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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  Excellent Economy Car - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By karrat - January 1 - 3:13 pm

  I had an Accord for a while, but rising gas prices ($3.50 at the time) pushed me towards a more economical car. I settled on the Yaris for the fuel efficiency and cost; I get around 37 mpg on average, mostly highway driving (35 mile commute each way to work). It is a very basic vehicle, but it suits my needs just fine. I opted for the MP3/CD player which was well worth it. The AUX jack in the center console is very useful, but the placement (right below the shifter) is a little awkward. The car looks quite small on the inside, but my friends comment on how much room there is on the inside (more than they expected, at least).

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  Best car I have ever owned or driven. - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By soundcrafter - January 1 - 2:09 pm

  With 170,000 miles and not a single problem I can say I picked a winner. It drives like a dream on its Michelin tires. I get 26-30 mpg highway. I love the rounded curved dash and display. I do hate looking at the cassette tape deck (it reminds me that I am getting older and soon will someday be obsolete). I keep wanting to replace it with something new, but other new cars cant match its ride. I test drove the 2014 Mercedes, new Avalon, Lexus, infinity, BMW... The only car I liked better than the Avalon was the Audi A8 at $65,000. I will keep this car until it literally falls apart.

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  Love It! - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Tammy - January 1 - 10:20 am

  I have been driving this car for a little over a month now and I am very pleased. I was looking for something that gets good gas mileage and this car hasnt let me down - Ive been getting 40 mpg - about double what I had been getting in my Nissan Frontier and I have a 65-mile round trip commute to work, so gas mileage is important to me. Ive owned Corollas in the past and have never been disappointed.

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  Great car - but be under 65" ! - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By JD - January 1 - 5:53 am

  This is a great car (we get about 53 MPG), but I have difficulty on trips over 3 hours - I am 64" - and do not think anyone taller than me would be comfortable.

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  Oh What a Feeling - 2007 Camry SE - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Zulf - January 1 - 2:10 am

  I finally got MY 2007 Toyota Camry SE with leather, tinted windows, side body mouldings, paint/rust/sound protection package and in Barcelona Red! The "sports" suspension really is a SPORTS suspension. The handling is amazing. The wider stance of the car is noticeable (I previously had a 2002 Toyota Camry LE). The steering is tight and response yet refined. The ride is firm but not bumpy, after all is it a Camry. Toyota has really done a great job on the suspension and it is the most impressive part of this car: the SE really is a SPORTS EDITION. The 4C is great! It is considerably more responsive than the previous 2002 2.4L engine that I had AND it has a great "growl"!

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  My Rav - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Roberta - December 31 - 11:46 pm

  This is one of the best cars that I have ever had, It is small easy to handle and roomy enough for long legs.

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  Smooth ride - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By mj23cantona - December 31 - 2:26 pm

  So far, so good, great for road trips or everyday use, its my wifes but I drive it on weekends, its better than the truck for family outings. Drives like a sedan or better, lots of room, it can be configured to accommodate any combination of passengers and load. Add adequate power and a sleek design, and you got the full package.

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  Love my Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By kpd651 - December 31 - 11:06 am

  Economical, practical, fun and, of course, reliable. Mine is the 2004 and the first of the second generation Prius. Had one computer recall and a tail-light issue done as a compliment of the Toyota dealership. I did not have any problem with either recall notice. In my opinion, this Prius is excellent, except, for two areas. It needs more seat support. It could use more thigh and lumbar adjustment(s). The one other area would be a light shield or visor type design over the center monitor.

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  Watch Before You Back Out!! - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Karl - December 31 - 7:23 am

  Our new Prius is truly outstanding in virtually all respects. However, the hatchback window design makes vehicle reversing a genuine challenge. While a standard onboard TV monitor presents an acceptable view [day or night] of the wide area behind the Prius when shifting into "R," there is no substitute for carefully scanning behind your hybrid. The rear window configuration makes such scanning difficult at best.

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  Great 4 cylinder Horsepower - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Ed - December 31 - 5:53 am

  I just traded-in my 2001 Rav4 for a new 2006. After test driving it I couldnt believe that a four cylinder would have that much power and performance. I also own a Highlander V6, the performance on the Rav4 is excellent in comparison. Also the large cargo area is almost as big as the Highlander, for the price difference the Rav4 is a steal. I have owned Toyotas over the past 20 years from 4 Runners to Avalons and the Rav4 really competes.