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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  Best thing ever purchased - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By brittany - July 26 - 6:56 pm

  This car is my first new car and it is a blast to drive. I love the smooth turn and the way the road floats beneath the car. I go everywhere in this car from quick errands to the night out with the girls.

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  Love my Priuss - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By rubber2road - July 26 - 3:58 pm

  At age 56 I have come to appreciate the practical things in life much more. No more do I require a vehicle that does 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds. I much more appreciate value for my $1. My 2007 Prius was my first purchase of a Toyota and I had to convince my wife of the new purchase as she didnt like the looks of the car. But after driving it and seeing all the features it had, she suddenly changed her thinking and hopped on board. That was 8 years, 174,00 miles ago. Though we bought a new 2014 Prius in July 2014, we are finding it hard to part with our 07. It runs great, has the original battery and will chirp the tires during hard acceleration from a stop, something the 14 wont do.

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  I love it, and not just the mileage - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By LO CO2 - July 26 - 3:16 am

  What a great car. I recently took a ~300 mile trip. Got 43 mpg one way and 41 coming back. The car drives extremely well, and is amazingly quiet.

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  Great Therapy - 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By SpyderMan51 - July 26 - 3:13 am

  This car is fun to drive, it handles superbly, and people cannot help but comment on its excellent looks. I would not recommend it for a commuter car because it has limited space and it has a stiff ride. It is a shame that Toyota no longer produces this vehicle but I am glad that they did not market it heavily either. You dont see them at every stop light. You cannot help but smile while driving this car on a beautiful day.

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  2001 4Runner is Solid SUV - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By hdk26819 - July 25 - 8:50 pm

  We purchased the 4Runner as we started a family. We wanted an SUV to hold the family and also to go off-road for camping. Given the limited gas milage of SUVs, we wanted a 4Runner as one of the better gas milage vehicles. It has run solidly for almost five years now. We bought it "Certified Pre-Owned" via a dealership. Other than normal maintenance, we have had no repair issues on the vehicle. We used the 24-hour roadside assistance twice for tire changes. The 4-wheel drive is not a common use item for us; however it has been a blessing in Oklahoma ice storms and in some camping conditions.

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  8 1/2 Years and Goin Strong - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By TruckLuvr - July 25 - 7:16 pm

  I had lusted a red Toyota 4x4 Xtracab since I was in college, and my wife and I could finally afford to buy this one new TRD off the lot. Weve taken into the most inhospitable places in the Colorado high country, moved out of two houses with it, landscaped innumerable lots with it, and added kids to the mix in between all the rest. Its been flawless overall, and we still love it dearly after 8 1/2 years. Given, the interior is small for a child seat and two 510 and over adults. Yes, there are a few rattles, it gets < 20 mpg, and rides like a buckboard wagon. But, its a go-anywhere truck that always works. Weve never regretted buying it, even once.

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  Nice Clunker Update - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By CT Venza Owner - July 25 - 2:20 pm

  Taking advantage of Cash for Clunkers, I traded in my Nissan Xterra and Toyota Camry Hybrid. I liked the Venza because it was similar to the Camry and I knew that I would have a short learning curve for Navigation, etc. The seats are quite comfortable and the Navigation has nice voice-controlled update from the Camry. Love the 20" wheels and the AWD. Obviously, mileage is less than the Hybrid, but for the V6, it is not bad. Still breaking in the engine and trying not to go over 55 mph on highway, but sometimes, I get carried away. Smooth engine and lots of power.

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  The worst driving position - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Gnep - July 25 - 12:32 pm

  Good fuel economy on highway. Round trip from San Jose to San Diego at ~70 mph, gets ~37 mpg. At ~60 mph, mpg gets even better. Just average fuel economy in city. ~23.5 mpg. Much reduced body roll than previous model, now takes corners confidently. Doesnt float on highway, as previous model did. Acceleration from stop is not fast but acceptable. Adequate acceleration on highway. Con: First thing I noticed was distorted reflection in rear mirror. Made me dizzy. Luckily dealer could replace a rear mirror, its reflection was still distorted but less noticeable. Where is Toyota Quality Control? I have driven Camry, Altima, Mazda 3, Forte, Fusion, Focus, Sonata, Sentra, Elantra, & Accent. The 2016 Corolla LE has the worst front seat, virtually no lower back support. Third day into driving this car gave me back ache. I had to stuff a small pillow behind my back. Previous model does not have this problem. Cost cutting, thinner seat? The steering wheel is off-center, more towards the right. My left hand needs to reach further. After long hour of driving, your body posture becomes asymmetric. Just plain poor ergonomics. The steering wheels hard plastic cuts into the joints of my fingers. The center consoles hard plastic cut into the side of my right knee. I have since taped a soft pad there as cushion. After the San Jose - San Diego round trip, its roof started rattling. It was just one month of driving. Where is Toyotas reliability?

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  Great Vehicule - 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Marco - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Very reliable truck. Great off road. Fun to drive and unique design. Awesome truck in winter. Good power.

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  Still Loving It - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By gary from IL - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Bought this SUV new in 2001. Traded in a 4 Runner. Now have nearly 100M miles. We have had no mechanical problems of any kind. Great Vacation Car. Great Car for hauling kids stuff to college. The highway comfort and ride is the best I have experienced in any vehicle. It is large for hauling stuff but there is no bouncing or truck like handling. No rust, no rattles, steering and brakes still solid after nearly 10 years. We dont drive off road, but the Sequoia is great in the snow here in Chicago. Good speed and acceleration for highway passing. Mileage is superb for a vehicle this size. Better than our Acura MDX and friends Explorer.