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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  Best Car For The Money - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Toms River Door & Wi - April 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had 2 Explorers before and I got tiered of the truck like ride and feel. I didnt want a vehicle larger than what I had. The Hieghlander fit my needs perfectly. Between the craftmanship and the beautiful ride you will not fine a better car.

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  Gotta love it - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Toyzrme - April 25 - 2:00 am

  After testing it came to the Civic vs Corolla. Close call, but the Corolla had a more substantial feel to it. I also like the enterior of my LE better as it has a european quality to it. Good mileage, 33 to 40 on the highway. Excellent ride on highway for car class. Rougher on bumps than I would like. Acceleration is ok with the 4 speed auto. A little noisier when accelerating than the Prizm cousin it replaced. great sound system with the top of the line speaker option. Had a squeek in dash , but it has gone away. Could be the plastic Pretty good driver, but not sporty. If you are looking for a solid, dependable car consider the Corolla.

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  Fantastic vehicle! - 2008 Toyota Matrix
  By matrixfan - April 25 - 1:40 am

  With gas prices ever rising, my van was just too expensive to run. The Matrix was the perfect vehicle to downsize to; it still holds my gear, but gets 40% better mileage than my old MPV and its fun to drive to boot! I wish Toyota would come out with a Hybrid Matrix, but until then, this one is great!

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  A/C Line Corrosion after 3 yrs, Extreme Tire Wear - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By watsonk - April 24 - 6:22 pm

  2008 Sienna, 3 years and 2 months old, experienced A/C coolant leak due to tubing corrosion underneath the vehicle at the rear. One A/C compressor is supplying coolant to both front and rear A/C units. Dealership quoted over $1,300 for the tubing replacement and blamed corrosion on road salt in Western PA. No guarantee that it will not re-occur in 2-3 years. This is a manufacturer defect! First set of Dunlop tires worn out after 19,000 miles. The second set of Goodyear tires is nearly worn out after 20,000 miles.

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  One Sweet Ride! - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By nora64 - April 24 - 6:34 am

  OK, I am a Ford gal from way back but when I decided to trade my 2002 Escape (at 181,000 miles and still going strong) I thought I would test drive a couple other SUVs before buying. The moment I pulled onto the road in the RAV4 I knew I had found a new love! The interior is very modern and classy (though understated)and everything on the panels is well marked and easy to find. The seats sit high for a great view and feeling of "control". The cargo area has more room than the Escape for my 3 dogs or groceries and the rear cup holder is handier for my 8 yr old daughter to reach. It has tight, responsive steering, easy to park, and drives like an absolute dream!

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  My third 4Runner - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By toobs13 - April 24 - 4:10 am

  The performance of the 3.4LV6 is better than other Toyota SUV/Trucks. For speed/acceleration junkies, TRD has a supercharger that bolts right onto this engine and still fits under the . Fuel economy is better than average 15-17 MPG. Install the TRD supercharger and aftermarket non-rubber sway bar bushings! Toyota has the best lines and highest ground clearence in its class. No one in the midsized SUV market even comes close to Toyota build quality and relaibility.

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  Great car! - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Phil - April 24 - 4:06 am

  After two decades of driving SUVs I finally gave in to high gas prices and bought a vehicle with better mileage. I spent way too much time on the internet researching and then test driving different cars before choosing the Camry. After owning my Camry SE V6 for six momnths I have no regrets. I chose the SE because I liked the tighter sport suspension. The V6 provides very good power yet I get an average of 28 MPG with mostly highway driving. Another plus; Im over 6 feet tall and I fit comfortably in this car. I commute 60 miles round trip to work and truely enjoy driving this vehicle. I dont miss my SUV, if I need a larger vehicle for a day to haul more people or stuff Ill just rent one.

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  TRD Sport Crew Cab 4x4 5.0" bed - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Joe Darvish - April 24 - 12:25 am

  After waiting out 2005-2015 body style, I bought the 2016. I do not find the seat uncomfortable, but I agree with others comment on engine/transmission mismatch. I expected the engine to be a lot more quiet. We have a 2010 RX350 with a different 3.5L V-6 engine which is exceptionally smooth and quiet. Tacomas downshifts at highway cruising with a slight uphill when I dont expect. It makes you think you are driving a 4 cylinder engine when it down shifts. The gas mileage should be evaluated when the engine breaks in at about 5K miles. The rest of the truck is fine. I have a 2009 Honda Accord EXL and a 2009 Mercedes E350 sport. Road/wind/tire noise at highway speed is very good. Fit, Finish, and feel are excellent As the time goes by and Toyota learns how customers evaluate the truck, they will come up with transmission shifting programming update that will improve the shifting. If I were you, I would not run to GM trucks yet. GM is known for having issues down the road. Dont be fooled by GMs truck of the year awards.... 5-10 year GM trucks are not reliable or are worth that much.

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  Gas hog, slow, but it works - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By NJMike - April 23 - 6:33 pm

  SR-5 v6 auto. Bought used w/ 103k. Its an occasional use vehicle, everything works (tailgate window a bit slow). Not powerful or acceptable w/ gas. I use plus fuel to help minimize pinging. I use it about once a week and during inclement weather (snow or flooding). More comfortable at around town speeds of 35-45 mph. Itll do 70 but seems like it would rather not. 4wd works well in the snow. It starts every time Ive needed it. Im 6-2" and its tight on leg room (I wish I could move the seat back even more), good headroom though. "Original" front brakes were changed @ 103k.

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  A Great Car to Own - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By kirk westrell - April 23 - 1:36 pm

  I bought the Toyota Camry for my Real Estate business. I have put on 30,000 miles in one year. The car is problem free and stands up to the highway. It is easy to drive and comfortable to ride in. The Camry is a great car for commuting or on the open highway. I only had to replace a tire which was ruined by a nail. The gas mileage has been usually 30-34mpg. On my first trip to Texas in the car, I actually got 37 mpg since I had the cruise control set. I have had the car serviced on time and have had no mechanical difficulties other than the flat tire. The 4 cyl engine packs a lot of power and the 5 speed transmission adds to the great performance of this car. It is a 10.