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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  my car I love it!!! - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By suzanne p - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. long trip, very comfortable, wish it had onstar on board but you cant have everything. Only things I have found negative with this car 1. you have a blind spot I have learned to figure it out but a little scarey at first. 2 this is minor but there is a cover for the front seat belt, floor behind the seat.I have had it replaced and again it has fell off and my back seat is not being used. If you push the front seat back it flys off.

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  Awesome - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By Hurst - October 16 - 10:00 am

  What more can I say " I Love my Toyota".

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  Highlander 2005 -- Lot of outside noise - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Smart Consumer - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Purchased a Highlander last week. The performance of the vehicle is very good, and gas mileage is better than most SUVs. The only drawback is that you will be able to hear lot of outside noise. During the test drive, turn the radio off and drive on the freeway, and you will hear the cars passing you. If its important for you to purchase a quite vehicle, then, dont purchase this SUV as you will regret it. If you decide to purchase this SUV, dont purchase the additional KARR security, as this SUV already has a chip in the key for the iginition kill. Also, after market security systems are lot cheaper than the dealer, do some price comparisons.

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  camry - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Belinda - October 16 - 10:00 am

  It is nice and soft, but it should be bigger in the inside. It is not for tall people

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  Awesome!!! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Solara6 - October 16 - 3:46 am

  I have has this car for 2 months and have 2000 miles on it and I have to say it is an excellent car!! I paid 20k for it with a power drivers seat, spoiler, and 17-inch rims (from the 06 Avolon XLS)!! The ride is smooth and quite, the interior is sporty with the "silver" trim, and the dash at night is amazing. I get definite power with the 4 cylinder, and if i want more I can drop into a lower gear for more with the electronic shift. You can keep it in manual mode all the time to get optimal power. The looks of the car are amazing, everyone has commented on the style of the car, it is HOT!!!! I wish there were more after market accessories for it though. A great buy for the price!

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  Great Pickup - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Steve - October 15 - 4:43 am

  This is probably the cheapest new vehicle you can get today. Drives great, good quality, big improvements over last truck I had from 1982!

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  Looks like a $40,000 SUV - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Detective - October 15 - 3:33 am

  The FJs ride is quiet with lots of room. The 0-40 is strong for a v6 SUV - lots of passing power. The rugged good looks will appeal to all sorts of people. Kids love it. MPG is around 20 with the automatic.

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  Excellent performance - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By artie - October 14 - 9:56 pm

  When 04 Prius came to market at first sight, I thought it might be a great car just for its look. I did more reasarch about it, I found out that the need of this car is so demanding. Since then, I have bought and sold about 6 of the 04 Prius. Drives so nice. So fun car to have at your driveway.

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  Great Car and Great Mileage - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By djludwig - October 14 - 10:46 am

  I bought the Yaris on the strength of its reliability and gas mileage. I am pleased with the quality and for the price it is a solid car. It rides better than the larger Plymouth Sundance that was my prior car. My first 2 gas stops were 42 MPG and 38.5 MPG. I think that the mileage will improve as the engine breaks in. I bought the Sea Mist Green Metallic and the color is beautiful. I will continue to buy Toyota.

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  Best full-size truck ever!!!! - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Dave - October 13 - 9:23 pm

  Words can not convey how much I love my Tundra. It is by far the best full- size pickup on the road today. Sure it cant two a house but thats not a requirement of mine. For my use, its perfect. Extremely comfortable, gets good mpg for a truck (avg 16.5 in city/hwy mix) and seats 5-6 very comfortably. Its absolutely the best. I test drove every full-size truck on the market and the Tundra bested them all when you look at everything youre getting.