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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  V6 SR5 after 11,500mi. - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Jim Hamilton - January 30 - 5:00 am

  I have 11,500mi. since Feb and Av.18.6mpg city and 22mpg hwy. It is the V6 4L. I have no complaints, the best truck I have owned. I am a contractor and do 97% stop and go driving. The seats are comfortable although I would rec. paying extra for the electric drivers seat. The base model SR5 has no lumbar adjustment, my only complaint other than the rear brakes are drum and not disc. That is pretty cheap! I had the 17" wheels switched from the larger 4dr model to my base 4dr. SR5 model+$650 which look 100% better & would do again. I prefer the 4L V6 VVT to the 15-18mpg V8 gas hog. This is my 5th Toyota Truck & I have had 3 Fords, 2 GMC 3/4 ton pickups but the Tundra is my choice

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  Not Bad.... Not Bad at all - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By XRS09 - January 30 - 1:10 am

  I just got the XRS 2.4L and this thing is a sweet little car and looks great in the Dark Grey Metallic. Ive been getting great gas milage and its easy on the wallet at the pump. Its no slouch when I get on it and I feel totally comfortable with the handling and ride of the car. The JBL stereo system with XM is also a nice touch. I cant wait for the aftermarket stuff to come out for this car, hopefully TRD doesnt short change us on that. Overall I love the car so far and I hope that it keeps the Toyota reliability in good faith.

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  Traded a civic HCH - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Yup - January 29 - 10:10 pm

  Owned a Civic hybrid for 2 years, this is a better car in every way, features, function, mileage, and room.

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  Good, but not perfect. - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By W.Graff - January 29 - 5:23 pm

  Comfortable, good control layout, very smooth 4cyl. engine. Had trans. problem with rough 1/2 shift. Dealer replaced trans. Problem reappeared-traced to defective valve body & fixed. Paint on trunk rust-spotted in 6 months(repainted by dealer)! In mixed driving average 27MPG, but cant get above 30MPG highway.Car has been reliable since inital problems, however, it has developed a couple of rattles in the dash. (very un TOYOTA) PAINT CHIPS EXTREMELY EASILY!

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  So far Im pleased - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Nevets - January 29 - 4:43 pm

  While Ive only had the car for three weeks, so far it exceeds my expectations. The mileage is amazing, the seats are excellent and its comfortable for 5 as theres a lot of rear legroom, although not a great deal of rear headroom.The car has the navigation option, with smart key and has so many gadgets that I keep being amazed by what it will do.For the money, it offers a lot.

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  Confidence - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By handymanron - January 29 - 11:10 am

  Having my drivers license since the 1960s, I grew up with The Big Three, and I always liked American made cars. But when the American automakers dont or wont give you a gas sipper when you ask for it, you look elsewhere. Since 2003 I have bought two new Toyotas and this, almost one year old with only 15,000 miles. I couldnt be happier. Following recommended maintenance schedules, Ive not had one necessary repair or return to the dealership or local mechanic. Theyre well built so you can embark on any trip with a comforting sense of confidence that youll reach your destination without a mechanical failure.

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  Awesome!! - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Nick - January 29 - 8:33 am

  Great Truck!! I got the V6 w/ the 6 speed manual transmission and the sport package. It is a little smaller than a late model F-150 but it is not afraid to be a truck. I took it to San Diego for a week and got tons of looks.

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  Shes a keeper! 4 cyl, pre-run, access - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Big John - January 29 - 12:30 am

  My first Truck. Researched for 6 months. This truck has been really fun. I dont need 4WD or a V6. I wanted a truck to haul things with but also to get good highway mpg so I went with the 4cyl. The power has been fine since the engine is 2.7L, but only 20mpg. Sticker said Id get 27hwy. I really wanted the Desert Sand but most dealers only had silver. Then I found a store which ordered up the Gold for me, and the build date was 2 days after I ordered! Im 63", 250 and have a ton of room. My anti-truck friends admit they are impressed

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  112k miles - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Cris M. - January 28 - 7:50 pm

  This car is still running strong after 112 thousand miles. Ive driven it across country, to high altitudes, across tough terrain. Other than basic maintenance and one small recall (and a bit of rear end work after an encounter with a sleepy driver), the only thing we needed to have done was an adjustment to the fuel gauge, which read empty prematurely. I love this car, and plan to order another one within the year!

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  Uncomfortable but necessary - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By GoodComute - January 28 - 2:43 pm

  I replaced my 2000 Pontiac Bonneville with a 2007 Toyota Corolla LE 5 spd. The only reason we went with a small car was because of the cost of gas, otherwise we would have never done it. The 2007 Corolla is horribly uncomfortable to drive. There is no support under the front part of your thighs, and the steering wheel is too far away. It seems impossible to adjust the seat to get into a comfortable driving posting where you can actually grab the steering wheel at 10 and 2. My wife owned an 89 Toyota Corolla and it seems like it has changed little since then except gotten more uncomfortable.