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:

• 

  Awesome. Even for a teenager! - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By CJ - October 4 - 12:46 am

  I bought my 93 Camry as my first car at a 7eleven parking lot for 600$ even with 206k miles on it and some little minor things wrong with it but didnt bother me because i knew it would be worth the investment. These cars last forever and the V6 edition is very fast with a very nice pick up(it beat most of my friends brand new cars, including the 2009 Honda accord coupe) These cars in particular will last a while as long as you change the oil every 3,000 miles or so. Toyota will never be beat by any other car even by Honda. In my opinion Toyota should bring back the 92-94 camrys because it is the greatest car they ever built! My 93 Toyota Camry now has 216k miles and still runs almost perfect!

• 

  Fantastic Car - 1995 Toyota Corolla
  By dan - October 3 - 11:26 pm

  My family has owned our 1995 corolla since it was brand new. It was passed on to me and my brother when we were 18 or so, and the car has never had any significant problems. The 7AFE engine is bulletproof. 250,000 miles on this thing and it is still running perfectly.

• 

  Powerful Truck - 2015 Toyota Tundra
  By Gabriel Gabriel - October 3 - 10:08 pm

  I traded my 2010 Chevy Silverado for the 2015 Toyota Tundra after a test Drive. Superb ride over the Silverado. The only complaint is the MPG I get 14in the city and 17 on the HWY. Lots of power and comfortable ride. I just hit my 16,000 miles and I enjoyed everyone of those miles.

• 

  I may make the foreign car leap... - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By rcfk - October 3 - 10:07 pm

  Just got this little car so I can park my big ol Ford F-150 gas guzzler for a while. Was not expecting much- but it is surprisingly fun to drive. It feels much larger than its subcompact size, and the trunk is rather roomy. The check engine light was on when I got it, and like everyone else, its O2 sensors. It is by no means a sports car, but with 198,000 miles on it- there are NO rattles and it feels solid. The interior is in remarkable condition considering the age and miles. It was filthy when we got it- we gutted the interior and cleaned everything and it is very close to new looking now- proving the durability of the interior. I dont think I will regret this purchase.

• 

  Buyer beware - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Hermania - October 3 - 9:41 pm

  I bought my Camry new in 08. At 75,000 the engine blew. I took it to the dealer and they stated there is a design flaw in all Camrys in that they burn oil at a rate of 2 qts per 3000 miles. If you check your oil between changes you will discover this for yourself. It was in the dealership for 3 months and is still not running properly. Please take this advice and dont listen to the Toyota dealers. There is a serious design flaw in all Camrys. They are counting on you not checking the oil in between regular oil changes and before you realize it, blown engine. I was a big fan of the Toyota lines but now will not even consider buying one. I am not disgruntled by this experience , I just want to save others the headache of going thorough what I did. There are better choices out there. And by the way: all toyota service centers are crooked! Buyer beware.

• 

  Its my Managon.... - 2015 Toyota Sienna
  By Scott - October 3 - 4:49 am

  If you have to buy a minivan then the Sienna is for you.....Roomy and handles great. Gas mileage is ok. I love being able to fold up rear seats as the need arises. A few complaints...whoever made the navigation system has never used a Macintosh product. Navigation, voice control, and apps are seriously stupid!! Make it user friendly!! Also, be careful pulling out of parking lots or parking up next to cement sidewalks. The van is so low I have scraped the underside of the front bumper many times. Im just waiting for it to be yanked off. Side storage on the doors is poor in the front sections. The split screen Blue ray is nice EXCEPT you cant play PS4 or XBOX game systems on it due to low power access.....WTH? Sliding doors are awesome....no more dinged up doors. Handing on this sport edition is ridiculously good though.

• 

  You get what you pay for! - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By Tim - October 2 - 7:13 pm

  Its true, you get what you pay for. Every aspect of this truck is very near to perfect. Smooth, quick, quiet at hwy speeds, eye catching at every turn and just overall comfy. Be sure to test drive this truck prior to making your final purchase.

• 

  Not up to par for Toyota - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By AVERAGEJOE - October 2 - 5:43 pm

  Not a better vehicle of this type and quality for the money. Good ride. Decent mileage (21 combined). Still I have come to expect flawless engineering and performance from Toyota. This 4Runner lacks the consistant fit finish and performance of my Toyotas past (and current). The speedomoter is -7 mph off. The temperature is very hard to stabilize. Wind noise from the moon roof. The transmission heats console which is always very warm. The dash vents constantly flow hot air. Sensor broke 300 miles after warranty $265.

• 

  96 Tacoma - 1996 Toyota Tacoma
  By TNguy2001 - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Two exhaust system replacements and one catalytic converter replacement. Squeeky suspension for about 7 of the 8 years of ownership.

• 

  Most Dependable - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By Shail - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Bought at 83k year and half ago. Now has 110k with no major problems. I had to do brake job which I know at the time of purchase. Still you feel like it can go upto 200k without any problems.