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:

• 

  Went the extra mile - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By bwolfe99 - August 24 - 5:30 am

  Every imaginable gadget, great looks, great ride, it did not disappoint. Got just under 32 MPG driving to work today (25 miles in stop and go traffic). The car is great, if you could just actually order one with what you want in it, that would be big.

• 

  MPG - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By footloose - August 24 - 2:13 am

  I have been keeping careful records of my fuel consumption. My calculations have been about 3 mpg less that what the cars computer says. It may say 50.3 mpg but when I do the math I am only getting about 47 mpg.

• 

  What a great car! - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By rollcar - August 23 - 5:10 pm

  I have two kids, and this car fits my family perfectly. Cavernous? No, but plenty large for a family of four and everything that travels with it. I love the comfortable seats, the high seating position, the interior space (headroom in particular) and the incredible gas mileage. You wont find a better value in this price range, all things considered.

• 

  Its a great buy - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Kai Huang - August 23 - 9:37 am

• 

  Known problem with fuel injectors - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By Sue - August 23 - 8:50 am

  At 68K engine started missing and running rough. Took van to dealership & was told it was "bad NY gas" that clogged up the fuel injectors so we needed new ones. Took van to independent garage and they showed us a Toyota TSB concerning a design problem with the injectors and they had to be replaced. These were "special" injectors fromToyota that retailed for $150 each and we needed 6.

• 

  One of the best cars I have owned - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By H Andres - August 23 - 8:46 am

  I have owned domestic and so called foreign vehicles of all the ones I have owned this one is very reliable. I decided to purchase this SUV because, all the people I asked that owned Toyotas (some of the cars were very old, and some had over 248000 miles) couldnt say enough good things about it My family and I feel very safe and very happy to have one.

• 

  No brakes, no help from Toyota - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By A Drews - August 23 - 7:30 am

  This truck is my first Toyota lemon. The rotors warp every 3000 miles, a common problem on all Tundras now. Dont buy one used (or new). Toyota has learned well from U.S. car corporations. Stall, stall, deny. Just do a web search for " Tundra Brake Problems".

• 

  A few quirks worth the sacrifice - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By colorado - August 22 - 11:46 pm

  Ive had my Prius for 3 months now and have decided it was the right purchase for me. I do a lot of driving for work, especially over the mountains, so I have really pushed it to its limits. The Prius does great in town: mileage is over 50mpg and it out-performs most every other car on the interstate. On my drives across the Rockies on I-70 I usually get 44mpg average. The engine starts to "whine" when Ive been going straight uphill for too long and the battery has emptied. I am 59" and the car is perfectly sized for me, but my husband is 61" and its tight for him. All in all, the sacrifices are worth it for me; I LOVE the great environmental profile and the low cost at the pump!

• 

  Great Vehicle - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Dan - August 22 - 10:26 am

  This is my second 4Runner and the first Sport Edition that I have purchased. Thus far I have been very impressed with the vehicle. I am getting between highway and city 21.6 mpg so fuel economy is slightly better than advertised. The ride is smooth and the room (I am 62") is more than sufficient. The SUV handles snow very well as I live outside of Boston and handled two 10" storms very smoothly. Visibility in the car is great as well. Satisfied buyer.

• 

  Sweet ride! - 2015 Toyota Highlander
  By toyorocks55443 - August 22 - 10:22 am

  We got the 2015 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum All-Wheel Drive. Of the 14 vehicles Ive owned in my lifetime, this is the first one that we bought brand new, 0 miles. And we love it. Theres a reason why the Toyota brand (despite the recalls from 2 years ago) keeps its image positively high.