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 poor mans lexus - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By jatemode - March 18 - 10:00 am

  This car has an incredibly smooth ride. I drive from Orlando to Miami(450mi) round trip on a regular basis and the car is just flawless. The more you drive it the more you like it. Ive had Acura Legends, 3 Series BMWs and a Ford F150 longbed pick up truck.This car is by far the best value.Im sure the Honda Accord is due for a serious update and it will be fine too, but if you have to choose between the two of them right now- Go with the Camry. The handling is excellent, the sprited 4 cylinder should be plenty for mature drivers that dont do a lot of hill climbing.I only wish I had purchased the Naigation system.

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  Look Out Big 3 - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Dave - March 18 - 6:30 am

  I checked out the "Big 3" and neither Ford, Chevy or Dodge could compare to the Tundras long-term reliability or resale value. I anticipate having this truck between 5-7 years and all the research I conducted led me back to the Tundra. Absolutely no regrets, and I can truly say I made the right choice.

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  2012 Camry LE - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By dparler - March 18 - 1:50 am

  Bought new 2012 LE model at the end of May. This is a really good car and it seems that the interior design is a huge improvement over the older 2011 & prior models (which I tset drove). I got silver with ash (grey) interior. Bluetooth was standard. Even the cupholders and radio knobs are better ! The ride is extremely smooth, steady, and comfortable. I compared to the Hyundi Sonata which I think is the closet competitor. Camry won out on price, and (in my mind) has a better track-record on reliability. Gas mileage is an improvement too ... almost totally around town/city Im getting 26-27 MPG.

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  Sienna over Odyssey - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Richard - March 17 - 7:13 pm

  I considered only Sienna and 05 Odyssey. The "deal-breaker" -- Siennas rear seat audio (not expensive DVD) option, allows rear seat paxs to listen on headphones to audio even if cabin audio off. Hondas only on leather option, w/ DVD. I ordered XLE w fabric seats. "Picking nits"-- Sienna - rear windows open, 05 Odyssey does not; Siennas max torque comes on lower in RPM, though Odyssey has more and more h.p; Sienna - telescoping steering wheel, driving position felt more comfortable; Siennas suspension smoother over rough roads; MPG right on sticker #s. Odysseys seats seemed more comfortable, but after a 5+5 hr trip, Siennas did fine. Odys floor storeage not easy to use;

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  Camry just dont die - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Joseph Oliveira - March 17 - 1:07 pm

  Greatest car my dad ever bought

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By John L - March 17 - 3:43 am

  We bought this car new in 2001 and almost 9 years and 93K miles later it is still running perfectly. Zero problems. Routine oil and filter changes, new tires and new brake pads are all its had. Dont expect a sports car or a luxury car. We bought it for high quality, reliable low-cost basic transportation and it has delivered and then some. Wonderful little car.

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  Camry LE in the snow - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Colorado - March 16 - 1:33 pm

  I purchased my Camry with stock tires. After the first snow, I purchased a set of Michelin snow tires. My car does as well as the small AWD cars and maybe the smaller SUVs. I am sure I would have problems if the snow is too deep.

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  Great starter car - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By mking - March 16 - 4:30 am

  Ive had my Yaris for about 3 months now, and have had absolutely no problems. I love it. I live in DC and it handles like a dream and is easy to park in a notoriously hard-to-park-in city. True it doesnt have a ton of features, but I wasnt looking for that. This isnt a starter car for me, but I would recommend it as a first car for anyone. I wanted something economical, but didnt want it to look or feel that way. My friend got a Honda Civic the same week I got my Yaris, and all of our friends like riding in my car better. :)

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  New Kid on the Block - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Doug Tachi - March 15 - 1:13 pm

  As a tow vehicle the engine, with 401 ft. lbs. of torque coupled with a six speed transmission and 4.30 final drive ratio, is a lot closer to diesel performance than I had expected. The other surprise is general acceleration. Right off the showroom floor, typical stop light to stop light runs leave many "performance" cars struggling to keep up. The seats and seating position are very comfortable and except for the interior design of the dash, Toyota engineering has raised the bar for trucks in this class. So far its been a win-win situation.

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  Love my Camry - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By Carrie - March 15 - 10:03 am

  I have had cars from Mercedes, Porche, and post divorce, a corolla. I loved that Toyotas have cost pennies to maintain. I had my Corolla for 5 yrs, put 98,000 miles on it, only changed oil.Changed front brake pads once. Had Camry for one year. Drive it like crazy cause its roomy. I take it back and forth from Phoenix to Los Angeles. Gets about 470 miles to the gallon so I can get there on one tank of gas and dont have to stop.