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:

• 

  Reliable, powerful, highway cruiser - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Tony N.J. - February 10 - 5:58 am

  Bought my XLS used with 120k, now has 190k. Repairs/maintenance - alternator, new battery, AC recharge, tires, oil changes, brake pads. thats it, just wear and tear stuff! .....Nav/JBL. Love the sound system, hate the Nav. Buttons to navigate the screen is ridiculously horrible. No car is perfect but I really like this car. ....Best features are comfortable highway cruiser. Great on gas, 31 hwy. takes regular gas. Quick car with powerful smooth engine. Quiet ride. Cavernous interior space. Reclining (slightly) rear seats. Big trunk. Very reliable, not expensive to service. Precise dual/auto climate controls. Dual AC charger. The cons- thin sheet metal, non folding side mirrors, blind spot, gas door and trunk door buttons next to each other and unlit. I get gas and pop the trunk open instead of the gas door. Weak paint, no radio volume level read out. Telescopic steering wheel needs to come out more. Dash cracks, weak rear defroster, ride to soft, handles like a boat, throttle response slow, loses throttle, hesitant turning mid way around a street corner. All cars have imperfections but still a great car.

• 

  2006 Prerunner, V6, Access cab, 5A - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Lou - February 10 - 5:10 am

  Highway and in town driving produces same MPG, around 20. No problems in 8,550 miles. Nice around town truck with ample power. Not suited for long trips or in windy conditions. Draws favorable comments and has high resale value. Very well could be best mid size truck on the market.

• 

  Sweet Ride! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Solaraguy - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Anybody considering a great car to take long trips or cruising around town this is it!!! Although this car was geared for adults that didnt have to haul any kids around i.e 50yrs +, I bought it out of college and its been awesome. My car is fully loaded barring the side impact airbags and I have had no unusual issues.

• 

  Best V-6 Truck on the market - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By Nancy Pilotte - February 10 - 2:00 am

  After test driving all full-size trucks on the market found this one to be the best. Smooth quiet ride,better fit & finish than Dodge,GM or Ford. Engines are more advanced than domestics. V-6 is not fast but strong & steady no matter what the load. Interior materials & finish far superior to domestics. Avergage about 18-20 mpg. 01 models built better than 00 trucks. Sloppy assembly evident in dented radiator and mis-aligned bed. Otherwise an excellent truck.

• 

  Trouble free and economical - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By bontempinc - February 10 - 2:00 am

  My 98 Corolla was a wonderful buy. 32 mpg in town and 41 highway. I could drive it for 9 hours without tiring. Changed the oil every 3000 miles and that was it.

• 

  2000 Toyota 4Runner - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By Paul56 - February 10 - 2:00 am

  This truck has been nothing but excellent. I pull two jet skis every summer and it has enough power to take care of that. I would like a bigger engine but then my gas mileage would suffer. Currently, when I drive to Florida I get 20-21 mpg highway. Usually I get about 15-16 mpg city. I have NEVER had any mechanical problems with this 4Runner. Also, the bumber held up well when my wife backed into a pole. Oh well.

• 

  Economy triple plus! - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Joseph Haury - February 10 - 12:40 am

  I travel 300 miles to visit my son about four times a year, through mountains of NC. Best mileage is 42 mpg. Average for the trip is 40. Round town, not trips is 35 plus. Bought it new and did every recommended service. No problems ever with my check-ups.

• 

  Great car - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By metaxaide - February 9 - 11:56 pm

  Dependable with great mileage. Routinely get 30-32 around town and 39-41 mpg on highway.

• 

  The best car you can buy for the money! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Formigaman - February 9 - 6:40 pm

  Weve only had this car for a week, but we already love it! Its very comfortable and extremely economical. We went almost 100 miles before it moved from the full mark. Weve driven almost 200 miles now and still have 3/4 of a tank of gas. Handling is great, and it has a tire pressure monitoring system. Controls are laid out logically and are easy to operate. Air conditioning will put icicles on your nose! The center gauges are different and take a little time to get accustomed to, but are nice. One word of warning, it doesnt feel like youre going 70 mph, so watch your speed. Great overall car with lots of personality.

• 

  Reliable and safe! - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By Scott - February 9 - 6:26 am

  Bought our Sienna used 3 years ago, and have since driven 30K. This van has proven to be more reliable than other manufactures that our neighbors and friends have had. Other than oil changes, weve only replaced the front struts. The tire pressure light was sometimes a bother, but I figured out the reset by reading the manual. Unfortunately, my wife was in a head on collision, and its unknown if our insurance will fix it or not. However, the airbag worked, and she was back to work the next day with only minor bruises. We plan to get another Sienna if we lose this one. Average MPG was 18, but we often get 25-26 on highway trips.