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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  My Bulldog - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By jake - August 10 - 5:13 pm

  Well it looks like a Bulldog sitting in the drive, just waiting to go off to work! I am very pleased and proud of the whole vehicle. Another fine Toyota! I have a few complaints though. See below.

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  Overall Im pleased with it, but..... - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Corrolla Rolla - August 10 - 2:23 pm

  The suspension on the S feels very sure-footed. The styling is surprisingly sporty. The economy is good. The engine feels solid. The car is an overall good size. Its pretty well insulated. Good sound. Great heat and AC. Feels nice to drive. nice little extras on the S. There are drawbacks though. The exterior paint is not durable at all. The brakes are a bit squishy compared to other new cars. The transmission shifts up if I brake going down hill, but the service shop claims nothing is wrong. The headliner feels hollow. Plastic clips hold interior pieces together instead of screws. Poor water drop management. You can NEVER turn your lights off in the dark...EVER

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  Awesome - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - August 10 - 1:13 pm

  Bought this car last weekend. I love the power the V6 provides. The ride is nice and smooth and the SE sport package really adds to the look of the car. I got it in black with the 17" rims and love the way it looks!

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  V8 vs. 4 CYL - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Joseph Smeltzer - August 10 - 10:00 am

  I recently traded in a 2004 Trailblazer with a V8. It was fun to drive and this small car will take getting use to. But the gas mileage is outstanding, especially when comparing to a big SUV. Although I dont have all the luxury features of an expensive vehicle, this car is real nice for me. The standard features and value make this a great car to save gas and have fun driving. It also handles way better than any SUV. It works for me. Ill just buy a cheap used pick-up truck for all my heavier needs but drive the new car to work. I compared all economy cars in this class, and nothing comes close to gas mileage, price, reliability, standard features, and looks.

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  Buy One - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By Kev - August 10 - 7:40 am

  This has been an interesting car to purchase. After a lot of research we decided on the 4dr Echo with automatic and air. I like the idea of a timing chain instead of the wimpy belt! A nice piece of car that is just as comfortable at -40 celsius as it is in hot weather conditions. It is really reliable as we live in Canada, and you can go for a very long period driving and not see another car or house. A very fuel efficient gem, and with our Canadian gas prices as high as they are, we can get our initial investment in the car, out in gas savings in 3.2 years, compared to what we had. Once you get past its unique look, the car will actually pay you in reliability and few repairs.

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  Off road v8 four wheel drive full time - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By gkitching - August 9 - 9:56 pm

  Near perfect vehicle. Used it on some tough jeep roads in colorado. Has one flaw - needs overdrive badly.

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  My first foreign - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Kimmy - August 9 - 7:10 pm

  I love the new dash, the new bed is really nice, no need to buy a bed liner. Im already getting 17 mpg city driving, it can only get better. Warms up in the matter of minutes. Cant lock my keys in it, the doors wont lock with the key in the ignition. I love it, rides really smooth. Feels like Im in a car.

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  Cant get any better than this! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Beacon - August 9 - 7:46 am

  I have had my Camry hybrid for a month now, with 2000 mi on it. I waited to submit a review to make sure of my opinion. This car is so much better than my Highlander! Whoever planned the interior of that car must have been asleep. This car on the other hand is just about perfect inside. Very well planned, very comfortable. It took me just one day to get used to the little quirks of the hybrid. When starting from a stand still there is a little vibration from the gas engine starting up. I dont even notice it now. Im consistently getting between 36 and 42 MPG without even trying. Not bad for a large luxury car. One of the best cars I have ever owned.

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  3rd great tundra - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By mcs-m - August 9 - 7:30 am

  3rd tundra, first one was an 00 sr5 reg. cab., long box 4wd. 2nd one was an 05 reg cab long box 4wd, which was used heavily this last year in Wisconsins cruddy winter. The 4wd held up fine after a beating. The new tundra rides nice (a bit more jittery than the 05, 00) but has great room inside. It was really hard to find int. wipers and cruise control in this model, looks like a ploy to have everyone buy the sr5.

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  Oh, what a feeling! - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By Greg - August 9 - 5:10 am

  This Toyota is rolling right along. I bought it with 19,000 miles as a lease turn in. I now have 203,000 miles on it and still a daily driver. NO major repairs. Just batteries, tires, water pump and timing belt. Its one thing to pay the upfront cost, but then the maintenance cost over the years is where this car shines.