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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  Love it! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Toyotagirl - March 8 - 9:13 am

  I bought my 4Runner brand-new in 1996. Granted, I dont put many miles per year on it, but I have spent NOTHING on this SUV other than routine maintenance. It provides a sure, dependable, fun driving experience every time. The vehicle was well thought-out by Toyota -- other than the beverage holders. Theyre located in front of the AC vents and have to be one of the worst designs in automotive history. If this one ever wears out, I plan to buy another Toyota SUV. Thats about the best recommendation I can think of.

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  Low Seats ! - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By Bestfortmyersrealestate.com - March 7 - 2:36 am

  Seats low making it difficult to get in and out.

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  Lacks pick-up - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Alice - March 6 - 9:30 pm

  I previously owned 2003 Camry (4- cyl.). I absolutely loved my 2003. I traded it in for the new 2009 body style. My 2009 Camry has very little pick-up. It barely gets out of its own way on Interstate! Scary!!! Also, the door storage areas and console areas are not as large as in the 2003. The 2009 Camry is somewhat disappointing. I dont necessarily dislike the car totally, but I truly miss the pick-up from the 2003 Camry.

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  Why rate the milage so high? - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Rob - March 6 - 1:00 pm

  Im not sure why everyone rates the mileage so high. This is a 1.5l 4 cyl engine that should get at least 35 mpg in mixed driving and 40-45 for highway cruising (50-55 mph). I have been very disappointed that in 50% highway driving at reasonable speeds I can only get 30 mpg when going downhill with a tailwind. Otherwise Im happy with my Toyota. Im 62" and have plenty of headroom and decent legroom. No problem loading the family of 4 (2 car seats) with all the necessary gear in the spacious trunk to head out for the weekend. The trunk is also large enough for 4 sets of golf clubs (barely), however the back seat passengers need to be less than 6 or theres complaints about the headroom.

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  96 Camry LE - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By Norm - March 6 - 11:20 am

  Im giving this car all #8 evaluations because I just bought it today. Using Edmunds price guidelines I bought a 96 Camry LE with some exterior body damage, but 4 brand new tires, battery and recent service. Engine runs smooth, transmission shifts perfectly. It passed an emissions test with no problems. Interior in good condition. Everything works perfectly-power windows, tilt steering wheel, radio, power antenna, air conditioning, heater, etc 164,000 miles. I paid $950.

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  Competent, reliable - not much flash - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By ScottR - March 6 - 10:00 am

  If you a looking for SUV-likeness and decent space with a 3rd row (for kids on short trips) the H/L does the job extremely well, in comfort and with reliability. 3rd row is more useable when second row is slid forward slightly. Exterior is reasonably handsome - a bit plain. Interior is comfortable and nicely appointed. We compared this against the Pilot and purchased because (1) better build quality, (2) better MPG, (3) better drive feel & handling, (4) serious discounts ($5,665 off MSRP).

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  Old Persons Car - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Honest One - March 6 - 10:00 am

  Toyotas top of the line sports edition with the 3.3 liter (225hp) engine needs some fine tuning. Toyota should replace the current 5 speed transmission. The trans should be propelling the car forward and not shifting from 1st to 2nd gear at 8mph. Pick-up is compromised due to the low 8mph shifting. It would be nice to keep pace with mini-vans and compact cars from stop lights. Obviously people who rave about this 5 speed transmission have never driven a real drivers car.

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  Loved this car UNTIL... LOST ALL OIL! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Terry A - March 6 - 6:16 am

  I loved my Avalon, but now have lost all confidence in its reliability. On an out of state trip an oil hose developed a pin-hole leak. There was no indicator or light alert. We still have not gotten all repairs done, but will cost min $2500!!! (of course out of warranty with approx 101,000 miles).

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  A Great, Reliable Vehicle - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By tuttman - March 6 - 5:21 am

  Purchased new in 2005. Good power and performance. Gas mileage was as listed until year 2-3. Now averaging 22-23 MPG, but not bad for an AWD. Now after almost 7 years and 69,000 miles, its never needed anything but normal maintenance. Extremely satisfied with my RAV4. Brakes lasted almost 60,000 miles w/auto transmission! Paint and interior still in almost like new condition. The only issue is an exhaust "growl" at low RPMs. Not a big deal. Road noise is a bit loud, but the stereo works great to cover that. I love this car and would highly recommend it.

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  Great gas mileage, SAD tires and noise - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By Loydetta Webb - March 5 - 5:20 am

  We really enjoy this little suv. Ours is a standard transmission. Its 4wd kicks in when you need it. Gas mileage is a plus, plus. We use ours on dirt roads as a SUV. The tire performance is very poor with only 4 plys, we continually have flat tires. The rear door noise is horrible, and could use some insulation or additional soundproofing. We recently utilized the lay down front and rear seats, for our son with a hip cast. A good buy for the dollar. We will buy a newer model in the future.