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 car for the money!!! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By bobmack - October 12 - 11:36 am

  This car rides better than a cadillac. It has more room than most living rooms. Luxury is everywhere, but the cost is very reasonable. This is a must have car for those that want toyotas reliability, great looks, and a ride to kill for. The sound system is mind blowing with 12 speakers and base to die for. Best car I have ever owned!

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  Best car I have ever owned! - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Jeff G - October 12 - 9:50 am

  I have owned a lot of cars, including two Prius, but this car is everything a car should be. First of all it is reasonably priced and of course reliability is expected to be great. One of things many dont realize is that this car has more American made parts, assembled in America and is more American combined, than any other car on the road right now. Leaving that aside I will say that the driving of this car is quite wonderful. I have the SE which has a bit tighter suspension, which makes the ride a little more firm. The 4 cylinder engine has plenty of power and combined with the six speed transmission makes driving a joy! The Entune entertainment system works and sounds great. Another great feature is the center screen on the dash that can give you (customizable) digital speedo, miles left to drive, tire pressure, odometer and other things that you can set. The ruby red pearl with 17" wheels looks awesome and so far like I said in the description, this is the best car I have ever owned!

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  Great Value - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Shana - October 12 - 9:23 am

  I recently test drove the SE V6. Im rough on my cars, I drive them hard, so when I took it for the test drive I truly worked its performance features. It has a lot of power, the engine offered smooth acceleration, it cornered smooth, but not as well as some of its wider couterparts. All and all I was pleasantly surprised with its power. I test drove several of its "brand name" counterparts, and found that this was a better quality car for the money, and was a great value. My first brand new car, and Im very happy with my decision.

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  Yaris is Impressive - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Wboytowers - October 12 - 3:13 am

  Best efficient and comfortable sedan that is a non hybrid. Very good at the pump and fun to drive. Very remarkable stability on the highway for its size. Very weird the car appears small from the outside but very roomy from the inside. Trunk space is good. Smart engineering when it come to dimensions.

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  After 60 Days of Ownership - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By sfvcamrybear - October 11 - 9:20 pm

  Ive had my 2007 Camry XLE V6 w/nav for a lil over 60 days now. WOW! Its a LOT of bang for the buck! I compared it to the 08 Accord b4 I bought and the Camry won! Camry has a 6 speed tranny over Accords 5, tip-tron style shift, (which I dig), "smartkey" system, voice command sys and touch screen to operate the nav sys. Accord has none of these features and its the same price for the top of the line. This car has been so much fun! Its fast! Holds the road nicely, looks good inside and out (get a tint), rides beautifully, is nearly silent inside and has a rockin JBL system too! If you can spend the extra $$$ get the loaded one, drive and compare, its a baby Lexus!!!

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  Best Car Ive Ever Had!!!! - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Audrey - October 11 - 10:40 am

  I have owned two Honda Accords and one Toyota Camry. And, I must say, this is the best combination of power and practicality Ive ever encountered. The acceleration is great. I have timed it on different occasions. I wont say how fast it was because no one would believe me anyway! The comfort and safety features are wonderful. And, it is awesome on gas mileage. Ive put a ton of miles on this car with minimal maintenance. It now has 223,000 miles on it. And, its still running strong. I run a small computer business out of my home and the Camry is my workhorse. It hauls a lot weight and for long distances. Im always supprised at how many iMacs I can cram into to this little Toyota!

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  Toleckias Yaris - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Toleckia - October 11 - 10:36 am

  My experience in the 2007 Yaris is great. I love my new car. It is a stylish, comfortable, and affordable vehicle. It drives smooth which makes it fun to drive. If anyone ask me how does it feel to drive a Yaris, I will tell them it feels great. I would recommend anyone who wants a car thats afordable and comfortable to buy a Yaris.

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  Best Car Weve Ever Bought! - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By great car - October 11 - 10:00 am

  My parents bought this car after I was born, and I eventually started driving it. I couldnt ask for a better first car. It always starts, has pretty good pickup for a 2.2 L and I think its more comfortable than my moms new Honda. The car has nearly 140K on it and still runs like the day we bought it. The only complaints we have are: transmission going out after warranty expired, both CV joints going out around 100K, and a seemingly faulty exhaust system. Other than those couple things, the car runs beautifully and will hopefully continue to for many years to come!

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  Because I Love My Truck! - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By MadMarv - October 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Tundra just over a month ago from a great used car dealer in Poulsbo, WA. The truck had 107K on it at delivery. It had just one previous owner who also is local and had obviously taken good care of it but enjoyed using it as well. It is a joy to drive, and I have good peace of mind that, like all other Toyotas Ive owned, itll take good care of me for hundreds of thousands of miles. I have the whole service history from the dealer, and the only part that went bad on that truck was a rear O2 sensor. Ive already tested its off-road capabilities an an orv park here and it was almost boring because of how well it did. Cmon winter!

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  Best Car Ever - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Mark - October 11 - 10:00 am

  I am one of those people that grows tired of cars after 2 years, but this one is a keeper. Bought it with 79K and now have 124K. The car looks, drives and sounds like new at 12 years old. The V-6 is one of the greatest engines ever in terms of performance and reliability. Weak points are wheels, which corrode with road salt and thin, easy-dent body panels. The best of nearly one dozen cars Ive owned.