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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  I picked a winner! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By rkg - May 1 - 2:16 pm

  Car feels a lot sportier than I expected it to -- acceleration is surprisingly peppy, handling is sure, and the tight, short-throw shifter is a joy to work with. Good fuel economy too -- 33 mpg in town, 37 on the interstate (300 miles at 70+ mph) Rear end is a bit chubby, but the front end looks nice -- I didnt buy a Toyota for its looks anyway.

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  Great Gas Saver - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Fort Washington, MD - May 1 - 11:43 am

  I purchased the Prius due to the price of gas. My husband and I commute to work in DC and we normally drive our SUV and the cost of gas is outrageous. Our Prius average 50 MPG. We have only had our Prius for 1 month, but we are very happy with our purchase. We drive our Prius a lot, not only to work and we have to gas up approx. every 8 to 10 days.

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  Must see to believe - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By MSA in Connecticut - May 1 - 5:23 am

  After hours of painful research I narrowed my choices down to the Civic and Corolla. I first test drove the Honda and was convinced that I was going to buy it. I then went to the Toyota dealership to drive the Corolla just to please my wife. The dealer only had the LE with the sunroof and 6 CD option, which bumped up the price more than what I was willing to pay. I took it out on the road and was equally impressed with this vehicle as I was with the Civic. It basically had the same pickup and handling as the Civic. Once back at the dealership the salesman worked out the numbers and we came up with a figure $400 lower than the Civic. Plus I got the options that the Civic didnt have!

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  As advertised - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By nmcintire - May 1 - 4:43 am

  I drove a 1996 Acura 3.2TL before buying the Avalon after comparing new Nissan Maxima, slightly used Acura RL 2006, slightly used Infiniti M35. What sold me was the comfortable and quiet ride and the available feature set. It didnt hurt that Toyota takes regular gas AND gets better mileage than other large cars. I dont understand the other reviewer citing difficulty with entry/exit into the car; seems like thats something one would notice prior to purchase and, if it is that significant of a problem, look elsewhere. The car rocks; great stereo, silky transmission, great power, bluetooth is easy to use, still learning navigation, but seems intuitive enough. Overall, A+

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  RAV4 rates #1 for me!!! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By C.B. - April 30 - 10:50 am

  This is my first Toyota. Let me list all the things I like about my RAV: it is easy to get into (not as tall as other SUVs), easier to see over the hood while driving, the back door swings from the side, the versatility and configurations of the back seats, the gas mileage, its pretty looks (definitely a girls car), the short radius for turning, the brakes stopping on a dime. This is all that comes to mind, although I know there must be more regarding the motor and things like that. I believe this will be my last vehicle for many years to come.

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  Dream Machine in Red - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Denise - April 30 - 10:46 am

  I love my new car. It is so beautiful. Clean lines. Wonderful music system. Very easy to drive and handling and cornering is smooth. It has plenty of pep for my style of Metro driving. Seater heaters are very nice and I use them on cold morning. There is a blind spot on the right side... I have to be careful. The moon roof is perfect but a little noisey with the rubber wind shield, but doesnt blow my hair to pieces.

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  No problems at 50k miles - 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By mikkeb - April 30 - 6:51 am

  This is my first Toyota, and I bought it new, a 2010 Trail Teams Edition. After 50K miles, I have not had to repair anything. In fact, there isnt even a rattle or squeak. I have taken it off road and it has performed well. There are negatives about the vehicle, but you should know them before you buy. The vehicle has blind spots, not because there arent enough windows to see the vehicles, it is because the vehicle is so tall, that most passenger cars are below the view of the window. Remember, this vehicle was designed for off-road, and ground clearance is important. A couple cheap convex mirrors cures this problem. The gas mileage is average for an SUV, but this is obvious too.

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  Lexus LS for less - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Richard - April 29 - 6:16 pm

  I have owned a Lexus LS and recently purchased my Avalon. If you could close your eyes while driving it would be hard to tell your were in the Avalon. My family has owned Toyotas since 1971 and some members even drive the LS460. The Avalon is the LS430 in different clothing but performs, drives and rides the same with the exception of the V8 but the Avalon offers sufficient power with the large V6. Great fit and finish and the interior is like sitting in your easy chair.

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  2006 Toyota Carolla CE Automatic - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By seesaw - April 29 - 11:53 am

  Found the Drivers seat is a bit loose on its track. It shifts back on acceleration. There is a rattling noise in the trunk when Corolla rolls over a deep pothole. Is it a loose spare tire equipment? The outside air vent blow warm air into cabin when the temperature thermostat is set to its coldest position and the outside air is so much cooler. Default CD Stereo system does not play MP3 audio files. Flimsy release latches for trunk and fuel filling lid on drivers side floor.

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  MY FIRST NEW CAR -ITS A GOOD THING - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By BRUCE D K - April 29 - 1:36 am

  Well this being my first new car I can say that I did the research and even rented the 2004 mdl.for a weekend cruise to Vegas from L.A. The rental handled and performed flawlesly as does my 05 mdl. The only dif is the 5 speed automatic upgrade from the 4 spd on the 04 mdl. This car is for the most part a pleasure to drive, city driving or freeway or Death Valley for that matter.My avg frwy mpg is 32 and I dont drive the speed limit if at all possible . No speeding tickets yet ! Los Angeles in town mpg is realisticly 24. Toyota really did this little 4 cyl.eng. very right. There is no lack of power with it loaded or not.