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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  Camry Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By GOALLDA - July 20 - 3:10 am

  Toyota has paid attention to comfort - Quiet ride - Surprising power for a hybrid - plenty of legroom in front and back - good sound system - Interior seems to be too "plasticy" (hows that for a word?) - I feel safe driving this car - trunk space small, but one learns to live with it - I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who wants fuel economy with comfort.

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  Toyota - why buy anything else? - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Kinsey - July 19 - 4:06 pm

  We drive back and forth from city to city and this Tundra cruises like a full size sedan. You wont believe how quiet the engine is or how smooth the ride is in a double cab Tundra.

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  97 AVALON - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By Janina Deppe - July 19 - 2:13 pm

  Other than standard maintenance we have had little or no work done on this car. A few weeks ago we had our first problem (after six and a half years of owning the car) which was a rack and pinion issue and was corrected. We chose a bench instead of a bucket seat to get more seating which was important at the time of purchase but isnt a nice feature. The tan exterior and interior leather are not very attractive. I wish we opted for the wood trim and sunroof options as well. Excellent reliable car and my six foot seven cousin sat in the back seet and said it was the first time he could do that comfortably in any car!

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  Lexus of Lighter Duty Trucks - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By White Chocolate Tacoma - July 19 - 1:55 pm

  First I would like to start out by saying thank you to Steve Gomez and the staff at Gulf Coast Toyota in Angleton, TX. I traveled almost 200 miles to purchase My 2016 TRD Sport from them because they are strait up and didnt make me pay MSRP. I visited at least 5 dealerships and test drove both access and double cab models with four cylinder and six cylinder combinations (only 4x2 models). For me, the white V6 automatic TRD Sport 4x2 with a regular bed was the winner. This made the most sense in terms of my needs and value. This truck came with the V6 engine, upgraded stereo receiver (bigger screen), traction control, tow package, alloy rims, bed liner, nitrogen in the tires, day time running LEDs, push-to-start, and tint. It did not come with blindspot indicators or the side steps, but my foot is too large for the "cute" sidesteps Toyota likes to install. I put 700 miles, highway and city, on the truck in the first week and I am very pleased. I almost didnt purchase the truck after reading reviews on some industry respected sites. Particularly, the reviews regarding the transmission "having a difficult time finding a gear at higher speeds" was a major concern for me. I have not found this to be an issue. Currently, the only time I can remotely reproduce the issue is when I am purposefully erratic with the gas pedal at high speeds. Having owned 30+ cars, including a GS Lexus, I believe a slight delay in RPM re-stabilization is normal for most cars that have more than 6 automatic transmission gears. Enjoying/maintaining excellent ride and comfort requires a responsible driver and wisdom, but I digress. I will note that the aforementioned "questionable transmission" reviews were in almost all cases regarding the 4x4 models. Also, keep in mind that the RX 350 and GS350 now come with a variation of this same exact engine. I have noticed one thing. If I park the truck, open driver door, and then turn off the engine, the truck likes to make an annoying beeping sound until I close the driver door. However, if I park the truck, turn off the engine, and then open the door there isnt an annoying beeping sound. One would hope that the a 2016 truck would be equipped with the processing power to understand "yes, the door was opened prior to engine shut off, but the engine has subsequently been shut down so stop the freaking beeping". It may have been intentionally designed this way, but I am more than willing pull out the old C++ compiler if that is acceptable :-). Overall, Toyota nailed it in 2016 with the 4x2 TRD Sport. Can it get better? Yes. Will it get better? Yes. -White Chocolate Tacoma

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  Better than all the rest - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By manny - July 19 - 5:06 am

  I had my heart set on the F150. However, owning an old 94 F-150 with a multitude of problems and hearing about questionable reliability through consumer reports for all GM and Ford trucks led me to Toyota. Youre not gonna get the fancy interior. What you do get, is lots of power in the 05, awesome handling, a silky smooth auto trans, and whisper quite ride through 50 mph, with the sound slowly increasing as you pass through 70-80. I avg 14.5 mpg driving around town. Im not a leadfoot. If you slam on the gas, youre gonna get 12 mpg. I can get 16.7 mpg on the highway (75 mph). and 17.8 mpg (premium gas). The cockpit is simple but very spacious and functional. Test drive IT NOW.!

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  love it - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Teresa - July 18 - 1:33 pm

  I love my Yaris, and have taken it on a few long trips, did not notice it didnt have cruise till I took it on a trip and was disappointed it was not pointed out by dealer but love it anyway and would recommend to anyone for the economy of it.

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  Better than expected - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By MS - July 18 - 1:16 pm

  Bought 2010 5 door Yaris for the gas mileage alone given my commute, but found the car to be enjoyable overall. I can get all 3 of my kids in the back if I need too. The manual is bright and easy to shift, power even at 1500 rpm, so Im in 5th unless I am stopped or on steep hill. Nice stereo, with Ipod jack, "plasticy" interior but expected. zippy and I can park anywhere. If youre ready to save money and the environment get one. FYI Toyota does not make one without the power package so add 1k + to the price, I paid $14,200.

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  toyota - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By kevin - July 18 - 10:00 am

  this is an extremely sophisticated and fun to drive and is pretty fast for a hybrid

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  Awsome car - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Cycliste1961 - July 18 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely love this car. Low initial cost and low cost to maintain. I have lifetime oil and filter changes. I am a no fuss guy who wants a reliable car with the lowest possible fuel consumption. Great steering wheel response. Super maneuverability and great road feel. This is equivalent to the Corolla of the 80s. A car for those of us who cannot be bothered with vehicle problems.

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  Great AWD for winter, bad run-flats - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Peshimo - July 18 - 10:00 am

  Driving this van has been a joy because I understand its not supposed to be agile; its AWD for heavens sake, its safe, big, roomy and luxurious. But watch out for run flats that rip apart and malfunction with strange bumps. The first one had a bump that couldnt be repaired, $300 to replace by dealer. The 2nd, became flat, then I drove 10 miles and it ripped apart...I had to stop driving immediately and have it towed. Thank god for AAA. 3rd time, driving to NC and tire started sound bad, it was flat/dead/whatever, thats was it, I had it towed to nearest Firestone and told them to dump the run-flats and replace with regular good quality tires. Drove from PA to FL and back, with np.