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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  Runs Like a Tank - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By Tim - October 6 - 8:20 am

  I have had my 4runner since 2002 and have taken it on several cross country trips. It now has over 130,000 miles on it and it has never let me down. I have also taken down the beaches in Mexico and I find myself pulling others out. The only thing other than routine maintenance like a timing belt was I had to replace the starter once. It performs well both on and off road and it cannot be beat for reliability. I would highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Excellent SUV - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Reeses Mom - October 6 - 6:13 am

  I have been extremely pleased with the Sequoia. I bought it for safety (for my daughter) and for its beautiful design and powerful maneuvering abilities. Mine is black with dove gray leather interior.

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  More than I expected - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Bryan Killen - October 6 - 2:10 am

  This is easily the best car Ive ever owned, I love driving it. Its got plenty of room (Im 6 1"), surprising power, and the interior is top notch. Ill never own a conventional drivetrain car again, there arent any sacrifices because of the hybrid system. Plus, it drives like a car that costs thousands more. Power is seamless due to the high tech transmission.

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  What a great truck - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By JerSr - October 5 - 9:43 pm

  This vehicle drives very well for a large truck and has a good deal of storage in the rear seat area. Towing our travel trailer is a breeze and the engine feels like it isnt working hard at all. This truck should last a long time and Toyota build quality is excellent.

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  Decent Car - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bob Whalen - October 5 - 8:20 pm

  If you want to go off road, this vehicle will do decent. Its not nearly as good as a wrangler though. It would be better but no front or middle differentials.

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  Great SUV - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Dave - October 5 - 6:06 pm

  While weve only owned our new HL for a few days, we have fallen instantly in love with it. Its a great mid- size SUV. We opted for the FWD 4-cyl for fuel economy reasons and I have a 4x4 if needed. Its very comfortable, the 4-cyl provide adequate power and fairly quiet on the road. So far, no complaints.

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  Everything you need... - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Chuck - October 5 - 5:36 pm

  This car has everything you need, and not much you dont. It is smooth, quiet, responsive, and has the little extras that make it a pleasure to drive. As with any car, you can find faults, but Toyota hit its mark integrating the elements of an expensive lexus in a reasonably priced package. Drivers will need to take a little time to learn the navigation system and make the adjustments for seats, lights, etc., but after that, its a quiet comfortable ride in a well- handling car with power when you need it.

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  I really love this car. - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By rali - October 5 - 3:36 pm

  Drove it to New Mexico from Wisconsin last winter...it behaved perfectly...nothing has ever gone wrong with it...would like better mileage but its better than the 2004 Lexus RX330 I traded in...and essentially the same car...I will keep it till new technology comes out to replace it.

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  2007 Corolla Sport Model Review - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By rob - October 5 - 6:23 am

  No major mechanical problems to report with regular 5k oil changes. Overall the car is reliable and comfortable for commuting. I think Im getting to the end of my first set of brakes and have replaced the tires with better michelins. The car starts and runs well even on cold mornings. My weekend ford ranger has a more comfortable seating and a better stock stereo but only seats two comfortably and gets at best 21mpg with 17-19mpg typical mileage for the 3 liter v6. The corollas 1.8 liter gets 32 mpg most often with up to 36 or 37mpg on long road trips. Rear seats are comfortable for kids and short people but too cramped for large adults. With light loads car has plenty of pep.

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  After 2500 miles - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By jsw - October 5 - 12:43 am

  2 months later... its taken that long to get used to the drivers seat and call it comfortable. It is particularly spirited off-the-line until 40 mpg (the electric motors torque) 40-60 is a little dicey. Once on highway, this car can get out of traffic quickly. Mileage in mixed driving is around 42 mpg. I no longer worry about the gas bladder. I go plenty of miles before fill-up for very little money!