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:

• 

  1995 Toyota Camry - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Christina1 - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Great car - very reliable, however ho hum to drive. Has never stranded me anywhere. With all the mileage, I have only had to replace a battery, tires (normal wear), brakes, ABS sensor light, shocks, and struts. V6 has good acceleration

• 

  Not thrilled - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Dan - June 8 - 7:53 am

  I bought the car used with 34k on it. The mpg is not good. I get 24 to 26 and I drive very conservatively. The performance otherwise is good. It is comfortable compared to my recent CR-V, but the mpg of the CR-V was better. I drive to South Carolina regularly from PA and the mileage leaves much to be desired even at a 65 speed. Looking for something better.

• 

  Toyota Corolla S - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Wood - June 8 - 4:33 am

  My Corolla is a very good looking and reliable car. It gets great gas milage (31c/h combined.) For a economy car it has a decent amount of space, and overall it gets the job done. But one major flaw is that the driver cabin is very very uncomfortable, and seats need cushioning. Im 510 (average height) and when I pull the seat back for more leg room the steering wheel is too far away, and when I push the seat forward my foot rests too high on the pedal. Ive tried every possible adjustment and nothing seems to work. More seating adjusments. (add power seats or pedals)

• 

  Great car - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Jeff - June 6 - 5:03 pm

  Wanted a 4Runner / Tundra ...but couldnt bear the horrible gas mileage. Decided on a Camry XLE V6 - but Avalon outperformed the Camry and gets better gas mileage.

• 

  Review from an actual owner at 25k miles - 2011 Toyota Tundra
  By hdsale - June 6 - 1:29 am

  Ive owned a 2011 5.7 CrewMax TRD Off-Road Tundra for 2 years. Previous trucks were GM. All trucks have their issues, the Tundra less so than previous GM trucks - at least for me. 5.7 is a super strong engine that competition cant match. Feels and drives like a 3/4 ton truck, and tows like one too. High seating position reminds me of an F250 or 2500 GM. Driving the new F150 feels like driving a car after owning the Tundra. Mileage is 15.5 in mixed driving. Short bed on CrewMax means truck can fit in a 20 foot garage (but not by much). No alignment issues here - in fact, I wont let the dealer align the truck as it drives straight as an arrow.

• 

  Fuel Economy Disappointing - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Chris - June 6 - 1:06 am

  Bought 11/2007. Traded a 07 highlander limited because wanted better mpg. Thought a 2008 highlander hybrid would be a good choice. So far not the case. We are paying much much more and getting the same mpg as the 07 highlander. A hybrid should get better than 18 mpg. Tried different octanes and so far nothing has worked. Very, very disappointed and stuck with it.

• 

  Entune sysem is garbage - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By phillymic22 - June 5 - 10:40 am

  I love the look and feel of my Toyota Highlander and it is a pleasant ride until you try to use the Entune radio system. The HD radio is awful, constantly goes in and out, the satellite radio constantly loses reception and the GPS system leaves a lot to be desired. I am so disappointed with this system, I am starting to regret paying top dollar for a limited model. I will need to replace this system to save my sanity.

• 

  A nicely equipped truck for under $20K - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By tacodan - June 5 - 2:33 am

  The 4-cyl 5-speed manual trans combo is well matched. When you get on it, the power is very impressive. I am getting a consistent 24-27.5 MPG. Handled a large 7ft sofa and a tall chest of drawers with a hitch. The area below the dash and the steering column is small for people with large feet. Cabin is a bit noisy at highway speeds when crosswinds are strong. No frt tie-down d-rings as in the rear. HUGE BOO-BOO. The truck drives like a car for comfort on long trips. All the power accessories work well and are well designed. OEM spkrs chintzy. GREAT A/C with very adjustable vents. Adjustable lumbar a great feature. Changed oil today, easy, just have a cap style filter wrench.

• 

  Smooth running... - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By hybrid09 - June 4 - 10:20 pm

  Very smooth operation and extremely quiet. Exceeds my expectations, although the ride is a bit soft, as expected for a Toyota. Well-satisfied to this point. Heve the GPS which is a useful and enjoyable option. Car has plenty of power and is well-built.

• 

  A Great Small SUV - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Eddie O - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Weve only had the vehicle a little over a month. My wife and I looked at several similar vehicles before settling on the RAV 4. My wife drives the vehicle to work daily and the RAV 4s safety and handling features were much better than the competition. Specifically, it was the only small SUV to offer stability control and traction control. We looked at the Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Ford Escape, Mistubishi Outlander, and Subaru Forester. To date fuel mileage is better than expected.