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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  Avalon: Great All Round Car - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Dave Hewett - April 18 - 3:40 am

  After a few days of driving the car, the keyless start wouldnt work. Turns out the fuse box had been installed incorrectly (it was 1/16th of an inch off). Anyway, the problem was diagnosed and fixed promptly with great service from dealership. To really appreciate the car, run with higher octane gas.

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  My 1st Toyota - 2012 Toyota Yaris
  By rjyaris - April 18 - 2:45 am

  After 12 years i have left ford and selected a Toyota Yaris. I test drove the fiesta and loved it but after researching and hearing possible problems with their new transmissions and the price of the car i decided to look at the kia soul which i really liked, but then i researched them and found it was a nightmare with customer neglect and warranty drama. So i researched the Yaris and found mostly positive information. I read and watched every review on youtube so i decided to test drive it and fell in love. Yes its not a ford mustang but the engine in that car speeds like you cant imagine on the freeway. The ride is super soft and coming from ford thats a gift from god. so i bought it!

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  Love my new Camry SE!!! - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By mrjason12 - April 18 - 2:14 am

  I have to say, these new Camrys are great cars. I owned two Tacomas and two FJ Cruisers before this purchase, but I wanted something that actually got good gas mileage, which the new Camry certainly does. Do not doubt the V4, as it is plenty!

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  150K and still running strong - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By Greg - April 17 - 9:16 pm

  I bought this new and now have 150k on it. I follow the factory maintenance to the letter. I have done two repairs. One was the power antenna ($100), the other was a dirty fuel filter ($500). Supposedly these have lifetime fuel filters installed inside the gas tank but with all the dirty gas being sold I dont think there is such a thing as lifetime filter. Other than that it has been a great SUV. Loves the snow and gets about 18mpg. The OEM front brakes lasted forever...125k and still had 20% left! Still have the back ones.

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  Love this car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Jeff - April 17 - 10:10 am

  This car is everything I want. Safety, great gas milage, and a great look. People think I paid more for this car than I really did. LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!

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  Awesome - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By JeffS - April 17 - 8:23 am

  Bought the car in 04 to upgrade from my Tacoma (needed more room inside). Very happy with the car. No maintenance cost, goes anywhere, Ive driven it through 2-3 feet of snow w/ no problems, just keeps going. Overall, I think its a very good choice.

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  All the Bells and Whistles - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Holli - April 17 - 8:05 am

  I love my Brand new 2017 Toyota Camry. I have the mystic grey color and it is like an old mood ring. When the light shines on it the green and blues sparkle. It looks black, then blue, then dark green. Anyway I have all the safety features you can ask for and several other things are a must like the sunroof. I felt like if I were going to be driving a 4 door I want sporty yet luxury. The color of the inside of the material is called ash. It is a light grey with a dark grey. Very sweet car. Only thing I do not like is the backup camera. When the sun is shinning down you can not see backing up. The technology needs to be better. I like the way the lines on the camera go with you when you are backing up. This does not have that feature. The lines are only straight they do not move back and forth nor does it beep when you are backing up. I did get the feature with the lane switching technology and this is to be on the back as well if a cart or kid comes behind me it should beep. I do not see that being an option. I have had the car for 3 days so far and was disappointed that it did not have that feature.

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  This Car Is FUN to Drive!! - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By Sk8trjay20 - April 17 - 2:00 am

  What can I say? The very first Celica I saw, I wanted one. This car is fast, fun, and offers an incredible car for the money. I felt confident with the car because it is backed by Toyota reliability and good resale value, not only that, but the car itself handles excellently, takes turns like clockwork, has excellent brakes, and turns heads every time you step in it. Whats not to like?!

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  xrs does it all - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By hotrod - April 17 - 2:00 am

  this car has it all style perfomance! fun to drive! it may not be as fast as wrx but it will out slalom it out brake and for sure looks so much better! i feel i made a great buy with my XRS

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  Best car ever! - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By iwphill - April 17 - 2:00 am

  This is by far the best car made for the price. I was looking for an all around vehicle, with some hauling capability and good gas mileage. But I didnt want an SUV and I also didnt want to spend a fortune. Its extremely reliable - so far ;-) - and is a blast to drive. I have the base model w/auto and though Ive heard others complain about the lack of power, I never have any problems passing when needed. A fantastic car, thats for sure!