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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  Very Pleased Prius Owner - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By VeryPleasedPriusOwne - April 27 - 11:43 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for a few months now and am extremely pleased with its performance. Average consistently 50-55mpg (city) and 55-58 (highway). A very quiet vehicle (especially at lights when the engine is off and one hears nothing), very roomy, back seats fold for extra room for storage. Love the energy consumption display, encourages efficient driving and increases awareness of better driving! The energy display also helps learn mpg over a historic period of time. The vehicle is not an especially powerful car and is no sports car, but then again, its a hybrid. The Prius is a great buy for these high gas price times!

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  Camry still living up to its reputation - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Chris - April 27 - 11:30 pm

  This is the second Camry I have owned, having previously driven a 1992 model. The Camry is built incredibly well, gets 30 mpg on the highway, and is large enough to comofrtably seat 5 people. The large trunk is also nice, and the many extra, basic features makes it great to drive. Id get the 6 cd changer, but thats my only complaint. That should tell you something.

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  Happy but can be happier - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By John - April 27 - 9:33 pm

  We have only owned for one month its much better than we thought it would be. At 62 215 I have enough head room in front seat but not the back, my wife is 53" so she is fine. Average 49mpg, happy with that. It is worth the money.

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  Over 100,000 miles and no rattles - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By NOLA lady - April 27 - 7:36 pm

  This is the most dependable vehicle Ive ever driven. When we evacuated NOLA during Hurricane Katrina, we left the vehicle parked in our driveway (we evacuated in my husbands newer model 4-Runner). Mine sat in over a foot of water for at least a week and was hit by flying debris (probably part of our roof). When I started it up three weeks later, the engine turned right over; I was one of the only people on my street who just got in the car and drove it away. Since then, weve dealt with canyon-sized NOLA pot- holes, street debris, and true off- road conditions every day. Not a problem. She has cosmetic battle scars, but not a single rattle. 113,000 miles and going strong.

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  Second Camry - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By arizonaboy - April 26 - 4:51 pm

  I loved my 1988 Camry - cried when it got totaled out at 387K miles. Bought a 1999 Toyota Camry 6cyl - 5 speed (never owned an automatic). Love this car! It now has 266K miles on it - just regular maintenance - brakes/batteries (Arizona weather kills batteries), and tires. Had the timing belt changed every 75K. The car drives great, runs smooth, and Ive never had a problem. Drove it from Phoenix to LA at 85 mph - no issues, drove from Phoenix to Vegas - no issues. Would drive this car across country! It may be a little sun faded, but still looks great and drives fantastic. I know a stick isnt for everyone, but I love it.

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  Nice Little Car - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By obsessed2 - April 26 - 3:53 am

  I bought this car for my wife on our 19th wedding anniversary and almost a year later am completely satisfied. Contrary to Edmunds review, this car has very good pickup with an automatic transmission. It offers all options including power windows, locks, and mirrors, as well as a security system that automatically locks the doors after about 30 seconds. The gas mileage is a huge plus. I average around 40 mpg during normal every day driving. The center display takes some time to get used to but after a while is no problem and actually feels well placed. 15 inch tires makes it handle extremely well. Overall, this is one nice little car when upgraded with available options.

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  The Best! - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By John - April 25 - 8:46 pm

  I have had my 08 XLE for almost a month, it has been awesome. The engine is very strong and i have no problems passing cars on the freeway. I average about 21 mpg around town and on the open road i have gotten up to 28 mpg cruising at 70 mph. The seats are very comfortable and the ride is smooth like a Lexus and quiet too. The JBL sound system is awesome and the navigation system is very easy to use and has bluetooth and satellite radio. The build quality is top notch and resale value is the best.

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  Great SUV, Terrible XM - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ToyotaMan - April 25 - 3:46 pm

  Ive had this car for 6 months now. Im averaging 27 mpg in mixed driving. I really love the way this car drives and looks. The 2nd row seats are very roomy and great design. The 3rd row that I thought I would never use, has saved the day on several occasions. I love every single thing about this car except for one. The XM radio receiver I had installed at my dealership came with a little surprise. Toyota engineers didnt think to make the radio display scroll information. It only displays 13 characters. So while Im enjoying the wide range of music, I get to play a guessing game if the name of the band or song are more than 13 letters. Huge disappointment!

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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Georgia Williamson - April 25 - 2:35 pm

  I took one test drive and knew this was the car for me. Several years ago we drove a Prius hybrid rental and liked it, but it wasnt anything special. As soon as I started driving the 2016 Prius I was enjoying the ride, even in rush hour traffic. It handled easily, provided a smooth ride, easily kept pace with traffic, both slow and fast and was quiet. I bought it that night. The gas mileage is exceeding what I was expecting for combined street and highway driving. Even my husband can drive it. He is 6 5" and the joke has always been we had to try on cars rather than picking the one we wanted, we had to take the one that he could get into whether it was comfortable or not. Even with the moon roof, his head does not bump the top of the car. I can get 3 dog kennels in the back and still have room for luggage. AND it also fits into our garage even with the full size van, freezer and storage in the front part of the garage.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Georgia Williamson - April 25 - 2:34 pm

  I took one test drive and knew this was the car for me. Several years ago we drove a Prius hybrid rental and liked it, but it wasnt anything special. As soon as I started driving the 2016 Prius I was enjoying the ride, even in rush hour traffic. It handled easily, provided a smooth ride, easily kept pace with traffic, both slow and fast and was quiet. I bought it that night. The gas mileage is exceeding what I was expecting for combined street and highway driving. Even my husband can drive it. He is 6 5" and the joke has always been we had to try on cars rather than picking the one we wanted, we had to take the one that he could get into whether it was comfortable or not. Even with the moon roof, his head does not bump the top of the car. I can get 3 dog kennels in the back and still have room for luggage. AND it also fits into our garage even with the full size van, freezer and storage in the front part of the garage.