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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  Fun and Pratical - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Ran Kizama - February 9 - 11:46 pm

  I traded in my 200WHP Mazdaspeed MX-5 because I was getting out of drifting and needed and fun yet practical daily driver. The Yaris was the best car to fit the bill. Fun to drive, excellent wheel response, and great MPG made the Yaris a prime choice. While it doesnt have quite as many bells and whistles as other cars such as the Nissan Versa or Honda Fit, its not a 5-door station wagon like they are either. This 3-door compact has been nothing but fun since I got it and Ive already began throwing on a variety of TRD Performance goodies that will keep my warranty intact.

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  Very happy new Toyota owner - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Diana - February 9 - 11:40 pm

  Smooth and in control. Easy maneuvering, enjoyable very smooth steering, precise. Braking and acceleration just as great. All driver controls from the steering wheel to the easy no-reach dashboard are wonderful. Turning and cornering feels very stable, safe, and smooth. The gear shift is exactly where it should be, easy to reach, natural. Solid comfort. So easy to "crossover" from an Avalon to my Venza.

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  Im trading mine in for a Volvo! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By KxVx - February 9 - 5:53 pm

  Overall my V6 SLE has been ok, but not what I expected from a Toyota. The parts are expensive ($200 for an O2 sensor, $250 for a pair of tires, $75 for a set of spark plugs), and the 18-20 MPG that it gets is now killing me at the pump ($60 wont fill the giant tank). The A/C controls are still a hassle to use, even after two years of owning the vehicle. The doors are extremely heavy (not good if you dont lift weights), and require plenty of room to open (not good if you live in a place with tight parking!). The exterior of the car is very attractive, and unfortunately it was that and the Toyota name that sold me this car. I wish Id done some research!

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  I Love My Toyota - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By Patricia A. Campbell - February 9 - 4:40 pm

  The Highlander is really a great car. It is fun to drive, has enough horsepower, and is roomy enough for all 4 of our grandchildren. It drives well and handles quite well in all types of weather. It is so dependable! I looked at a lot of SUVs before choosing this one. No others were even tempting.

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  our first new toyota - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ed gavin - February 9 - 2:00 pm

  we are very satisfied with our purchase.this is our first toyota .we have allways had fords .we heard this would be good on gas mileage and so far it has been .i do miss my key code on the entry side .the driving is great ,it handles steady and rides quiet & the pick has a quick response ... thanks toyota ..

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  Disappointed - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Joey C. - February 9 - 10:43 am

  I bought a Toyota because Id heard good things about them. I can only hope theyre reliability exceeds build quality. At 54,000 or so miles there began a pronounced rattling under the dash. By 56000 or so miles, there were more along with rattling in the rear of the cabin. The car I traded in was a Mitsubishi Eclipse with 310688 miles. The Toyota has more rattles at 56000 miles than the Eclipse with over 310,000. I did contact Toyota about this. By how their response read, they couldnt help because my car wasnt a Certified Pre-Owned. My next vehicle WONT be a Toyota.

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  Its a beauty! - 2014 Toyota 4Runner
  By William Robert - February 8 - 10:33 pm

  Attention to detail inside and out. The KDSS is awesome and the thing drives like a sedan. The trail edition is packed with every off road gadget youll ever need for camping trips to the desert or mountains. Love the aggressive styling. I smile every time I drive it.

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  it took me over a year! - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Todd - February 8 - 10:50 am

  I wanted to write this review for anyone who is or has gone on the search for a new SUV in todays market. With gas being so inflated and a wide choice vehicles I really took my time to find what I thought would best serve my domestic and male ego needs. I test drove and could of afforded any suv out there, but the truth is that for my money and long term investment I decided to go with the 4runner limited fully loaded... and I love it. Perfect for my 3 dogs (terrier, boxer, mastiff). Get in the mountain snow, off road and in the city. decent mpg. avg.17.8.

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  So long as it doesnt rain.... - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By AndyTommo - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Truck is 1 of the better looking ones out there, the V6 was quicker off the mark than most cars, BUT there lies the problem. This truck is horrendous as soon as the conditions turn anything but completely dry. Constant wheel spins, even when Ive been doing 30mph and tried to overtake someone; go round a corner and the things rear end spins out. HORRIBLE HANDLING IN RAIN/SNOW/ICE. To the extent that last weekend exiting a highway, the rear end fishtailed, truck span 360 and rolled over. I got out luckily, it held up well (Il give it that) but it shouldnt spin & roll in the first place. Who makes a truck like this without traction or even ABS??

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  Best SUV I have owned - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By Tavy - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought a 99 4WD SR5 in 12/02. Since then almost 30k miles later, it has been trouble-free. I added fender flares, and have noticed much less road debris on the sides since I put them on. I also added acc fog lights which much improved highway visibility when I cant put high-beams on. Wish I had leather, and you cant add power seats to an SR5, so finding used leather replacements is near impossible. Only complaint is rear end slide in any light rain. As far as fun-to-drive and reliability, I love this truck and would by another.