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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  In a class all by itself - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Rickb - August 12 - 7:20 pm

  Toyota has produced a car that provides roominess, comfort and performance. Most importantly, it does so with great gas mileage and a lowered carbon footprint. Fun to drive, flexibility of a hatchback, and loads of safety features. They hit a home run with this one!

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  great - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By 12555 - August 12 - 10:00 am

  great vehicle, great buy

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  incredible vehicle - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By dave rogers - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive. Exceeded my expectations. Rides like a lexus.

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  Beautiful - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Bwalters - August 12 - 10:00 am

  We have had such a great experiance with the purchase of this van

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  Whats not to love?? - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By No_Alias - August 12 - 10:00 am

  OK, so we only have 4000 miles so far on the van, but they have been great miles. This is our first van, so we really did our due diligence in shopping around; naturally we kept coming back to the Sienna. I am an automotive technician (ASE Undercar) so I know how reliable Toyotas are. The 2004 Sienna does not disappoint.

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  I really like this car! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By loneoak - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchased my white Toyota after its sporty and clean looks really caught my eye - It has "ground effects" package, a "wing & power sunroof. I am 55 but not ready for an "old lady " car! I had been looking for a few months and this is the first car that seriously had everything I was looking for. It is extremely roomy & comfortable,with a great solid feel, and drives & handles like a dream-- with terrific gas mileage so far. Also, a big factor is that I got it for $10,000 LESS than the other cars I was considering! I am very happy! Even though its a 4 cylinder, it still moves great, anytime I hit the gas. Love it !

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  BEST CAR - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Tammy Bacmeister - August 12 - 5:43 am

  I have enjoyed this car so much and would keep it if I wasnt having my first child. My husband even loved driving it b/c of the handling and performance.

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  Toyota has Won Me Over - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By canman1971 - August 12 - 1:36 am

  Well, its been about 6 weeks since I bought my FJ and I must say I love it. I had doubts about the blind spots at first, but moving the mirrors have helped out a lot. For the size of the car, it has good pickup and the fuel economy has been around 20 mpg to and from work.

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  The Lowest Polluting Car on the Plant - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By cwlowry01 - August 11 - 11:20 pm

  I purchased a Toyota Prius not just because it gets good gas mileage but also because it is one of the lowest polluting production cars available. My MPG varies from 39.6 to 50.1 depending on the traffic conditions and my driving practices. The 50.1 was obtained while driving a steady 60-65 mph for a distance of 1000 miles. Given its size I also find it a surprisingly comfortable car to drive over long distances. I am less tired after driving for 8-10 hours than I have been in a standard size sedan. Also, it has all the creatures comforts you could want. This is especially true of the newer Prius. One change I did make that improved the ride was to put on a set of 80,000 mile tires.

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  Old Reliable!!! - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By D. Hill - August 11 - 4:31 pm

  I bought this car in 2003 and still have it today. It had 51,000 miles when I bought it and it now has 290,000 miles. It has been in a few accidents, the body it beat up but the engine is a diamond. No noise and run perfectly. Door handles broke off, inside and out. Old Reliable still has more life let in it. Im keeping this car forever, until the wheels falls off. This car will give you your moneys worth. Low maintenance costs in the 13 years Ive had this car.