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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  Toyota Quality - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By shellyp - December 16 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 4runner for almost 4 years and love every second of it. Its a classy suv with the ruggedness that most suvs lack. This is the most reliable vehicle ive owned..Best $38k that i spent on a vehicle.

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  Sequoia - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Sequoiadriver - December 16 - 10:00 am

  Great family hauler. This is by far the best family vehicle we have ever owned. One word says it all, "utilitarian".

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  Toyota Fan For Life! - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By S. Clemmons - December 16 - 10:00 am

  I have always driven Toyotas, and traded in my Avalon for this SUV. To think that I was considering another SUV - really crazy. Im a single lady, and wasnt too crazy about the styling of the 2007 Highlander; looked like a family car. But once I saw the 2008, I was totally surprised. I have owned this car for 1 week and 1 day, and anticipate keeping it for a long time. Great comfort, great gas mileage, and a fun car to drive. The 2008 is indeed larger, and carries on the Toyota legacy of being a top quality vehicle. And once you drive it, you wont need to test drive anything else. Worth every penny I spent.

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  Solid Truck - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Ken - December 16 - 9:30 am

  I really love my Tundra. I recommend this vehicle to anyone who wants a reliable and solid pickup. The access cab is comfortable for most everyone. I do notice that 6 plus guys are cramped in the back, but everyone else is fine. The only drawback is for the stereo crowd. Its a pain to fit 12" subs in this truck. I had to put in two 8" subs under the rear seats. If you dont care about the low lows this truck is solid. Electronics and alarm are perfect. Paint is pretty good. Not easily scratched. Motor is Toyota... what else do you have to say.

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  4th Toyota truck! - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Hobopoet - December 16 - 8:10 am

  I wanted a truck that would tow my trailer, get me into the back country, get good mileage, be reliable and dependable: what else but another Toyota! This is my 4th, and Ive never had a complaint or serious problem. Toyota is offering incentives now and that swung the deal for me. But I would have purchased one without that.

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  The disappearing car... - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Mark Nolette - December 16 - 5:10 am

  The 2016 Camry is a car for people who dont like to think very much about their cars, or worry about them. Its for people who want to just get in, turn the key, and go, with a minimum of fuss. The Camry isnt designed to call much attention to itself. For one thing, there are too many of them out there. For another, they never win styling awards. That being said, the 2016 Camry (largely) fulfills the time-honored Camry mission. When I bought this LE, I found the ride to be surprisingly stiff, but it did smooth out after a few weeks. The ride is quite good in nearly all circumstances. The car has generally been quiet, though it lets in a little more road noise than Camrys typically did. Reliability has been rock-solid. Not a single issue in 40k miles thus far. Performance may not glue you to your seat, but its more than adequate for driving, passing, hill climbing and merging. Fuel economy has been good as well. My driving is mainly on two-lane rural roads, and I average over 35 mpg overall. On a typical 20 mile trip on a rural road, I frequently get 40-44. Handling is appropriate to this cars intended mission: good enough for typical driving, perhaps a bit better than its reputation would have you believe. Interior materials seem less "luxurious" than the Camry or Accord of 10-20 years ago, but are adequate. The drivers seat is comfortable enough for long drives. Visibility is very good. My iPhone pairs easily with the cars Bluetooth. Sound quality from the audio system is decent; perhaps slightly above average for cars of its kind. The trunk is large and easily accessible. To my mind, this is one of the better-looking Camrys to come along. That may not be saying much, but I can say that I actually like the looks of this one. My dealership sold this one to me at a great price (4k under MSRP) and has given me outstanding service since then. This car does show signs of cost-cutting here and there, but overall feels pretty solid. Will my next car be a Camry? I dont know. But I have only good things to say about this one. Toyota could have done a better job of tuning out road noise and could have put better quality materials in the interior. Those are my only complaints. Good car, good value. It really does "disappear" under you as you drive it. It just does what its told. No fuss. No worries.

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  Happy With Crew Max - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By J.W. - December 16 - 1:33 am

  I am extremely happy with our Crew Max. Our truck appears to be very "tight", with excellent build quality. The only problem noted in my opinion is the engine idle speed at initial start. The engine seems to rev up high @ 1600 rpm. The 5.7 liter engine appears to be well designed & can do what Toyota claims it can in terms of towing. The interior Crew Max leg room is outstanding. We have two kids who can basically stretch out & sleep in the back in comfort on long trips. I have owned a couple of Toyota trucks in the past. I can truthfully say without hesitation that Toyota has done another excellent job. I truly hope this initial model doesnt have any "bugs" or flaws to iron out.

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  Love our Sequoia - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By kim - December 15 - 11:13 pm

  The only problem we have run into so far is the gas gauge (sometimes the needle will go to empty even though there is over half a tank left) otherwise we are very happy with our sequoia. We owned a Ford Explorer previously and we have learned our lesson to never buy a Ford.

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  Best car I have ever owned - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By kevin petz - December 15 - 10:51 pm

  This car takes my breath away. It is a luxury car that gets fantastic miles per gallon. I couldnt ask for anything better.

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  This is a Gem of a car - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Roberta - December 15 - 11:13 am

  The outside does not halfway hint the wonder inside the 4 doors of this luxury vehicle even though it is pretty. Everyone, including the passengers in the reclining rear seats get special treatment. The moon roof, comfort and ease of driving make each trip a great time. Lots of spirit for a 6 cylinder so I have had to monitor the speed frequently on this great driving machine. With low miles for a used car, I plan on having this for at least 10 years. Cars used to last that long, however most of mine, in the past, have not stood the test of that duration. I might not like it much if it does not hold up to my expectations for that long. The price was enough so it should last .