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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  good little car - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Jim - April 17 - 3:36 pm

  We have 12000 miles on our 4cyl Rav and so far its pretty good.$ cyl is powerfull enough and performed well on the interstates from NY to Florida with a full load.MPG could be better,26 on the trip down is only 4 MPG better than my dad got in his new Impala V8 back in 1971,this is NOT progress.Drivers seat is WAY too hard for long distance driving,and the Window control buttn BUMP in the door,stuckin my leg the whole trip.Throttle lags badly when cold and power is needed,this is dangerous,this should be delt with immediately,I thought this problen disapeared with carburators.Goofy power up and down drivers side window,competely unnecessary.All in all the Rav is ok, I miss my GMC Sonoma 4X4.

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  Not Bad, still probably the best - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By wolfstar - April 17 - 3:03 pm

  This truck was purchased new in March of 07. It sees at least 8 miles of washboard roads daily, sometimes up to 40, in a very rural, desert environment it has performed well. The only failures have been the horn, and the radiator bolts fell out before 2300 miles. I replaced the horn with an aftermarket unit. The radiator was fixed by the dealer. When it is cold, the transmission is a little clunky till it warms up. Lots of gear noise from the transmission and rear end. The engine works fine, and has done well with 3/4 ton of stone in the bed. The stock Firestone tires stink The Speedometer/odometer is off by 4% this was remedied by replacing the sock 215/70/15 tires with 235/75/15.

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  Great Car for if You Want MPG - 2012 Toyota Prius
  By notch8 - April 17 - 12:27 pm

  I got the 2012 Prius IV after trading in my fully loaded 2005 Prius with 200,000 miles. The 2005 still drove like new and was a solid vehicle. Im a little disappointed with the 2012. It feels and sounds less well built than the 2005 and I miss the little storage areas and layout of the interior on the 2005. But I bought the Prius for good MPG and thats where it satisfies. I drive about 95% highway miles carrying about 100 pounds of cargo and Im getting actual calculated mileage just shy of 49 after 17,000 miles. My 2005 averaged just under 44 but that included several Wisconsin winters that cuts into the MPG. Overall Im satisfied. It does just fine for what I expect.

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  Godd car, so far - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Priusdriver - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Great car with lots of room. Plenty of power. Im consistently getting 50mpg combined.

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  Remain Optimistic - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Chiromedic - April 17 - 10:00 am

  1- The Vehicle is very nice; looks great, drives very nicely, and quiet for the most part. 2- I have had it for less than a month now, but do enjoy it tremendously. From weeks of research, I found out that you cant go wrong with a Toyota, only with the dealership.

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  My Jump to Toyota - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Paul Bagwell - April 17 - 5:00 am

  As a first time buyer of Totota Im very impressed with the purchase procedure from the dealership and the performance of my new Prius. From being on the waiting list to my phone call that it was my turn to make a decision I was treated with respect and honesty. One disappointment was that the Toyo Guard Protection was automatically included in the price. I dont feel for the price its worth it. My best fuel economy has been 55 mpg for a tankful of gas and the worst 42 mpg, an interstate trip @ 70-75 mph sustained, which I was delighted with.

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  LE V6 168K UPDATE - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Mike Krahn - April 17 - 12:40 am

  Purchased car 12/27/06 besides having the oil line replaced when I hit 120K and then again most recently for the three recalls which was the floor mats, oil line, gas pedal the car is still running strong. First tune up, trans serviced was done at 120K. No problems with the transmission so far. Make sure when it comes time to replace tires they are V rated. Had unknown tire dealer sell me H rated tires which he claims would be just as good, but come to find out the V rated tires are stiffer than the H rated tires which in turn when hitting pot holes damages the steel wheels.

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  Great car for the last 10 years - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Josie - April 16 - 7:53 pm

  We bought the car new and drove it for a good 10 years. The only reason we decided to let it go is were now working on our second baby and unfortunately a 2 door car will no longer fit in with our expanded family. Considering for how long weve had it we were thankful to only have to deal with routine maintenance and a few minor problems (the O2 sensor had to be replaced, the passenger viser mirror broke off after 5 years, and occasionally the driver side window motor will stick if the weather is very humid.) But the engine has been impeccable, and I joked with my husband on several occasions we should just keep the car for another 14 years so it can be our childs first car when hes 16.

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  Not sure if its worth it yet....... - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Former Ford Owner - April 16 - 3:36 pm

  Seems like a decent compact truck so far. Could use more power, a little pricy for what I got. Seems solid, though and a nice ride. I had a Ford Ranger previously (a 1991), and loved it. Could use a 3rd door on Xtra cab, Auto Tranny makes acceleration a bit sluggish at times. Who put the clock there? You cant see it from the driving position. And if you install a CD AND Cassette player, why wouldnt you provide storage for CDs as well?? Cassettes went out long ago, yet armrest has cassette storage area. Dual accessory power outlets a BIG plus! Overall, a nice ride....just not sure on the value... give me a couple of years.

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  No Worries - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By G. Brooks - April 16 - 12:40 pm

  This is a great little car for work and everyday driving. Even with a small 12 gallon gas tank it seems I can go weeks without filling it. Its fun to drive and comes with a great stereo.