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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  Overall, good vehicle - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By mar-tay - November 12 - 10:03 am

  Bought the car used in Aug. 06 with only 3,300 miles on it from a private owner. Complaints are only minor: sun visor on drivers hits the rear-view mirror every time you pull it down and put it back up, its annoying to have to readjust the mirror every time the sun is in your eyes. Other major complaint is driving position, Im 6 tall and have to have the seat pushed all the way back for leg room, when I do that, the steering wheel is too far, since it does not telescope out( corrected on 09 and newer Corollas).

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  My review - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Jim - November 12 - 4:06 am

  Great reliable fun car to drive; excellent fuel economy. Nice look on the road, but nothing special, though the S and XLS models are more sporty than my CE. But, then I dont really go for all that sporty buff that just adds weight. I prefer a nice sporty design without the buff, like the Lexus sports car. Not the most comfortable car to drive; there just seems like there is no way to adjust the seat and tilt steering for a comfortable driving position; reaching the outdated-looking sound system controls are a stretch when reclining back in the drivers seat. The steering wheel doesnt have many tilt positions. Also, the dash and center console lighting are oddly different colors.

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  I love this car! - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Lisa - November 12 - 3:33 am

  This car is outstanding! It is very comfortable, surprisingly roomy, quiet, fun to drive, acceleration is more than adequate when needed, and the gas mileage is unbelieveable. I drive 50 miles each day for work and Im averaging in the mid-50s. Dont listen to people who complain about their gas mileage. If you do not stomp on the gas pedal and drive it fairly conservatively, youll be amazed. Cold weather will affect your average. Mine dropped to about 48 to 49, but in the grand scheme of things, thats still excellent.

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  So far, so good - 2008 Toyota Matrix
  By Lee - November 11 - 11:13 pm

  I recently totalled my 02 Pathfinder and settled on the Matrix. I like the seats but the doors arm-rest does not accommodate my long arms. The vehicle was a good choice for me after considering a lot of other vehicles, it was the best overall purchase for the money.

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  2009 Corolla Sport - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Bob Morris - November 11 - 11:06 pm

  Visibility from rear side view is obstructed by adjacent front seat and head rest. Toyota should put heavier coat of paint on car, lightly bumped side of garage with open door and paint chipped off in small spot at door handle.

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  FJ Rocks - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By JP3 - November 11 - 8:26 pm

  This vehicle is tight, fun to drive, gets lots of thumbs up, and I expect to own it at least 10 years. It was much better at highway speeds than I expected.

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  2005 Camry with balky transmission - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By seaview7 - November 11 - 7:21 pm

  2005 Camry SE V6 engine. Only 36,000 miles. The electronic transmission has been awful since day one. It balks at low speeds, and hesitates and jumps, like it cant find the right gear. Dealer says there is nothing they can do to correct. Its in the computer. Gas mileage around town with the V6 engine is bad. I drive fairly slow, but only average about 16 mpg. I should have got 4 cyl. Had factory recall in 2012 for a bad camshaft pulley. Dealer claims they also found my valve covers leaking oil. Charged me $600. The only thing I like about my car is the interior room, and the solid feel. Much better than the new Camrys. The 2013 Camrys feels "cheap" and the interior is tight.

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  Love my 4Runner - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By jhlcomp - November 11 - 5:53 pm

  This is my 3rd 4Runner and we are preparing to purchase another one this month. It has good power - an absolute plus. Only downside is that it totally lacks any design/sex appeal. This is truly minor as the drive more than makes up for it. I just wish they would offer more colors and/or send the Salsa Red to south Florida. :-) I Love driving this vehicle.

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  Good and not good points - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By DonH - November 11 - 5:26 pm

  First of all the bad. Road noise on this car is excessive and the ride is not good. I wasted money by putting the premium sound system in it. Unless its parked you cant hear it very well. Ive had trucks made in the 80s that had a comparable ride. You feel and hear every bump. I see that the 2009 reviews noted similar issues. Its a car thats used by my wife and the interior carpet looks like its 5 years old. There is no reason for it except for very poor quality. The seats are not very comfortable. The good is that mechanically its a very good vehicle. Thats mainly why we bought it. Just make sure you can live with the other issues. Maybe the Limited version has better sound proofing.

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  You should want one! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By new_to_toyota - November 11 - 10:43 am

  As soon as I saw it, I loved it. Ive been test driving new vehicles for a few months now and as soon as I drove my new SE I knew it was the one I had to have. It looks awesome, turns like its on rails, has a great sound system, and is just comfortable and fun to drive. The 268 hp V6 is great coupled with the sport manual shifting on the 6 speed automatic. The braking is great. The steering is very responsive. It rides very nice, and with body kit and TRD rims gets a lot of attention. Ive been nit-picking this car since I got it and cant find anything I dont like about it. Everyone whos seen it or ridden in it loves it just as much as I do. Toyota really did a great job on this one!