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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  No regrets - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Mike - November 19 - 8:56 am

  Bought my Tundra about a year ago, still love it as much as the day I drove off the lot. Smooth ride, silky V8, nice looks, good warranty, and overall solid feel to it. I test drove and rented others but they felt cheap. I rented an 04 Silverado (16K miles on it) and with the rattles, squeaks, and bumpy ride I thought it was going to fall apart. Why would the warranties on Ford & Chevy suck unless their trucks were low quality? As for Dodge 7yr/100K, youre just paying up front for the repairs. The Tundra is the best truck for the everyday person who does not haul extremely heavy loads.

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  Why drive boring cars? - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Joe in CT - November 19 - 2:06 am

  Ive owned 20+ cars, SUVs, trucks. This has to be one of my 2 favorites (together with my 911 cabriolet). As another reviewer said - you can buy fancier, much more expensive SUVs. But you cant buy one thats more fun to own, that people ask you about, that is this reliable, that can go anywhere. I bought one of the first ones in CT - Voodoo Blue - and have not had a single issue. My wife, 3 kids, dog & I all still love it just as much as new. Sure - it has a few compromises like rear visibility. Show me any great car with real personality that doesnt. And this is very practical (easy to clean, acceptable MPG, great in bad weather...) and fun to own! Now thats value!

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  Join the Hybrid Team :) I love my little prius - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By venezuelan86@hotmail.com - November 18 - 10:59 pm

  I originally wanted a Scion Tc but since I care A LOT about the environment and I really dont need a sports car, I figured why not? I LOOOOVE how the car drives. OBVIOUSLY you wont hit 65MPH in 3 seconds because its a small engine, but it drives SUPER SMOOTH/ SUPER QUIET, the seats are comfortable, the radio is awesome I LOVE XM RADIO BPM/AREA, it also comes with USB/AUX and the NAVIGATION comes in handy if you loose reception on your phone or your phone dies. The color I got was metallic grey and I LOVE IT! The car looks small from outside but yet IT HAS SO MUCH SPACE INSIDE. Great job whoever designed that car!!!! Also I like how its a hatchback because since I got the Hybrid C option 3 the backseats can fold and I can go to IKEA and buy a lot of stuff comfortably lol. You can comfortably have 4 people and 1 dog but 5 people is a tight squeeze. The car looks amazing inside, almost like you are driving a super futuristic car!!! I honestly have no complaints on my car. I LOVE IT!!! I STRONGLY RECOMMENDED you wont regret it :)

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  Join the Hybrid Team :) I love my little prius - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By venezuelan86@hotmail.com - November 18 - 10:59 pm

  I originally wanted a Scion Tc but since I care A LOT about the environment and I really dont need a sports car, I figured why not? I LOOOOVE how the car drives. OBVIOUSLY you wont hit 65MPH in 3 seconds because its a small engine, but it drives SUPER SMOOTH/ SUPER QUIET, the seats are comfortable, the radio is awesome I LOVE XM RADIO BPM/AREA, it also comes with USB/AUX and the NAVIGATION comes in handy if you loose reception on your phone or your phone dies. The color I got was metallic grey and I LOVE IT! The car looks small from outside but yet IT HAS SO MUCH SPACE INSIDE. Great job whoever designed that car!!!! Also I like how its a hatchback because since I got the Hybrid C option 3 the backseats can fold and I can go to IKEA and buy a lot of stuff comfortably lol. You can comfortably have 4 people and 1 dog but 5 people is a tight squeeze. The car looks amazing inside, almost like you are driving a super futuristic car!!! I honestly have no complaints on my car. I LOVE IT!!! I STRONGLY RECOMMENDED you wont regret it :)

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  Pretty nice car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Chris - November 18 - 7:23 pm

  So far so good. This is my first camry and so far its great. The cloth interior is great and the 4 cylinder has tons of power for such a small engine.

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  Junk - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By jeric - November 18 - 4:40 pm

  Ive had this car for about 5 months now and it is really a piece of junk. It does get very good mileage when it isnt having transmission problems at 8,000 miles. I thought Toyotas were supposed to be reliable... not the case on this one. Two transmissions later... Im trading this beast in and buying a dodge caliber next week. The Prius is what I waited months to get.. what a joke.

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  Not the new civic. - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Mr econ - November 18 - 10:15 am

  Got an incredible deal. Absent the deal, Id have gone with the civic. Got the S PLUS for about 3000$ less than the civic lx. The corolla is exactly what is expected. Nothing more, nothing less. Acceleration is horrible. Noticeable difference from my old 14 civic. Night and day from the new civic. Handling is actually very tight and smooth. The cabin is quiet. Having that extra gear (6) is nice. Makes highway travel less noisy, and obviously more efficient. Will not get up many hills in 6th, but then again neither does my automatic v6 van without downshifting. First few days of driving yielded about 35-36 mpg in mixed Hwy/city. (35lbs in tires) Definitely not pushing it yet. I find the seats comfortable, unlike some of the other reviews. I am 65". ???? Ive always driven the base model civic, so all the bells and whistles are fun to have... I guess. Im sure Ill learn to appreciate them. Only problem I have with the car is the lack of power. It is slow! Pretty sure I can beat the car on foot the first 10-20 feet!

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  Bigger Is Not Always Better - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Flavellinator - November 17 - 11:06 pm

  I looked at many new trucks and was not impressed. Sure, theyre larger, faster, and hold more things, but thats not what I needed. I didnt want the worry of fitting into a small parking space, or making a U-turn, or driving on a narrow road. I needed a truck that held four people comfortably while still being able to haul my stuff, rode well, and was dependable. So I backtracked and purchased a used Tacoma. What a great decision! Its design is outstanding; the sightlines from sitting up high are fantastic. Gas mileage is good. Its comfortable too. Not everyone wants a big truck; its a mistake that they removed this size of vehicle from the market, so get a good used one while you can.

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  It is what it isnt - 2012 Toyota 4Runner
  By urbanadventur - November 17 - 9:23 pm

  Dollar for dollar, the latest generation 4runner is the best body on frame suv ever. Obviously, this is not a car. It is not a crossover which is nothing more than a tall car in suv clothing. The 4runner eats rocks and mud for breakfast and then with one pass through the car wash rolls down main street with class and style. It is not designed to slalom like a sedan. This is intentional. The 4runner ride is exceptionally smooth and the off road capabilities and reliability are not comparable to any other vehicle in this price range. If you want nothing more than a tall car buy a Durango, Equinox, Cherokee, Explorer or even a Highlander. If you want a real suv buy a 4runner.

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  Not crazy about it. - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By srpeterson - November 17 - 10:13 am

  I like my Tundra V8 with the TRD package, but Im not crazy about it. Ride and handling are great. Ive had an irritating rumble/vibration that Toyota claims is a harmonic vibration from the exhaust and they have no fix for it. Live with it is their answer. Very disappointed with the gas mileage. From March to July 2005 I got 14 to 16 mpg. Since then I am averaging 11 to 12 mpg. This is for all round driving. I dont let the truck warm up forever before driving it so very little idling time. Getting some wind noise from somewhere around the windshield that wasnt there when I bought the truck. I have 7400 mi. on it now. Overall I think this is just a so - so vehicle.