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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  Nice vehicle - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By k12shorty - April 14 - 5:00 pm

  I have had my venza a month with 1500 miles put on so far. I love this car! I get 24 mpg overall and have Avg. 28 mpg highway at 70 mph I enjoy the nav system and the rear view uses the same screen and rocks. Heated seats are sweet also. No wind noise at all, slicgt tire was dampened when i installed a rubber mat in cargo area. fit and finish is nice. I would recomend this car to anyone. The v6 has plenty of pep and is reated for 3500 lbs towing.

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  Getting old, but still runs like a top - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By Susan - April 12 - 8:13 am

  I have now owned my 1994 4runner for 16 years! I am the 2nd owner, and the mileage is currently at 384,000 km (quite a few miles!). It has been completely dependable while driving in summer through all types of weather, winter in Canada, and in the mountains in the U.S. Its fantastic for taking me and my 2 goldens on camping and ski trips Its starting to need a few repairs, but it has been the best vehicle Ive ever owned by a long shot.

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  Esthers Interior departing - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By Esther Dudley - April 12 - 2:06 am

  I love my car but I am very disappointed with what is happening to my interior. I have already replaced my exterior around two of my windows. This is truly a problem with the manufacture I think. This is causing me money to fix and stress because of the way the car is looking. This is my second Toyota and I can not believe what is going on. When I went to the dealership where I purchased the car they did not show interest in fixing the car but for me to purchase. I am trying to find out if this is a recall.

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  Great car but not for Northern Climates - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By ykmichae - April 11 - 5:39 pm

  Im writing this after 8 months (7,000 km) of ownership. I live in far northern Canada. Other than the behavior of the car at extreme cold (-35C and below) and the problems I describe below with the keyless entry, Id highly recommend the car to anyone. Cant see how you can get better driving enjoyment and value at this price.

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  Perfect sporty hybrid/poor music quality - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Jen - April 11 - 3:21 am

  I love this vehicle,even from coming from a new explorer previously. Gas usage and fill up cost is amazing. I average 54.4mpg with lots of driving. I love the interior two toned leather seats. The touchscreen is easy to figure out. My kids have plenty of leg room. The engine is very quiet. The ride is very smooth. Trunk space is great. My only negative is that this vehicle comes across as a sporty hybrid but the sound system is very poor quality for it.

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  2008 Land Cruiser - 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Nancy - April 8 - 9:26 pm

  This is my 3rd Land Cruiser in 9 years. The 08 feels very heavy and solid. It is a great drive and looks great too. It feels a little truck like but overall Im happy to drive it.

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  Exceptional - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By luv67fire - April 8 - 2:00 am

  This car is perfect if you are look for a sophisticated, yet sporty vehicle that will make you feel like they put the Toyota symbol on accident and forgot the Lexus symbol... Ive drove many different Lexus and this drives and looks like a $30,000 car. My husband and I are still young and like sports cars... we actually went from a Nissan 300zx to the Solara and I must admit that I am loving the Solara much more! Since they have been out for a few years now, I would recommend finding a used SLE for a decent price. Definitely worth every penny spent!

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  Dead in Seven Days - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By R. Hauch - April 7 - 9:13 pm

  We drive this car around town mostly and average about 45 MPG. Several times a year we drive from Florida to Michigan and back. The last trip our mileage average was 48.8. When the car sets for seven days or more, without being started, the battery goes dead. Local dealer and Toyota advises this is normal. Their "fix" for this problem is having you disconnect the negative battery cable and then reconnecting it when you want to start the car. The battery is located beneath the floor in the cargo area.

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  time will tell - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By silverseqltd - April 7 - 4:00 am

  Ive got approximately 4000 miles on the truck now. The dealership replaced the water pump under warranty when I took it in for an oil change. The ride is nice but I knew that from test driving other 4x4s before the purchase. I also like the Sequoias exterior looks and overall build quality. The water pump, well, time will tell me if it lives up to Toyotas typical build quality ......

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  Great Vehicle, Good Price, Poor Stereo - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By David Williams - April 7 - 1:43 am

  I purchased my 2006 Sienna six months ago and Im very impressed with the vehicle. It has a very nice interior with and 8 full size seats. The only minivan with three full size seats in the second row. The center second row adjustable seat is great for infants in car seats. The trunk can adequately handle the luggage for eight passengers. The engine is powerful and smooth. The stereo system sounds very basic and inadequate for such and excellent vehicle. The ride is quite and smooth.