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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  Toyota Camry - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Leosgirl - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I love my Camry and almost everything about it, the only thing that surprised me was that it uses much more gas then expected and costs me about $30.00 per week for gas and I do not drive a far distance weekly.

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  The best car built - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By ovillatoro - October 9 - 10:00 am

  i uesd to own a mithubithi galant and it was ok until i got in to the seat of the toyota Camry then i found out how amazing the Camry really was

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  best economy car for the buck! - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By Thomas Collins - October 9 - 8:09 am

  I had a Honda 1999 civic before this and I spent $3000. On services just to keep it right. These echos just need oil changes. More room higher off ground for flood areas better mpg quieter. You have to neglect the car to have a problem. 30mpg city. Easy to drive and park. I had a 2005 corolla and it was falling apart . Sad. I know when I walk out to my echo it is going to take me where Im going with no problems. These cars were built right. 200k miles easy. No timing belt bs. At 113k now only needs front rotors replaced. Perfect for city or long distance. I would drive it anywhere anytime year.

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  my PreRunner - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Vance - October 9 - 6:33 am

  Have only had my Tacoma for 3 months now, but have taken my family of 4 on a 2200 mile trip to Washington DC and it was fantastic!! Plenty of room for both boys in the back with the videos and games, plenty of room up front for my wife and I. The mileage was 2mpg better than the sticker both in town and on the hwy. The truck is definitely a headturner. If I could afford another one for my wife, Id do it in a heartbeat.

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  Surprisingly good ! ! - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By Hunter - October 9 - 1:11 am

  Strong points -surprisingly peppy & fuel efficient 4 cylinder wont leave you wanting to get the V6. This engine is really good. -smooth ride, much smoother than the Lincoln MKZ I had prior to this car, especially with these 18" wheels and sports suspension. Very very very smooth. The whole powertrain is smooth. -front seats are wide and the bolstering makes you feel as if the seat is giving you a nice hug. Im 64, 180 pounds and have alot of room in here. The cloth and pleather combo looks and feels great. -Barcelona red paint looks amazing and helps this popular car stand out. -smoothel shifting tranny. Weak points -transmission is so quick to shift into 3rd that it often has to downshift to make use of the power. -headlights could be Xenon or LED headlights would help. I plan on putting in either one aftermarket soon. -this car could use a high polished or machined cast aluminum wheel to help brighten it up, its rather dry looking. -BIGGEST ISSUE. THIS THING IS NOISY. Road and wind noise penetrate the cabin. Not good. Overall, not a bad choice. I know this car will provide years of trouble free motoring that wont require me to use my wallet that much.

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  Toyota has it right - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Jim - October 8 - 11:40 pm

  I have owned my Sequoia for over a year now. Other than gas mileage, which is a fundamental problem for ALL full size SUVs (my Sequoia gets 14-15 mpg - not too bad). It has an awesome look and drives like youre on a cloud. It has a very quiet ride too. We often pack 5 adults and 2 kids in the car for 2hr plus rides and it has tons of room and comfort. It is the first auto I have purchased that I have told people is the best auto I have ever owned. Other manufacturers take a lesson from Toyota... they got it right!

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  Next time not Toyota - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By No more Toyota fan - October 8 - 10:46 pm

  I am not happy with this van. Shortly after new - right out of showroom - things started falling off. On cold days the engine sounds like it is going to blow - dealer says this in normal. Cheap plastic bumpers come loose and have to put back in place. Found nuts, clips etc on the floor. Drivers seat uncomfortable on long trips. No automatic head lights. This van is less than a year old and looks and sounds like it is 5. Cheaper than Kia, Honda and Nissan and now I know why! Will Toyota run and hide again when major issues like engine failure - or after class action lawsuit scares them will they "Voluntarilly" fix problems. I have never heard a new engine sound so bad at start up.

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  Great car, except for seats - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Edward Turner - October 8 - 1:30 pm

  Love the car, except for the seat issue. Back half of seat is soft. Front half of seat is hard, as it has a flat metal piece under it. There is a lot of pressure at the transition which cuts off the blood circulation.

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  Checking in-approaching 60K - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By chuckfromli - October 8 - 1:13 pm

  Still have this van. I think Ive reviewed it on Edmunds before. It will be five years old in September 2009. It has about 58,000 miles on it now. Im very happy with it, as is my wife. Other than a couple of minor things, sensors, a window motor, things like that, it has been trouble free. Even those things were covered under warranty. I dont think weve laid out any money for repairs. We have for maintenance, of course. Still on our second set of brake pads. Had the coolant and hoses changed. Should probably spring for plugs, cap and wires soon, but it still runs fine. Toyota treats its customers very well. Van is fantastic on trips, roomy, smooth, quiet. 25-26 MPG highway, 18-19 overall

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  no spare tire what were you guys thinking - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By upset - October 8 - 10:51 am

  2016 NO SPARE TIRE - we liked our 2007 so we traded up to a 2016 without looking in the trunk - ridicules toyota - YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF LET ME SEE ONE OF YOUR EXECUTIVES WAIT 2-3+ HOURS ON THE ROADSIDE WAITING FOR ROADSIDE SERVICE !!!! or better let me see you leave your wife and children stranded in a bad district for 2-3 hours But of course we live in a perfect world and somebody would be there in minutes right! My wife got a flat because of construction 3 times good thing we had a spare!!!!!