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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  Sienna - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By jchan2 - April 14 - 10:00 am

  This Sienna is the best minivan yet. The Sienna, with its powerful 230 HP V6, although still a few ponies behind the Odyssey, feels powerful and refined.

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  So far, so good - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By seye - April 14 - 3:43 am

  Just passed six months of ownership. Van drives great-- smooth acceleration, supple ride, excellent turning radius and decent sight lines. Drivers seat not as comfortable/adjustable as I wouldve expected. Interior engineered well with lots of storage. Intuitive HVAC. I sprung for the JBL Synthesis system and I am disappointed with the sound. Not nearly as good as other premium set-ups Ive had. Otherwise, very happy with the van so far.

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  Best car ever - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By Totally love it! - April 14 - 1:16 am

  Absolutely love this rig. Have had it for 2 years now and cant complain about anything. Super reliable. Zero down time. Great towning vehicle. Beautiful inside and out. Easy to operate. Nav is a life saver. Grandkids love the DVD. Just wish it got a little better gas mileage, but its a nice trade off I guess. Handles super and rides great. Ordered ours fully loaded with most everything. You wont be sorry. Thousands less than Lexus but same quality.

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  Best SUV Ive Ever Owned - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Road Warrior - April 13 - 6:44 pm

  I needed a 8 passenger SUV for my family with growing kid, their friends, sports, activities, etc... I narrowed it down to the redesigned Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander XLE AWD. I reviewed many customer, and on-line expert reviews, and for me there was no contest... the winner was the Toyota Highlander XLE. From looks and comfort to performance and safety/technology. All of my past five SUVs all drove like trucks, but not the Highlander, this one drove like a Lexus! It is definitely a head turner that Im proud to drive. I got the Blizzard White which is not your standard white, its a more luxurious color for sure. Im 62 tall and I have plenty of room in the drive seat, which is not the case in a lot of SUVs. Just to be picky...I wish it had a few more USB ports, better headlights, and blind side indicators for this model, which is the more popular middle of the road model. I could not comment on the maintenance costs or repair frequency since I only have 1k for miles. Great vehicle overall and so much fun to drive! You will not be disappointed with the Toyota Highlander!!!

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  Tacoma double cab prerunner - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Nelson Hernandez - April 13 - 6:20 pm

  So far, an excellent truck. Ride is great in the highway. Fuel economy is excellent with myself filling the tank every week and a half and I use the truck to go to work everyday with an avarage of 40 to 50 miles per day.

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  Almost great - 2018 Toyota C-HR
  By Mel Mann - April 13 - 4:24 pm

  I found it interesting that the C-HRs I test drove early in the model introduction were under powered. When it came time to buy 8 weeks later they were much better at acceleration. The handling and breaking are great. The body styling for the back seat door handles creates a large blind spot on the right side. I do lengthy highway drives and use audio-books to keep me company; all 2018 Toyotas have discontinued having a CD drive in the entertainment system. This may be great for a younger audience who lives their lives through a smart phone, but I miss the CD. In so many ways the car exceeds my expectations, then in other ways I had not previously considered important...it is a frustration.

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  Incredible Value - Great Car! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By casqueiro - April 13 - 8:40 am

  I cannot believe the quality for the price. The car is almost perfect, its extremely roomy and comfy inside, runs quiet and smooth and is super fun to drive with hands down the best turning radius of all time. I have gotten between 37-40 MPG on each tank with a 50/50 combo of city/freeway driving, except on one tank I got 35 with 5 people in the car the whole way. I havent had it long enough to really judge reliability, but having just gotten rid of a lemon, I know what bad quality feels like, and this is a different world. Love this car!

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  The most Bang for your Buck - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Jean - April 13 - 8:20 am

  Feel secure, comfy, and in control. Love the roomy interior, along with the easy use of all controls. Looks stylish inside and out. Easy to get in and out of. Drove all the vehicles in this class, this was superior. I love the gas mileage - the 4 cyl has enough getty-up to perform on highway entry and passing. Handles well on highway and bumpy roads.

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  First Toyota - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By XtremeBiker278 - April 13 - 3:23 am

  I bought this car little less than two weeks ago with only 32k miles on it, I already put on 600 miles and I am enjoying it. It has a nice looking exterior, and a plain and somewhat cramped interior. The car absorbs bumps better than some midsized and large cars I have driven before! I love the acceleration in the city and suburbs, gets a little scary on the highway though when getting up to speed, even with flooring it. The car has a very solid feel to it, and handles well, even without ABS. However, I was surprised to see that I only get mileage figures similar to what was advertised when on the highway, otherwise nowhere near which is frustrating. Minus a couple cons, however, its great.

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  2ndTimeAround - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By LanePie - April 13 - 2:03 am

  I am the 2nd owner of this great Camry. I bought it with 114,200 miles and drove it to 159,000 miles with no problems at all. The first owner kept all maintenance up and I followed. Unfortunately my husband with involved in a hit and run. The car was totaled and both airbags deployed. The car really looked like a pancake, but my husband walked away. It saved his life. I never had one problem with it except for the brake light going out. I drove 44,800 with not even one problem. Last but not least I loved my Camry. I will most definitely buy another one over and over. We still own a 2007 Camry. We had a 10 year difference in Camrys and I still preferred my 1997. The V6 power was great.