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 car to drive and easy to own - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Ray - September 12 - 6:43 am

  I would recommend this car to any buyer. Its extremely reliable, handles great, comfortable ride, power to spare and is just enjoyable to drive it.

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  One helluva car - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By bangin_celica - September 12 - 1:40 am

  i bought this car needing a lot of work 10 years and 166k on her when i got her needed struts a cat. tires brakes and belts alternator and battery replaced for preventative as well but toyotas are tanks so doing all this work in my opinion made economical sense i got a good deal on it (2k less than others around here) and spent 1.7k on what it needed (battery and alternator not needed just preventative) so i got a good deal now that its fixed its a beast i put flowmaster exhaust when cat. was put on it sounds great but i dont know who neglected their maintenance on this car i wanna kick there behind (for the kids reading) bc its a great car and im babying her back 2 life lucas inoil gas tranny and kn filter

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  I love my car! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Susan - September 11 - 5:43 pm

  I have just purchased a new car. So far I have enjoyed driving it and the gas I am saving is great. I would recommend this car to everyone.

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  Best SUV By Far! - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By mos 4Runner - September 11 - 3:06 am

  This is the best SUV overall. Easy and fun to drive. Great power, reliability, and build quality. Previously owned a range rover, which was just expensive crap. This vehicle has it all.

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  Nice - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Great - September 11 - 12:36 am

  Just bought this vehicle for my wife to cart around our 2 boys and already love it. Compared to newer American vehicles we test drove, it was built much, MUCH better. I hope it gives us the longevity others say they have. We bought with 50k miles... how sad to say that this vehicle in the test drive had a better ride to it than the 09 American vehicles we test drove? GREAT resale value as well. No junk vehicle here!

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  Just what I expected - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By dave - September 9 - 8:53 pm

  The V-6 has plenty of punch and is fun to drive. It handled quite well going up mountains and negotiating winding country roads. I use to own a Lexus ES 330 and this Camry reminds me so much of that Lexus.

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  My third Camry - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By ricus - September 9 - 8:30 pm

  I have been a Camry owner now since 1992. I just bought the Hybrid about a month ago. I really love this car and I am getting right at 38MPG with only 500 miles on the car. I expect to get a bit more once it is fully broken in. The ride is a bit softer than my earlier Camrys but since I am getting older, I do not mind that the car ride a bit softer. I am still learning all that this car can do but I am continually impress on just how quiet the car is and how much better this JBL sound system is. This 2009 feels bigger than my previous models and I have to take more time to get it out of the garage. In 8 to 10 years, I will most likely buy another Camry. These are great cars for the money.

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  Johnnys Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Johnny Wirth - September 9 - 3:06 pm

  With fuel at $2.00 plus this is the only car to have. We get 52.3 mpg and even higher when we take longer trips. This car is way ahead of its time and were happy to be part of the Prius generation. The room in the back is fantastic as the back seats fold flat making for a lot of storage. The AC is great and all electric as is the power steering. Using AC motors we know the car will be in the junk yard way before those electric motors will give out. We cant wait until the Camry is out in hybrid especially if its the same set up as the Prius.

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  GetaRav - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By getarav - September 9 - 7:33 am

  This is the best vehicle Ive owned hands down. After owning Jeep, Dodge, and Ford vehicles, I opted for this Rav4 and couldnt be happier. It handles well and after careful examination of the engine components, it is clearly better built than Jeep Liberty. Plus the Rav isnt nearly as thirsty at the pump as the Liberty.

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  Best I have ever had - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Pamela Byrd - September 9 - 6:46 am

  I have been amazed by the performance of this car. We went from a Lincoln Continental to the Solara and I was a little concerned about the comfort and accceleration. We have enjoyed it and have no complaints other than the heating and cooling system. It seems like it is hard to adjust. Other than that all I can say is THANKS TOYOTA.