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 family car ever owned! - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By blakecman - April 13 - 6:11 am

  My 2005 Toyota Highlander is great, it is easy to get 25 miles to the gallon, and it is more socially appropriate considering my kid is going to high school compared to any minivan. Has over 100,000 miles on the odo and has the same comfort as my family friends Lexus RX! Personally am going to buy the newer hybrid version due to huge numbr of miles on car.

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  Good car... but not great - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By randycareagain - April 12 - 10:53 pm

  My mom bought this car brand new and I bought it off of her in 2010. I got it from her with around 70k miles on it. The 4 cylinder is a good, gas-sipping engine but a bit underpowered. This showed when driving on hilly interstates and with the cruise control on. The sport shift was also useless with very slow response. The only real issue I had with the car is the long, heavy doors. After a while, the driver side door started to sag causing the windows not to seal all the way. Heavy rain or even a car wash would allow a bit of water to leak into the car. Those issues aside, I was very happy with the car and just traded it in recently with around 132k miles on it.

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  My New 2005 Tacoma - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By IQDHILLON2 - April 12 - 9:13 pm

  This truck Is as Tough as the original Tundra. It only gets better gas mileage. It also has a 245 horsepower Engine.It also Includes a 282 foots torque. One thing I love about my new Tacoma is its Deck Rail System, it makes carring lugage less of a hassel. To my opinion this truck rocks. It will give atleast 22miles to the gallon. Even the next tacoma will not be as appealing as this truck. I love it!

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  The perfect sized pickup - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By phil - April 12 - 8:56 pm

  I struggled driving a pickup too small to carry my kids (Mazda) and too large for me to feel lost (F-150). Then I found an 05 Tacoma - perfect! Had the most interior room of my three finalists (Colorado and Frontier). Well thought out interior with access doors and just enough room in back to carry my children on short runs (I dont recommend it for long trips). Plenty of storage and good power from the 2.7 engine while getting 21 mpg in local driving. The 4WD is great in snow. Love the flexibility of the pickup bed with movable cargo tie downs on front and side rails plus bed "D" hooks. The composite bed material looks promising - lets see how well it wears over time.

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  Great Truck - 1995 Toyota Pickup
  By David - April 12 - 8:50 pm

  I normally dont say I like my autos, but with my 95 2.4L Xtracab DX, Id have to say I love it. It has metallic dark blue paint, and all Ive ever had to do with it is regular maintenance: tires, belts, oil, muffler, and wiper blades, and after 15 years, it still runs great and feels solid. Ive had two minor accidents where they had to do some body work, but they matched up the rear quarter panels & paint, no problems. If I could drive it 15 more years, Id be happy.

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  Not too big and not too small - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By O-lily - April 12 - 5:23 pm

  The RAV4 V6 Sport has great pick up and is fun to drive. My husband and the men in his family are all over 6 feet tall. They can ride comfortably in the RAV4. The V6 has way more power than I really needed, but is useful for towing and heavy loads. The gas mileage is good. I drive on the highway and city streets a lot and get about 24-25 miles per gallon. I got more for my money horsepower and safety feature wise than I would have with the other competing brands. Plus Toyotas have a reputation for reliability.

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  After six months . . - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By DebA - April 12 - 3:36 pm

  Fun to drive, eye-catching looks, lots of zip. Really suits our needs for occasionally hauling stuff. Waiting for winter to see how it handles in snow.

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  204000 and going strong - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Ellen Kadel - April 12 - 9:28 am

  I love this car. I bought it new in November 2001 and still have it. This was purchased in Wisconsin and I had no trouble with snow and ice. I have since moved to Florida. It has been a great vehicle. The only problem I have had are with the muffler; for some reason, it needs to be replaced every two to three years, something to do with the connection to the catalytic converter. I had the headliner replaced for $106.00 in 2009. The seats, door seals, carpet, and paint are still in pretty good shape considering the age. Ive never had a more reliable car. Not looking forward to replacing it.

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  A Nice Practical Vehicle - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By gwscheil - April 12 - 8:36 am

  Actual mileage in the first three tanks is 31-36 mpg under less than ideal driving conditions. Comfortable to drive, controls are easy to use. It was easy to adjust to the center mounted instruments. Have not yet needed to fold down the rear seats for more cargo space on short trips, city errands and shopping. Better visibility than in the Matrix or Scion Xa.

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  2007 Toyota Camry LE - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Nick Patel - April 12 - 5:33 am

  I have a high opinion about Toyota because I have seeen many toyota cars running flawlesly even after 150,000 miles. I own this vehicle for more than 6 months and have driven it for 4500 miles. I love its Avalon like roomy interior and great looks. Bought it when got carried away by its looks but ultimately find it to be a poor investment. This car does not drive well in cruise control at all (eng revs up & dn). Also, seals around doors are poor, you will surely get water leaks even when you wash the car. I get 18 MPG in city and 27 on freeway. Not impressed with MPG! Telescopic steering is not great either.