pets have been very fond of this car. We have had no breakdown with it, no troubles except for the third row seat release, which doesnt always work as easily as it should to remove and replace the third row seats. Otherwise, the car has been quiet and comfortable to drive, mechanically reliable, and a joy on long trips. Its hard to understand how one reviewer in this column has gotten such a lemon.

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  Not Just for Kids - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By deb - November 4 - 1:03 am

  Have had my Yaris for 9 months and so far all is well! Its great on gas mileage, averaging 30+ and thats with lots of short trips in town. Cute styling, comfy interior even for my 6 foot 200 pound son, and decent room for back seat passengers. Trunk is huge, too. Im 51 years old and previously drove a 1991 Toyota pickup which was EXTREMELY reliable. Had to stop driving it due to arthritis (had to give up the manual transmission, dang it!). If this little Yaris cutie is half as good as my Toy truck Ill be a happy camper!

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  Excellent vehicle - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By tundyguy - November 3 - 8:36 pm

  Excellent vehicle, extreme reliability is what Toyota is known for and the 04 Rav4 does not disappoint. 109,000 miles so far and the vehicle is just as sturdy and tight as the day I brought it home with 12 miles on the odo. I changed the Fan belt at , 52,000 and the brakes at 100,000 miles and thats it , still has the factory headlight bulbs, Toyotas durability really shines through in these vehicles. Its amazing, no rattles and little noises etc. after 109.000 miles. The seats have just been broken in , feel a lot more comfy now than when they were new. The styling is all Toyota, laid back and not flashy.

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  Quality vehicle - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By ld - November 3 - 3:46 pm

  My first car, I like it. Fun to drive, great control & handling. The quality is as good as Toyota Camry, so you can see why its resale price is so high; but it has 2 doors, so it is good for young people if you do not have too many passengers. Only have check engine light on (wire broken, fix by $35), and clock/mirror off (fix $10), so it is very reliable. Definitely recommend to young people; not expensive, quality car.

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  greatest value for the money - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Stan - November 3 - 10:20 am

  Very pleased with the handling, ride andpower. The build quality is excellent. Very good fit and finish. For a small vehicle has great power and acceleration. Engine can be a little noisy at times, and garage door opener receptacle is kind of chintzy. Headlamps could be a little brighter. Other than that, its a joy to own and drive. Id buy another one in a heartbeat.

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  Good, not Great - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Mr. KWM - November 2 - 8:10 pm

  We primarily bought this car for high gas mileage/fuel conservation, but its been a disappointment in that regard: average ~22mpg (mostly city). The performance is incredible, so its clear why gas mileage is low. We also got hit with the AMT this year (2006) so we lost the entire hybrid tax credit (not Toyotas fault), which left a bad taste in our mouth. Overall, its still a very well built car and fun to drive, if not fuel thrifty.

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  All I was looking for and more! - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By WunDBar - November 2 - 3:53 pm

  Weve had our XLS since August (1700mi) and love it! Bought it at $400 under invoice. Tough decision between the Lucerne and the Avalon as Ive always bought GM, but dont regret it in the least. The Buick is nice, nearly identical feature to feature, and had a larger trunk, but the 3.8L engine and 4-spd transmission did not compare to the Toyotas 3.5hp and 5-spd in power and smoothness. 3.8L was the same setup as my 97 Bonneville, bulletproof but not as refined as one would expect in the Lucerne. The Avalon handles well, has oodles of power, is very comfortable on long trips, has plenty of room for the family, and great looks to boot. Id recommend it to anyone!