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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  I love this car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Car owner - September 19 - 4:30 am

  Definitely would recommend to anyone

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  Big three cant touch this! - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By ryan - September 19 - 2:13 am

  I love this truck! Dodge,Ford,and GM could not offer what I got for 0% financing. A ton of horse power. Four wheel drive. Great looks and nice ride.

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  what do I think? - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By rikkiroo - September 19 - 1:26 am

  Over all I am very satisfied with the purchase of my Corolla. There are two things that I dont like about the car. One is that it has many blind spots. The other thing is the gas mileage isnt as high as they claim it to be. At times if you are driving for long periods of time the seats can become very uncomfortable. I do like how easy it is to drive. It has a very smooth ride and is very quiet. It is small and compact but has lots of room.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned!! - 1999 Toyota Avalon
  By Happy Camper - September 18 - 4:06 pm

  Purchased used with 49000 miles, Ive had no problems except a bad O-2 sensor. Wonderful ride, exceptional interior comfort, and a great sound system. My model is the Platinum Edition that came with a few extras including perforated leather seats,custom mats, and custom wheels. Looks better than most newer versions and a whole lot better than the current model. Reeks of quality.

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  lifetime car - 2018 Toyota Highlander
  By william russell - September 18 - 2:21 pm

  second highlander i have owned. first for 15 years with no problems . now in new mexico with son. if this is as good as first it will last my lifetime

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  Best little car out there - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By echo1 - September 18 - 10:00 am

  When my boyfriend totalled my old Carolla, I had no idea what was out there, and checked just about everything. The minute I got into the Echo it was great, and has stayed great for the last 2 years. Great car for the price, great reliability, no problems, great gas mileage (and I do a lot of stop-and-go traffic), and amazing amounts of space for such a small looking car! It has moved half my apartment, and stands up to LA traffic. I would highly recommend it.

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  1997 90K Miles! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Rup - September 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought this SUV used with 88K miles on it and I just love it. Was considering a Land Rover Freelander but feel everything about this is superior. This is my first ypyota and the fit and finish, even of this used SUV is incredible. I love the height and ride perfo

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  na - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By jec - September 18 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my toyota tundra for almost 8 months now. I love it, the only critsim I have is the turning radius is way to small compared to other vehicles in this class.

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  Great Car All Around - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By SusieW - September 18 - 10:00 am

  Roomy interior, excellent cargo space, and surprising standard features such as a CD player and outside temperature gauge. I have the manual transmission, and shifting is super smooth. Quiet ride, no rattles. I bought it because the Corolla engine has consistently achieved high reliability ratings over a long period of time, but the car is also just plain fun to drive.

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  MLSmith comments - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Mark & Linda - September 18 - 10:00 am

  To date we have no second thoughts about our choice to buy the Sequoia. It has lived up to every expectation we had. We intially wanted a smaller SUV but once we were exposed to the Sequoia there really wasnt any other choice.