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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  Just Browsing - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By v84runner - November 15 - 9:03 pm

  Went looking for an SUV at a Chevy dealer and bought a Toyota 4runner, we were so impressed with the vehicle and I (male) love looking at it in the driveway as well as driving it. I read the reviews and say they are spot on! Paint chips easily and the front end/hood needs to be more aggressive. We have the hood scoop with a V8 and Magnaflow exhaust...sounds great, drives great. This vehicle is fun to drive, handles great, and is solid! We looked at/drove Hummer H3, Jeep Laredo, Pathfinder, but walked away with the 4runner on the spot! We never owned a Toyota before, but we are extremely glad we bought this one. Never buying an American model again, over priced!

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  Lived Up to Rep - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Steve Marsh - November 15 - 10:39 am

  Got pretty good deal on 2010 LE Toyota Corolla. Paid few hundred dollars less than average cost. Decent miles for a 2010 (75,000 miles). No significant bells and whistles, so pretty basic. Previous owners spilled bucket of pickle juice on back seat, so a repeated ordeal trying to remove smell, but just bad luck. Overall pleased.

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  First Day - Driving in downtown LA - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By la_bob - November 14 - 3:32 pm

  Day 1 - So far so good... We traded in a Suzuki XL7 for this car. Prius V not as quick, but... that is a given. The prius V rides smooth, and has fewer blind spots. Im comfortable, my kids like the way the back seats lean back. I will keep yaall posted over the next few days/weeks/months. So far Im happy :-)

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  My Camry - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Gus Clemens - November 14 - 10:00 am

  My 1997 Camry is my second Camry. I drove my first Camry for seven years, then passed it to my son who drove it three more, even after it got caught in hail storm. Transportation is transportation -- I want reliability and quality. Both my Camrys delivered. I expect my third one will do so too when I buy it in another year or two.

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  Avalon worth a look - 1996 Toyota Avalon
  By TXToyota - November 14 - 10:00 am

  This is the first Toyota Ive ever owned. Ive been very satisfied with the reliablilty and performance of the Avalon. Id buy another if the following were taken care of. The distributor/dealer network needs reworking.The distributor network adds after market accessories. The result is the 2 sticker system. The dealer network is substandard. In every case, theyve produced substandard or incomplete at dealer prices. In short, the car was purchased based on Consumer Reports testing. They were right on. You can drive it with just changing oil, air filters, and timing belts and probably drive for 200,000+ miles.

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  It is the dependable car. - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By anme - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I have it for almost a year without any problem. Driving is quite. However, the engine is kind of weak(136 hp) for 4c. So far I satisfy with it.

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  good choice for city driving - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By uncle_john - November 13 - 7:40 pm

  I took this suv in april 2012. this small suv is a good choice. I had a bad time deciding between this suv and the Honda crv. I dont regret buying a Toyota rav 4 sport 4 cylinder . but I regret spending this much and getting the expensive options . the car has its issues like the slow and weak motor. it was to weak to drive in san francisco . I had trouble climbing hills and thought the car was going to slide back down the hill. the brakes have been a problem. I had them changed in august 2015 and still they make a loud rubbing noise. the brakes dont work very good. but I have to admit the car looks cool . it has plenty of interior space for a small suv. im averaging 19.2 miles per gallon I do more city driving then highway. most driving conditions the car is fast enough even for the I 95 its good enough but needs big improvements in horse power. the radio sucks big time. the sound is low and terrible. the car is easy to drive in south florida and easy to park . baking out is not so good and has bad blind spots. I dont like the door opening from the side and lack of space problems in los angeles . I couldnt open the door all the way sometimes. the sunroof makes odd noises even when closed . the interior noise is bad and loud. it takes a while to get use to that much noise. not to comfortable on long drives because the seats are to hard. but still I recommend the rav4 because it has more pros then cons .

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  Ive underestimated it. - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By DanS - November 13 - 9:46 am

  This is the first wise vehicle I bought. I wanted: comfort, reliability, utility, style. It had 60k miles when I bought it and now it has over 155k. The only mechanical problem Ive had was a bad oxygen sensor that I suspect my K&N filter caused (spraying oil on the sensor). Right now Im searching for a "new" perfect vehicle for me. Basically, the same criteria as before, but mpg is a greater concern, because I want to make that 45mile drive to surf more often. And, after all my research Ive come to the conclusion that the perfect vehicle Im searching for is the one in my garage. It feels like itll go another 100k miles easily. Used ones are a bargain! Go get one!

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  Poor take off - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By J.F. - November 13 - 7:56 am

  I like my 2007 Camary Toyota. But there are a few things I do not like about it. (1) it has a very slow take off. It could cause some accidents. Thinking you have enough time and room to pull out, when in fact you do not. I wait rather then take chances. (2) my check engine light came on twice. First is was when I filled up the gas tank and was told that I did not tighten the cap UNTIL it clicks. 2 weeks later it happened again and they had to replace something under the hood. (3) I do not get good radio stations. There is a lot of static. (4) no automatic rear view mirror. I drove a Toyota Avalon, before I guess I got spoiled. (5) I am disappointed with the gas mileage.

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  I made the right decision!!! - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By lifeisgood76 - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I realy like this car. It was between this, the civic and the Hyundai Sonata. I chose this one because the inviting interior, the sporty look, and the whole price/package. I am enjoying this after the first week!