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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  Great little (big) car! - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Toyo789 - November 3 - 5:10 pm

  I bought the 07 CE model early this year. I commute 60 miles a day and needed something with good gas mileage. I love the plain Jane exterior, it just seems to blend in seamlessly. The interior looks nice with the two tone gray, and the cloth seats look better than average. The stereo sounds great, and the controls are super user friendly. The air is cold and the heat is hot, which is always a plus.

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  Quality vehicle - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
  By ld - November 3 - 3:46 pm

  My first car, I like it. Fun to drive, great control & handling. The quality is as good as Toyota Camry, so you can see why its resale price is so high; but it has 2 doors, so it is good for young people if you do not have too many passengers. Only have check engine light on (wire broken, fix by $35), and clock/mirror off (fix $10), so it is very reliable. Definitely recommend to young people; not expensive, quality car.

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  A Disappointing First Toyota - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Dennis B - November 3 - 2:41 pm

  We had driven Subaru Legacies for a few years and after test driving several small SUVs we bought a 2016 Toyota RAV4 LE AWD in March 2016. However after a year of driving it we have noticed the following shortcomings: • Gas mileage is not that good-sticker says 22/29 and we have never come close. We are lucky to get 25 mpg on a highway trip. • The hood is so rounded that you cannot see the front of the car and thus never know if you are far enough into a parking space and it is difficult to keep centered in your lane. • The roof is so rounded that snow falls on the seat every time you open the door. • The back window is tiny and so rounded in every direction that you cannot clean it with a squeegee. • The gas gauge is highly inaccurate-says empty when you have more than a quarter of a tank. (Both analog and digital readout) • The huge emergency brake takes up so much of the center console which is probably the reason there are so few inside storage compartments • The radio fades in and out (toyota keeps saying they can fix it, but never do) • Lots of road noise It does handle as well as the Subaru in the snow but the bottom line is that we will probably go back to Subaru very soon.

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  greatest value for the money - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Stan - November 3 - 10:20 am

  Very pleased with the handling, ride andpower. The build quality is excellent. Very good fit and finish. For a small vehicle has great power and acceleration. Engine can be a little noisy at times, and garage door opener receptacle is kind of chintzy. Headlamps could be a little brighter. Other than that, its a joy to own and drive. Id buy another one in a heartbeat.

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  TBA - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By 4RunnerCanuck - November 3 - 2:26 am

  At a mere 2200km, 4Runner had to be boosted three mornings in a row. After my first visit to the dealership, this brand new 4Runner had a defective battery replaced! Well see... The driver seat is quite uncomfortable. Hurts my back. Im six feet tall. The seat part is way too short, angles are all wrong. If there are any other defects, Im dumping this truck.

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  Good, not Great - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Mr. KWM - November 2 - 8:10 pm

  We primarily bought this car for high gas mileage/fuel conservation, but its been a disappointment in that regard: average ~22mpg (mostly city). The performance is incredible, so its clear why gas mileage is low. We also got hit with the AMT this year (2006) so we lost the entire hybrid tax credit (not Toyotas fault), which left a bad taste in our mouth. Overall, its still a very well built car and fun to drive, if not fuel thrifty.

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  All I was looking for and more! - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By WunDBar - November 2 - 3:53 pm

  Weve had our XLS since August (1700mi) and love it! Bought it at $400 under invoice. Tough decision between the Lucerne and the Avalon as Ive always bought GM, but dont regret it in the least. The Buick is nice, nearly identical feature to feature, and had a larger trunk, but the 3.8L engine and 4-spd transmission did not compare to the Toyotas 3.5hp and 5-spd in power and smoothness. 3.8L was the same setup as my 97 Bonneville, bulletproof but not as refined as one would expect in the Lucerne. The Avalon handles well, has oodles of power, is very comfortable on long trips, has plenty of room for the family, and great looks to boot. Id recommend it to anyone!

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  Love it but wish I had the V6 - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By barba311 - November 2 - 9:52 am

  Im 17 and I bought mine 3 months ago with 65,000 miles as my first car I love ALMOST everything about this car. Its in superb condition. The car is comfortable, handles well, reliable because its a Toyota, and is for the most part rattle-free which means its built well. Two things I dont like about this car are the acceleration and the MPG. Even when I accelerate and brake gradually and coast as much as possible, I never get more than 17 MPG city, as opposed to the claimed 23 MPG city. Acceleration is not great, the V6 probably delivers better but overall I am very very happy.

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  Great S.U.V. - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Tony - November 2 - 7:23 am

  The Limited 4 Runner is the best SUV of the three that I have owned.The others were a Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and GMC. Toyota is a much tighter,quieter and better handling vehicle.

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  2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Ltd. - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Tomas Corlette - November 1 - 11:13 pm

  We traded our 2005 Highlander Limited with 65,000 miles for an 08 Highlander Hybrid and went from average 21 mpg to average 26 mpg, more performance, more room and comfort. It wasnt cheap and we expect to keep it past 100,000 miles. We were not impressed that the new Limited didnt include roof rack crossbars ($200) or door side moldings($180). The rear-seat-floor battery vents must not be blocked and that removes some room when we pack the car for long trips.