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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  Totota Avalon 2006 - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Curtis Feldt - March 3 - 5:26 am

  This car is the best I have ever owned.It is comfortable, very peppy,gets decent gas milage and is thoughtfully designed inside and out. I weas a kid of 9 to 13 in World War 2, with high school heroes coming home after horrible treatment by the Japanese, so it took me 61 years before I would consider a Japanese car. But now I am very glad I bought a Toyota Avalon.

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  Rav 6 cyl front wheel drive - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By drrvega - March 2 - 8:50 pm

  The front wheel drive works great, even off road. Saves gas. Get 20 in town, 26-30 on highways. The hill start feature is wonderful! Have used it over large mountain ranges. Traction control and stability are great also. Extremely reliable. We take it camping and the space in the 6 cyl. in more than the 4 cyl, so it is perfect for that. mine has side air bags, as well as front airbags.

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  More in common with a Lexus than Toyota - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By ibentmywookie - March 2 - 10:40 am

  Its a Lexus, minus the "L" on the front -- which drops the price by at least $10K. Its a joy to drive, the gas mileage is fantastic for a car of this size, and this car can GO. I have to be careful when driving because its very easy to push it past 90 on the highway without even thinking about it -- the ride is that smooth. This is a car that will never annoy you.

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  My experience - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Sid Noonan - March 1 - 4:23 pm

  I have had this truck for almost 2 years and love it. It has a decent amount of power for a midsize truck.

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  Boring, but reliable - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By EAJ - March 1 - 1:36 pm

  Bought used with 30,000 miles and now have 125,000 on it. Only had to replace tires, brakes (once), battery, timing belt (per service interval), oil pressure sensor (5 minute job) and fluids. It could use new struts and an EGR valve, but other than that, the car has been wonderfully trouble-free. My only complaints would be that the engine rattles a bit, the radio buttons are falling off, and with the 4 banger and auto, the acceleration is uninspiring. It does handle very well and gets good mileage. Stock hubcaps made car look pathetic, but I replaced 14" wheels/hubcaps with 16" Avalon alloys and 55 series tires and the car has taken on a completly different look and feel. Good car.

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  42mpg with style and a big backseat - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By tomK - February 28 - 6:35 pm

  After 50,000 miles I still love mine. I got an S Plus with all options except heated seats. For the price paid (21.5k) its hard to fault this car. Cruising at 70mph will return 42mpg in a car with a huge backseat and a very comfortable and well-designed cockpit. The front seats are very comfortable and weve taken two 3,000+ mile road trips without complaint. The gauges, steering wheel and control set are tasteful and have a quality feel. I love downshifting with the flappy panels and overall really like the CVT transmission. Whats not to like? The doors have kind of a cheap feel, both in hard plastic trim and a cheap tin sound when you close the door. Also, immediate pull out power is a bit lacking with the 1.8 motor/CVT combo. Under hard acceleration, the car will often lag for a moment, and you in time get used to what it can do reliably and will change your driving style to suit. Thats it, but I accept both given the price and economy of the car. Weve had no unscheduled maintenance, other than a failed fog lamp that was quickly replaced on warranty by our excellent Toyota dealer. After 2 years I still love the style. No regrets. Recommended without hesitation.

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  Our Dream Car/SUV - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By neilsal - February 28 - 4:33 am

  I researched every suv out there for along time. I test drove the honda pilot, to big behind the wheel. The highlander drove and felt the best. I purchased the 4cly 4X4 and let me tell you it can move! I was worried about power with the 4cly but not no more. Wow and the gas mileage has been great. My wife whom was a bit nervous at the thought of an suv couldnt believe the ride. It handles like a car. She is in LOVE with it! The toyota dealer was the best. He has called us a few times after the purchase to see how its going. My kids love it, the room in the back. The star safety system works great. Traction and braking are unbelivable. Thanks Toyota!

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  2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By FCT - February 28 - 2:00 am

  Good SUV at afair price.

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  great car - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By nedlaw - February 28 - 2:00 am

  This car is fun, zippy, quiet, safe and comfortable, and you feel good about minimizing impact the environment, and minimizing our national dependence on oil!

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  Camry - Supreme Reliability - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By pirx - February 28 - 2:00 am

  After 10 years of owning this car, its time to find a replacement. But with such excellent reliability Im compelled to buy another Camry. The only thing unusual that went wrong with this car in the 10 yrs is that both front axles had to be replaced. I called Toyota directly and they confirmed that this was a problem with the particular model/year. In fact, it is the only technical service bulletin on this particular car. No other known problems, which is quite astonishing. Id buy another in a heartbeat - but I just wish they could make a look somewhat more interesting.