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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  If it aint broke, dont fix it! - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Cary - July 26 - 1:26 pm

  I have had my car for two years and 30,000 miles. Not one complaint. Rides like a champ, roomy, big trunk. My prior vehicles were small pickups so I am not a nit picky person when it comes to performance. I am amazed that this car is so smooth and silent. Not a single squeak or anything. I have changed the oil every 5000 miles as recommended and rotated the tires. Follow the owners guide for your type of driving conditions.

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  The Lexus of minivans - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By markr33 - July 26 - 5:33 am

  Weve driven our Toyota Sienna for about 10,500 miles so far and find it to be absolutely excellent in almost every respect. The creature comforts are second to none, it is almost silent on the highway and the ride is delightful. I would recommend it to anyone who needs a vehicle with ample space.

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  2005 XLE V6 CAMRY is the BEST! - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By jinxy - July 26 - 3:36 am

  I love my car!!!

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  On the road again! - 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  By Alan VanTassel - July 26 - 3:27 am

  I have found this SUV to be the best auto I have ever driven. I dont say that from a small perspective. I have owned at least 22 cars and trucks of different makes and models. I now own this vehicle, my 2007 Mustang GT and my wifes 2005 Prius, our second Prius. We were sold on the idea of a Hybrid. I dont want to give up my pony car. So we shopped. One day we were getting the Prius serviced RAV 4 which I would not have recognized as a RAV 4. Toyota has completely redesigned this vehicle. The color (metallic blue) and the look of the vehicle sold me right there. My wife intervened to make sure I didnt give away the farm. The salesman, Jose, didnt miss a beat. I asked him about some of the features. He offered me a drive. Long story short, we bought it that day. I have found that the handling on the road, mountain roads, local roads, and freeways is exemplary. The steering system is very refined in all arenas. There is a line of sight issue that produces a blind spot. This issue is mitigated by two little square mirror in the corner of the very large review mirrors in on the front doors. My question was about power. I love my V8. I love the way it sounds, the way it picks up and the way it drives. Taking the step to drive a four cylinder from my V8 was a very large step, I thought, down. To my surprise, it was a step up. This vehicle is equipped with a tachometer. It isnt labelled as a tachometer, but it is. It also has a transmission that can be switched over from automatic 6 to standard 6. There is no clutch. You just move the shift lever over to begin moving the lever up and down based on moving from a lower gear to a higher one and visa versa. Watching the tachometer, I enjoy moving through the gears as a drive up and down hills and around curves. Road stability in these moves is outstanding. I have had more fun driving this car than I have had driving any car including the Mustangs I have owned. It is a very well-put-together vehicle. I have confidence that I will own it for many years. It has been a long time since my wife and I have planned and across-the-country road trip. We are planning to take our RAV 4 across country this summer. I am really looking forward to it.

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  Nice truck for family with towing needs! - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By dmaxwellh - July 25 - 1:13 pm

  We have been very happy with the first month of ownership. The Sequoia is a pleasure to drive and has many nice standard features. Interior space is excellent. Not thrilled with the regional packaging of the options. Each dealer in our region had similarly equipped vehicles (cold weather pkg, sunroof, etc.). It seems to be the trend with Toyota. The Limited and Platinum are nice, but extremely overpriced for the options. I think a nicely equipped SR5 with leather, JBL, etc. is the economic choice.

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  2006 LC - 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By LC - July 25 - 9:20 am

  Every time I get in a drive this truck, I love being in it. This truck is smooth! Acceleration. Braking. Turning. Quiet. More than I hoped for. The 275 hp engine responds well at any speed. 7.83 zero to 60. Very comfortable. Decent gas mileage. 17 to 19 MPG. Best when driven 55 to 60. At 65 to 75 it gets 17. Im 62+" 210. I can drive this for hours and not get sore. Just drove it through 15" of snow in our pastures in the beautiful Western Mountains of Maine, easy as a drive around the farm in summer. Impressive. I choose the 06 because of the 275 horse engine. Better acceleration than the 235 hp for earlier years.

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  Love it - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By andrea - July 25 - 8:00 am

  It is fun to drive it is fully loaded, but with everything, it is kind of distracting. Learning how to drive it so you get all the gas mileage you can is really the only challenge so far. I have a heavy foot with a lot of sudden stops so it takes practice for me, but it is comfortable and fun to drive. The only draw back is the trunk with the batteries it takes up a lot of room. It has wonderful power and it is very smooth driving.

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  A Good Car - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By bh_okedoke - July 25 - 4:40 am

  Bought a Prius, pkg 5, about a month ago. Have 1500 miles, averaging about 43 MPG mixed commuter driving of approx 45 miles a day, half back roads, half highway. Live in New England, so I’m hoping the colder temps is the reason for the lower MPG. Kind of bounces about in heavy wind. Pickup will get you up to highway speed, but it’s no barn burner. Engine very loud under very hard acceleration. Seats are so so on comfort, fronts not bad, but backs need longer bottom cushion. Many blind spots, but can overcome with proper mirror placement. Rear view camera was a great idea.

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  Gas guzzlers to this? - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By albee213 - July 25 - 12:19 am

  I own to many gas guzzlers that are getting old and contant repairs or $70 fillups twice a week and just decided to look at something more effiecient. I found a 07 Liftback with 23k on the odo. Yeah it has nothing but AC but its actualy fun to drive and looks good. I plan on doing a few minor mods to it like installing some insulation under the carpet and doors to reduce noise levels, it isnt too bad but the doors sound very flimsy when you shut them and maybe cruise control. Its powerful enough and I have been running different grades of gas to find the sweet spot, running regular I could hear just a slight tick, running mid grade has made the engine silky smooth. I average 35 mpg.

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  My Fairy Mobile - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By jaesi - July 25 - 12:03 am

  I love my echo! I got it when I was 16 and 10 years later Im still driving it. 100,000 Miles and never had a major problem