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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  Quality and reliability - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By dudek6092 - June 26 - 10:03 pm

  Solid quality car with a great view of the road. Back to the dealer only for upgrades or recalls. Original tires lasted 19000 miles, replaced with Bridgestone. Exterior remains in excellent condition looks like new.

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  Affordable and fun - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Denise - June 26 - 7:10 pm

  The Corolla LE Sedan is affordable and fun to drive. I love just about everything it offers, with the exception of a couple minor issues. I have not had a smaller car in many years, and im very happy with this one. It gives a smooth ride and i feel safe in it. It comes with alot of perks, and for a car under $20,000. The newer design is also a plus. Id definately recommend it.

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  I love this car - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Geoff - June 26 - 6:13 pm

  I love this car. People in my area of New Jersey look at me weird because of the SUVs they drive. Give it a couple years and these cars will be hard to come by. I love the performance of the car, but what I really LOVE is the gas mileage. 117 miles and the bar finally went down once from full. It is very comfortable and fun to drive. It is also great for our environment. Ultra low emissions. I have nothing bad to say about this vehicle. Do yourself a favor and buy one now. You will smile at the gas pump.

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  Standard transmission - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By Nate - June 26 - 1:00 pm

  I bought this car used from private owner in Spring 05 with 47,000 miles on it. I drove 800 miles round trip for this car. Couldnt have made a better decision. The car is absolutely beautiful in its silver mist and the original owner placed 2001 solara alloy wheels to the touch of this beautiful camry along side of its tinted windows. Very luxurious in its elegance. The flaw: It does not shift smoothly into gears and I have a popping sound when I stop in reverse. Need to have it checked. Other than that, Its a Toyota, the best money can buy, and wow is it beautiful. My fiance loves driving my camry.

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  Best Sedan on the Road - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Mecedes Guy - June 26 - 6:30 am

  I have driven Mercedes S class cars for 20 years. When I test drove the new Avalon Limited I immediately said "I gotta have this car!". It is the largest, smoothest, most technologically advanced car I have ever driven. No, it wont impress those who want certain labels on the front of a car, but it will certainly impress the anyone sitting inside of it. And one more thing, I took the 40 grand that I saved and bought another car with it!

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  its great - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By siennaowner - June 26 - 5:33 am

  i love this avn its good for all soccer moms if you have to drive your kids to soccer youll love this vehicle

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  Wow! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Gus - June 26 - 4:53 am

  I have owned BMWs, Mercedes, VWs and Hondas. This car far surpasses them all in value.

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  Thanks Toyota - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By ronnie - June 26 - 4:43 am

  This is the second tundra that I have owned. The upgrades on this one are great. I love the horse power and the transmission. I get an average of 17.5 mpg thats great for this size engine. The ride and comfort is also great. I looked at the Ford and Chevrolet before I purchased the tundra. I liked the tundra better.

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  Magnificent, but Dreadfully Boring - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By Bob Sandon - June 25 - 5:40 pm

  I have put approximately 143,000 miles on this car. I bought it new. Oil changes with premium synthetic every 25,000 miles; otherwise, no service (except changing out tires). Ive only had to replace the electric-system battery (pay someone to do this; its a nightmare on your own). Pros: Reliability, obviously. There is also more storage space than many people realize, especially with the seats down. Two shepherds fit comfortably in the trunk; Ive made several moves with this car. The mileage has been good, especially with Ecotopia tires. I live in Minnesota; I averaged around ~53 mpg during the summer with them. I have Toyos right now; year round mileage with them has been ~43 mpg, mostly highway driving. The car is comfortable and quiet at lower speeds. I like the sound system and have found the GPS adequate. The keyless entry is surprisingly nice; I wish it had remote start. Cons: While the car while tolerate higher speeds (65 mph +), its obviously unenthusiastic. The mileage dips fairly dramatically in the winter, or with inefficient tires. For that matter, snow tires are well-nigh essential in Minnesota with this car. All-season will not hack it, especially in rural areas. Mostly, though, this car is boring. Really boring. Eye-wateringly so. A fantastic daily commuter, but - if you can only have one car in your stable - Id have to recommend something else.

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  Beyond all expectations! - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By EricH - June 25 - 5:00 pm

  I am coming from a 2001 Grand Am GT which I had purchased new in 2001. THe difference between the cars is night and day. Everything in the Camry has a sense of refinement and quality. The noise and road isolation is awesome, but the car still handles wonderfully. The Camrys acceleration with the 4cylinder is still great, even compared to the near 200hp Grand Am. I would highly recommend this car to everyone I know (if you like sporty, perhaps check out the Camry SE). I will definitely be buying another Camry in the future when I want to replace this one. I cant stop raving about this car!