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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  What a great car! - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By Drew from Philly - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a new 99 Cougar for this car. And, oh, what a difference. The Celica is the first manual Ive owned (not driven though). Ive had the car now for almost 2 years and loved every minute of it. Real fun to drive, handles like a go-kart. The car also looks great! Ive added the TRD groud effects package (now called the Action Package). The interior is laid out like a cockpit. 30,000 miles now and no problems what-so-ever. Im even on the original brake pads. Great car, I would highly recomend it.

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  EXCELLENT VEHICLE - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Zavic - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I am very happy with my new 2003 Highlander. I love the design, and the interior was engineered with convenience in mind. Cup holders are perfect, lots of storage area, holder for coins (very practical for tolls). Visibility in this vehicle is superb. The air conditioner is quite cold...just how I like it. It handles like a car, very smooth. The radio sounds great. I bought it for $23,300 plus tax, title, tag, and fees total $25,700. Q.O. Package with keyless entry, privacy glass, Roof Rack and Floor mats. I was able to find it in the color I wanted: Indigo!!! I love it. WAY TO GO TOYOTA!!!!!!!!!!

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  Comfy - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Alex Povolotski - February 5 - 9:46 am

  Ive test driven every mid-size family sedan on the market and Toyota Camry is my favorite. Its designed for comfort. If you like sportiness, then go buy a Porsche. Family sedans are about comfort and overall utility -- thats where Toyota excels. Silky smooth ride, very silky 6-speed auto, suspension eats up all irregularities of the road and the noise cancellation is fantastic! I could hear my watch tick when driving. Literally. Its that good! Back seat is roomier than in most competitors in its class, trunk opening is wider, build and quality is something others could adopt. What else can I say? The best car for your money.

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  Toyota Finally got it right - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By carowner - February 4 - 10:33 pm

  First off, I am a current owner of a 03 Camry, and when the 07 Camry came out I was disappointed with its transmission hesitation. It was nothing like my 03. I waited years for Toyota to fix this to add a second Camry to my fleet, but the 08 was the same and 09 wasnt promising although they fixed it slightly. When I saw the 10 Camry that had a new 6-speed tranny and new 2.5L engine, I took it for a test drive, and was sold on it. Rest assured the transmission shifts FLAWLESSLY. Smooth, and timed right. The Camry is back!

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  Why does Toyota not want to fix issues - 2013 Toyota Avalon
  By davisfm1 - February 4 - 4:41 am

  Bought a beautiful 2013 Toyota Avalon. Two weeks later noticed what appears to be defective piece on the dashboard. Toyota Corp and the dealership do not want to fix. Bought car 50 miles away from home and local dealership ask where I bought car from. The moral of this post is, dont buy car at night and make sure you love every inch when you drive it off the lot as Toyota is not really willing to stand behind any defect they may have left you with. Good product, Poor Customer support. Toyota should learn how to stand behind there product better!

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  Pleased and Proud - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By jeannette dean - February 4 - 12:03 am

  I love this vehicle because it gives me a feeling of security, its powerful, its roomy (allowing at least eight passengers comfortably and two bikes) and the design is majestic. I drove across country in it and found the gas mileage to be more than reasonable for a vehicle that size. This vehicle is loaded and every conceivable convenience has been considered.

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  Rav4 review - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By 3puttdoc - February 3 - 10:06 pm

  Went in to Toyota dealer during "Toyotathon" to look at limited edition Rav4. Was disappointed to find no V6 on lot, or at any nearby Toyota dealers. Had already decided that 4 cylinder/4 speed transmission would not do. Test drove Limited 4cyl/4spd transmission at dealers insistence and was blown away. Great pickup and gas mileage has been better than expected. Four speed is perfectly mated to engine and downshifts appropriately for steep hills. Cruises at 65mph with only 2200 RPMs. Perfect commuter vehicle for me. Car performed well in recent Virgina Blizzard/Ice storm. Waved bye bye to lots of pickups in the ditches and trees.

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  Great Truck - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By philip603 - February 3 - 11:10 am

  Most reliable truck I have owned. Real fun to drive. Have to deal with drive line bumping when stopped which I understand is common for 2006 trucks from Toyota and Ford. Not a problem in terms of performance or safety. Just an annoyance. Performs more like a car. Last year of a true midsized pickup. 2007 they went huge with Tundra. It is a great size for functionality, comfort and handling.

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  Can You Beat A Toyota? - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By B Sarlo - February 2 - 9:30 pm

  There are very few SUVs that can really match the 4Runner. The 4Runner is very reliable, and designed to perform at peak performance. Thats why I keep coming back to Toyota. Bottom line: they dont break down like some vehicles. Thats been my experience. Advice: take care of vehicle and it will take of you for a wonderful ride across America.

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  Enjoyable Ride - 2010 Toyota Sienna
  By chris - February 2 - 5:33 pm

  We recently purchased a 2010 Toyota Sienna XLE with EVP#2 after a lot of research. Not surprisingly, the other minivan we were eventually considering was the Odyssey. Both are great cars, and very comparable. After test driving both the same day, we decided that we preferred the quieter, smoother ride the Sienna offered. We dont agree that the Sienna gives an overly cushy or unresponsive ride.