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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  Great car! - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Liane - June 10 - 9:23 am

  I just purchased my car and have had it for a little over a week now. I LOVE it - its a zippy little car and you cant beat the gas mileage (47mpg)! Ive filled petrol 1x so far, and the pump shut off after taking about 5 gallons. When I turned the car on however, the gauge did not bump up to the 10 bar max... I find that strange.

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  Liftback Lover - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By No Regrets - June 10 - 5:06 am

  I purchased my Yaris liftback about 2 years ago, and its the first car that never gave me buyers remorse. Ive owned luxury cars, 4x4s, station wagons, sedans, and sports cars. Every one of them forced me to compromise. Im in a band, and I can fit a Marshall half-stack, 2 JBL monitor cabs, 4 guitars, a bag of cords, a change of clothes, and my girlfriend in my Yaris. Usually, five can ride comfortably. Its so good on gas, I sometimes forget which side the gas caps on. This car is the perfect blend of economy, utility, and style. Complete strangers are so fascinated by it, they strike up conversations with me in parking lots. With rising fuel costs, this car is the way to go.

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  Honeymoon Not Over For Ex-Minivan Mom! - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By Patty and Phil - June 10 - 2:56 am

  "Minivan mom" for 10 years. Wanted change but keep power, space & luxury. Own the V6 Ltd in Bluestone Metallic with the 6-disc CD & moonroof. Too bad no factory gray leather, but the cloth is very pretty and very comfortable. LOVE THE FENDER FLARES! Negotiated my heart out - eventually able to get a 2001 when the 2002s came out for about $600 over invoice.Go for it!

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  Toyota quality - 1997 Toyota Celica
  By convertman - June 10 - 2:53 am

  Very nice car (bought as previously owned, w/only 69K miles). It drives almost like new. Did change the timing belt (also the thermo/eng. belts/etc.) and Ive put about 3K miles on. So far, very reliable. Not a head-turner like the Z3/Miata, however, way more functional (bigger trunk, space to sit in the back seat) and much better reliability. It is still very fun to drive. I can see why the resale on these is so very good. They almost never break down. Even with the miles my car has on it, I can see, drive and feel how reliable a car its been. The leather interior looks/smells new, the gadgets all work. Great combo of looks, utility, performance and economy.

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  Reliable car - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Toyota Rav4 - June 9 - 10:16 am

  Very nice car. Great visibility and comfortable car to drive.

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  Beyond expectations! - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Loyal SLE-V6 lady - June 9 - 9:20 am

  I have had a hard time deciding to pass this car to my son and buy a new one. I have a lot of highway miles and believe me that with 100% on time proper maintenance - this car can last a lifetime. No leaks, the only problem is that the paint and sealant is not thick enough. Can easily chip and there are two special body "mysteries" about a dime size that turned up after the warranty ran out. However, repairable.

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  You cant have mine..... - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By erodlink - June 9 - 5:10 am

  Saw on CNN the other day, that a fellow was buying Prius and selling them for more than he paid. Well dude, you cant have mine, I love it! I traded in my Ford F350 Super Duty, because it wouldnt fit into my newly built homes garage. What a blessing!!! Of course I dont act like I am macho when the guys next to me rev their engines, but I smile everytime I gas up. Driving to my other home, 135 miles away and back, used to cost me about a hundred bucks in gas. Now I am paying about thirteen dollars.

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  2009 Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Don - June 9 - 4:20 am

  Fun car to drive with more technology than the space shuttle. Navigation system is dependable and easy to use. The car handles like a dream and is responsive to every driver command. Fuel economy appears to be very close to the stated numbers. The Camry Hybrid is truly a high tech car that will rise to the top of its class. Our primary family car is now the Camry Hybrid. We are giving up our SUV. Other than the extra room we have sacrificed we have no regrets. The Camry is a great car for young and old alike.

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  Awesome Prius c :) - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By vvj - June 8 - 11:54 pm

  I got my silver Prius c One about 3 months ago, and I am absolutely loving this car!!! Since most of my driving is in the city, Im averaging a ridiculous 57 MPG without doing anything special. I also love the look and feel of the interior - feels very premium for an entry-level car. The light gray seats (only available on the One) are super soft and comfortable (so much better than all non-leather seats on other cars). The color combination of the seats and dashboard/head unit looks amazing with the silver exterior color. There is also a surprising amount of space inside - way more than you would think looking at the cars exterior. Im also very pleased that Toyota added a touch screen, softer interior materials, and LED headlights & taillights all standard for the 2015 model - they really give the car a premium feel. Combine this with an incredible price of $18,500 ON THE ROAD, free 2 year maintenance, rock-solid Prius reliability with a tried-and-true hybrid system - and you have a car thats very hard to beat. The only reason I wouldnt recommend this car is if you do ALL of your driving on the highway - youd be better off with a Corolla or Mazda3 for the same price. But even if you do mixed city/highway, this car is still fine - I have no problem getting this car up to 80-85 MPH (slightly more road/wind noise than Corolla/Mazda3). And if you do mostly city like me, the Prius c is the halo car for congested, stop-and-go traffic areas like mine - not only for fuel efficiency, but more importantly for pollution (which can be 10 times less compared to other cars in these conditions). The bottom line: I could not have wanted a better car than my 2015 silver Prius c One :)

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  Awesome Prius c :) - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By vvj - June 8 - 11:54 pm

  I got my silver Prius c One about 3 months ago, and I am absolutely loving this car!!! Since most of my driving is in the city, Im averaging a ridiculous 57 MPG without doing anything special. I also love the look and feel of the interior - feels very premium for an entry-level car. The light gray seats (only available on the One) are super soft and comfortable (so much better than all non-leather seats on other cars). The color combination of the seats and dashboard/head unit looks amazing with the silver exterior color. There is also a surprising amount of space inside - way more than you would think looking at the cars exterior. Im also very pleased that Toyota added a touch screen, softer interior materials, and LED headlights & taillights all standard for the 2015 model - they really give the car a premium feel. Combine this with an incredible price of $18,500 ON THE ROAD, free 2 year maintenance, rock-solid Prius reliability with a tried-and-true hybrid system - and you have a car thats very hard to beat. The only reason I wouldnt recommend this car is if you do ALL of your driving on the highway - youd be better off with a Corolla or Mazda3 for the same price. But even if you do mixed city/highway, this car is still fine - I have no problem getting this car up to 80-85 MPH (slightly more road/wind noise than Corolla/Mazda3). And if you do mostly city like me, the Prius c is the halo car for congested, stop-and-go traffic areas like mine - not only for fuel efficiency, but more importantly for pollution (which can be 10 times less compared to other cars in these conditions). The bottom line: I could not have wanted a better car than my 2015 silver Prius c One :)