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 Little Car - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By J. Fisher - February 15 - 2:00 am

  Reminds me of my 68 VW beetle. Nimble, easy to whip around in, easy to park. Has neat auto stuff like head lites, door looks when put in dr mode, int lite fades, keyless features. One major issue that others mentioned--the steering. It wanders, requiring constant mini corrections. The svc dept of the store advised me of a tech. Svc bulletin. A new elect module had to be replaced. Corrected the problem. Why was I not notified in advance this was a known problem? The cars appearance in my opinion better than the competition. I agree w/others on the seat material being cheap and a lint problem. Ditto with the clock location. One

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  Superior Automobile - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By gmb - February 14 - 7:33 pm

  We previously owned a 96 Avalon, and were very pleased with it. This car, however, is superior in almost every way. We tested against Lexus, Infiniti M, Acura: for features, performance, fuel economy, and price this was the correct decision. This is an outstanding automobile. The styling is a bit stodgy, and the navigation system a bit cumbersome, but these minor drawbacks are more than made up for with comfort, engine response, fuel economy for the HP, and overall integrity/fit and finish. I spent ~3 years researching this choice, and we made the right one. Nice going, Toyota!

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  One Month Old Impression - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Bill - February 14 - 9:53 am

  This is a very nice car to drive. I thought the steering tended to wander a little, so you have to pay attention to the road all the time. Not a bad idea anyway! The ride is very smooth and quiet, even on the wash-board gravel road we live on. Im 62" tall and 240 lbs. The drivers seat is a little small for me, but the cabin is otherwise roomy enough for me to consider taking it on long drives. The Energy screen on the display can be distracting, so we default the display to the Consumption screen, which shows a bar graph of fuel usage in 5 minute intervals. The car is fun to drive around town while doing errands.

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  A true review of a super smooth truck - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By hillbillytrucker - February 13 - 10:56 pm

  I have owned 3 Silverados and 2 F-150s. This is my first Toyota truck. The 5.7 is as powerful as advertised and for such a large vehicle (5600+ lbs), gas mileage has averaged around 17.5. As the Toyota name would imply, the build quality and fit and finish are super. The AC is the coldest of any vehicle Ive ever owned. The Crewmax has an extraordinary amount of room for those with a family. Im 60" and can sit in back seat with seat pulled fully forward and still cannot touch the front seat with my knees. Ride quality is very good, but not quite as smooth as the new GM products. (Still a 9/10, though.) No rattles or squeaks. The six speed and the manumatic shift is silky smooth.

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  Nice car with lots of power - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Dick - February 13 - 4:50 pm

  I owned a 2003 Toyota Camry XLE V-6 which I really liked. This car exceeds the older model in many ways. The current engine is very powerful and peppy, much more so than the 2003 version. The steering has been tightened up. The car feels bigger. The Bluetooth is very useful and the sound system is good. Navigation system is ok. I am pleased with the stability control system and all the other bells and whistles. The finish seems quite good to me. I had one mechanical defect that became obvious after delivery and was fixed immediately by the dealer. The dealership gives excellent service. This is a good looking functional auto.

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  First New Toyota - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By RDM - February 13 - 2:50 pm

  We test drove the Fusion, Accord and Senata before deciding on the Camry. We had a used 93 Camry. The XLE w/3.0 is responsive and comfortable on the road - we picked it up on a Friday and went on a 600 mile trip that weekend. Avg 26 MPG - Love the Smart Key system - it does seam a bit noisy but not excessive.

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  Recommended - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Michael - February 12 - 10:53 pm

  Gob-smacked happy with this brand new truck. The power/acceleration is sensational. Averaged 16.9 mpg on a playful 230 mile rural/highway drive. Love the engine sound, gauges, silky drivetrain, and smooth ride. Interior materials could be improved, human factors improvements needed (console cover hard to reach, extending to perform a lot of nav touch-screen data entry is discomforting to my back). Leather seats are comfortable but could be softer. Side view mirrors are sensational. Auto heat/AC feature works great, tailgate assist is nice, lifetime AT fluid (not convinced yet), JBL stereo sounds good. Overall, a very quiet and refined ride for such a powerful truck. Best half-ton ever made!

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  1998 Toyota Camry - A True Workhorse - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Tony Vee - February 12 - 6:39 am

  Bought this car used in 2005 with 54K, now has 155K and still going strong! Great dependability, low maintenance, paint still shines and is very roadworthy - I would not hesitate to drive this car cross country. Aside from routine maintenance, a new radiator, and upgraded stereo system, this car is bone stock. Drives as good as the day I bought it. Recently had to take a 1K mile round trip and this car handled like a champ. Over the summer we took a family vacation to the mountains, which tend to be hard on any transmission much less one that is 17 years old and again no issues. When I purchased this car 10 years ago, I wasnt in a position to buy a new car, which certainly isnt the case today. Regardless Im holding on to the most dependable car I have ever owned, my 1998 Camry. If one day I do give in and decide to buy another car, it will be another Camry!

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  32K carefree driving miles - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By dlmoyer - February 12 - 2:00 am

  With winter driving on our new Geolander HT-S tires this SUV/car with all the safety features offered has been worth the $34K price. OEM Bridgestones were very poor in snow. High wind noise with rear windows open; but why open them? Driver side power seat great but manual front pax seat very uncomfortable for this 6 footer. Unlit interior controls a challenge at night, but then this HL just drives itself down the interstate. Very satisfied.

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  My 2nd 4Runner - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Rick Ayotte - February 12 - 2:00 am

  This is by far the best 4Runner Toyota has offered the consumer.Toyota has not left anything out with this new model, Great performance, beautiful styling, all the comforts of home and superb off road and on the pavement. After test driving the competition before buying, I am glad I decided to remain with the Toyota 4Runner.