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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  1997 Toyota Avalons - 2 of them - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By Legacy - February 19 - 6:00 am

  I liked my first Avalon so much that I bought another in 2000 and weve put 330,000 miles on the pair. Both are nicked up but they still run fine (2008). In 19 (combined) years of use Ive had only ~$3,000 in repairs (other than an accident, tires and oil changes). Cons: Weak in snow. Steerling column leak (both cars - use sealing fluid). Goes through tires too quickly. Toyotas known for quality and reliability and thats exactly what Ive experienced. In 2007 I purchased a 1986 Corolla that runs fine. I now need a 4th car and it will be a Toyota. I still feel that I made a solid purchase every time I start up one of my Avalons.

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  Sienna is nice, but Sequoia cooler - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By PSSCS - February 18 - 3:20 pm

  We bought our 2006 Sienna in May 2006 to help accommodate and transport our growing family. It seemed like the logical solution for a growing family. Minivans are comfortable, and relatively stylish, and supposed to have reasonable fuel economy, right? - but more on that later. We did the usual comparison between the Odyssey and the Sienna. We liked both, but felt that the Sienna was more refined and had a few more amenities. If the Odyssey had a telescoping steering wheel avalable in 2006, we would have bought that, but my wife found that the steering wheel was too far away at her seated driving position. Very refined. Comfortable road handling. Quiet.

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  I love this car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Toyotaboy - February 18 - 12:00 pm

  This is my 3rd Toyota, I have owned a 1987 pickup and a 1992 tercel. I looked hard at the Civic but just couldnt bring myself to leave Toyota, they have been very good to me. The new Corolla is long in coming but well worth the wait. The car looks and feels like a Lexus. This car is fun to drive and rides very well, also limited outside noise. The engine and transmission are perfectly matched to give good performance and crisp shifting. If you are in the market for a small sedan you will love this car and I highly recommend it.

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  excellent...Proud to OWN and drive! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Barbra - February 18 - 7:43 am

  This is an exceptional car, and being in Real Estate it serves all my needs and my clients comfort. Less money than the other luxury cars w/ more bells and whistles. Everyone is so impressed and knows the true "value" of a great car is hard to find. The leg room in the back is awesome, the GPS system easy to view, the a/c in the seats a real comfort, and there is only one thing I would have liked as an otion and that is the bluetooth feature... other than that I will never own another car other than the Avalon. It IS CLASS!

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  Hard to Beat (And Ive Tried) - 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By fitster - February 18 - 4:16 am

  Okay, so the front seats could be more supportive, lumbar and laterally. But this car is the smoothest, quietest vehicle Ive ever had...seamless...with a surge of torque when you want it...it truly drives like a buttery V6. I love having the drivetrain Lexus deems good enough for the $39000 ES. My 2012 got 38mpg and it was so good Im now leasing a 2013 so Im curious to see if the mileage will be exactly the same, should be. Excels in urban traffic 50-65 where you have to slow down a lot, always gets over 40mpg there. Recent trip of 1200 miles got 41mpg. Tires are great, quiet with actually good cornering grip (for a hybrid).

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  Great Car - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By David - February 18 - 2:10 am

  This is a nice little car. Looks bigger than other cars in its class. Has a pretty big trunk and is spacious under the hood. Did the first oil change and it was a breeze. Filter and drain plug are next to each other. My only complaint is the actual MPG I am getting is 30.5-32.5 hwy. Not quite the 39 hwy like Toyota advertises but still good. Great overall car, I am 63" and have adequate space, nice sound system with the 6 speaker 6 cd changer. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an economical and reliable 4dr compact car.

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  A great mid-sized vehicle - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By ET - February 17 - 10:06 pm

  We love our Prius. We have navigation which makes it great to get around unfamiliar places. The mileage isnt what the EPA stated, but it is still great, and its fun to watch what the charging system is doing. We also challenge ourselves to watch the mileage and improve the overall average. It feels good to know youre driving an environmental friendly vehicle, and its so "normal" in its styling, and has lots of room to haul things home from Home Depot.

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  Returned in 2006 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Sunshine - February 17 - 8:23 pm

  I had and still have a 1996 Rav4. My son drives it and it is still running, so when I needed a new car, I came back. The extra space is great. I would like to see more adjustments available for drivers seat and optional airbags standard equipment, but you can be sure it will still be going strong, long after its paid for. And they do have good resale value.

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  great little SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Debra K. Burke - February 17 - 9:06 am

  I bought my RAV4 in October of 2006 and have loved this car from day one. I was going to purchase the new 2007 Honda CRV, but after driving both the RAV4 & the CRV there was no comparison. The interior of the RAV4 was so more comfortable and it had a much smoother ride. I couldnt be more pleased with my purchase and would recommend this car to anyone.

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  Second Highlander! - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By wilk64 - February 17 - 6:21 am

  When the lease expired on our 2008 Highlander Sport we looked at the entire SUV market and ultimately chose to lease another Highlander on 12-15-10. We did upgrade to the Limited. Interior appearance & finish are comparable to Lexus & Acura SUVs and far superior to Kia Sorento SX. Only exterior knock is the new headlight styling, which looks like a hammerhead shark. We used our former Highlander for comfortable long road trips and look forward to using the new one with GPS and XM. While we didnt want the DVD, it came with the vehicle and our three grandchildren love it. "Lets ride in grandmas car" is a common refrain.