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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  The real smart car - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Havana - August 20 - 10:26 am

  This is a smart car to own. Relatively inexpensive to buy (unlike Prius), cheap to operate & maintain, and high resale value. Whenever I see the car from the outside, I think its so small but inside, theres so much room for both front seat passengers. My wife didnt even want to look at one. After a test drive, she liked it more than the Fit or Versa. After 4 weeks and 1500 miles, Im averaging 37 mpg, that includes some 80+mph freeway driving and steep mountain driving. The power is very adequate. The quality and resale are better than a Versa. The price was significantly lower than a Fit. The Korean makes are in this price range but arent even in this league when it comes to resale.

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  2006 Matrix 5spd - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By shartman - August 20 - 4:53 am

  I truly expected more out of this 18,000 dollar vehicle. It is very roomy, good on gas and is a pretty color. That is about all I can say. I have had no major problems with it. The stereo sounds terrible. And the hydraulics that open the hatch dont work well. I have to push it up. I really expected more out of this Toyota. I also have to mention it runs like a car that is 6 or 8 years old. It idles very hard and rough for only having like 11,000 miles on it. Not what I expected!

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  Toyota are cowards - 2013 Toyota Tacoma
  By Michael Boucher - August 19 - 11:40 pm

  This vehicle Ive owned for 2 years. It has automatic accelerated twice. Toyota refuses to deal with the issue, blaming the weather tech floor liners. Which come no where near the gas pedal. The truck should not continue to accelerate while you have both feet on the brake mashing it to the floor.

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  Comes Up Short On Fuel Economy - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By no - August 19 - 8:40 pm

  I had a 2006 Prius prior to this Prius. No major complaints with either one except for reduced MPG on the 2009 Touring. I averaged 44 MPG on the 2006 but only get about 41 MPG on the 2009.I live in a small "city"(10,000 people) and my in-city MPG is approximately 38.5 MPG. I make up the difference on my round trips to Albuquerque. Seats are a little uncomfortable on long trips but manageable in the city.

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  Functional and Great Looking - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By XChevyOwner - August 19 - 4:23 pm

  Just sold my fullsize for my Toy Double Cab. First tank, just over 21mpg frwy. 2nd tank just over 16mpg city. Averaging 18mpg. After 1200 miles I floored it for the first time... very impressive power. Spacious front & rear legroom. Storage is convenient, secure and out of plain view. Bed is modular, highly functional. Worry-free surface. Invest in a rubber bed mat. JBL sound system is a must. Audio controls on the steering-wheel are awesome. There is more audio than I can handle! Crisp, clear, loud and the powerful base, turns heads. Pre-runner height is just right. The ride is fair to stiff. This is my fourth truck, 3rd toyota truck. Nice to be back in a Toyota.

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  Towing - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By elknutz - August 19 - 12:50 pm

  We all know how the Sequoia drives under normal conditions, but hook up a travel trailer and enjoy it even more. Our fully loaded Limited includes the air bag suspension which keeps the vehicle level without having to transfer additional weight to the front end. After a weekend outing to the Oregon Coast I was very impressed with the power this rig has. The combo with our 29 Tango was no match for climbing or descending the Oregon Coast Range. The transmission shifted with ease while in the tow mode and is simply a workhorse. The Sequoia handled better than any other truck / trailer combo I have driven over the last 15 years.

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  Best Ever - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By toylo - August 19 - 10:23 am

  Bought my Avalon new in Oct.2000, my first Toyota ever. Its loaded with everything. I have 170K on it now. It has had every service required, have changed the oil every 5K. Hwy miles are 30-32mph, city 24-26. I went new car shopping today at Toyota. I love my Avalon but the new ones are bigger. Am thinking about a loaded camery. Ive had many new cars and my Avalon is by far the best. I have no complaints about comfort, drivability, and looks.

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  Corolla LE plus Power Windows dont work in cold weather - 2013 Toyota Corolla
  By elliot732 - August 19 - 6:17 am

  I have had the 2014 Corolla LE plus for less than two weeks. During that time, anytime the temperature drops below 20 degrees F, the front windows wont come down (open) I took it in for service, but everyone in the dealership I spoke with swore up and down that the same happens in cold weather to their front windows, too. I lodged a complaint with Toyota corporate, but they say they cant do anything about it now.

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  Pleasant, Reliable SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Paul - August 19 - 5:26 am

  Tried out a Honda CR-V before purchasing this one, but didnt care for the interior (especially the door handles), and the RAV-4 got better mileage. Didnt go with all the options, although I couldnt find one without tinted windows, luggage cover, and 6-disc CD player; I refused to buy it and pay for all those unnecessary items.

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  A couple of hundred miles without gas! - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By gsschro2 - August 19 - 2:55 am

  My fiance noticed the low engine light on the car last week and had me check it. The car had less than a quart left when I changed the oil. She drove for a week before telling me so that is around 200-300 miles. Toyota quality is amazing. I cannot believe that the engine did not blow up! The rest of the car is boring but I like the car now for its toughness!