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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  Automatic Transmission Problems - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By ben - February 25 - 10:33 pm

  09 SR5 4x4 CC. The 09 with automatic transmission has design flaws which cause the vehicle to drop into low gear and race the engine. Not only dangerous, but maddening.

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  Nice Truck - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mateo - February 25 - 10:16 pm

  This is my first Toyota and I bought it without a test drive. I think overall it is a nice truck with a good set of extras. However, given Toyotas track record of excellent and dependable vehicles, I expected a bit more for the $$. For a new truck, there is already an annoying rattle/vibration at low RPM and it is especially noticeable when its cold. The transmission seems to hunt when it downshifts, giving the sensation that you are are driving on ice at times.

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  Good value truck - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By mike!!!!!!!! - February 25 - 6:46 pm

  I bought my 4Runner new with the sports package that includes running boards, hood scoop, bumper plate, etc. I have had no problems with it and it performs very good offroad. I highly recommend getting one with 4wd, which makes it much funner to drive.

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  Good, Economical car - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Chad - February 25 - 5:15 pm

  So far, so good. I chose this model because I didnt want to spend a bunch of money on a basic car to get me back and forth to work but wanted something with a reliable history. I wish the fuel tank was a little larger. Que Sera, Sera.

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  A Great Car to get use to Hybrids - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By JG - February 25 - 4:13 pm

  Overall, I must say this is an amazing car. I drove it almost across country, from Indiana to California, and I could not believe the milage I was getting on that small 11 gallon tank. I was driving with a Lexus RX 470 (the SUV) and we were filling up about the same time and it has 2x the tank size. The only draw back wa sin the mountains you battery is drained really fast and the engine cant handle the steep climbs by itself, but the Brake (B) feature on the gear shift was awesome. Instead of using my brakes alot, I just kicked that on and crused down the other side of the mountain. I also, discovered that if you want to see good mileage, rethink your driving habits, no fast starts.

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  What a car! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Hybrid07 - February 25 - 12:20 pm

  This car is amazing! I vow to buy Toyota hybrids for the rest of my life! Its pretty powerful, very safe, and beautiful, and of course GREAT on gas! There is plenty of rear space, and front space as well, and lots of cubby holes to stash your stuff. The stereo is pretty good. I can go on and on, but I wont because everything I have to say is positive! GO BUY THIS CAR! And today the Brake Assist System prevented me from getting into an accident! Was blinded by the sun, and almost went through an red light, but the brakes just clamped and the car stopped on a dime, honestly! I never stopped in such a short distance with any other car! YAA!

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  Love Love Relationship - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By patientmantra72 - February 25 - 7:00 am

  My Tacoma is an all around awsome truck. After driving a huge Chevy Tahoe for years, mileage is definitely much better with the tacoma, and its 4x abilities are awesome. Very solid truck right off the lot.

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  Fun to drive - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By chinodeb - February 25 - 6:00 am

  This is our 4th purchase of a brand new Toyota. First time to purchase the Corolla. It has more power than the 6 cyl. Camry we had. We purchased the car site unseen. The Corolla is fun to drive but I would not recommend it for long distance driving unless you want to stop every few hours and walk around. Toyota has come a long way over the last 18 years. They just keep improving and they get better and better.

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  Highlander Hybrid - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By bill631 - February 25 - 2:46 am

  This SUV provides a smooth yet powerful drive, even much to my surprise in the mountains of Colorado, which accounts for a least 50% of my driving. No problems whatsoever after over 11,000 miles of driving in all kinds of weather. The AWD seems better than any previous AWD vehicles Ive own in the difficult winter weather driving conditions of Summit County Colorado.

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  Dont lose it! - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Biggles - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I luv my Sequoia. A real head turner. The seats are great for the children and grandchildren. but BEWARE! I lost the DVD controller and tried some universal ones (all under $10) but none worked, so I had to buy the Toyota DVD controller and, get this .... $133 for a 4x3 inch piece of plastic. Rip off.