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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  Very nice all around! - 2018 Toyota C-HR
  By Amy - October 16 - 1:17 pm

  Great looking car! Ive owned it for almost 2 months now and have not one regret of my purchase. Great handling and the style inside and out will fit right in to the future cars. First reveiwer claims it has poor resale value... how would you know since this is the first model ever that had just been released? Toyota has great reliability which is key to a loyal long term customer.

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  Unlimited Enjoyment - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By lai Khe Louie - October 16 - 11:50 am

  My last car was a 2003 Avalon XLS. A really nice car except for its bland looks. The 2005 Avalon, 3d generation, is a quantum improvement over the 2d generation line. There is much to like and little to dislike. First of all, the car is very good looking, great lines and well proportioned. The interior setup is very nice, extremely comfortable, and hushed at highway speed. Although the suspension is soft, there is remarkably little body lean when traversing an interstate clover leaf. Acceleration is more than adequate whether going from zero to sixty or sixty to ninety. I am also happy with the mileage, I easily am getting 29 MPG on the highway. Very happy that I made this purchase.

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  One Fantastic Car - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By K. Adams - October 16 - 11:13 am

  Im loving this car. The multi information display allows me to monitor driving data in real time. Not only is this interesting (and fun), but its changed the way I drive for the better. Im getting 57 mpg in the city, which I expect to increase as time goes on. The car handles beautifully, with responsive brakes and steering. It has a solid, comfortable ride and roomy interior. The height-adjustable driver seat is a plus. The cargo area is generous, and I like the privacy screen that hides things from view. This Prius offers lots of other goodies, too. My only disappointment is the quality of the upholstery, which I think could be better.

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  Love My Car - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Charlie - October 16 - 9:10 am

  We bought the Matrix because the wife wanted an SUV and I wanted a Camry, this became our cross breed. The Matrix is a wonderful car, except when backing out of a parking lot, it is made a lot like the Camry, yet it is big enough to to feel like youre driving an SUV. We feel that we have made the best choice that we could have made at the time and are looking into buying a second Matrix.

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  LOVE MR2 - 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By tom boyd - October 15 - 8:00 pm

  Never less than 30 MPG. Sorry they quit making them. Fun weekend drives for wife and I. Not much for storage.

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  this car is terrific - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ral - October 15 - 4:56 am

  Just drove the beast from Wisconsin to New Mexico and back ...totalled over 4200 miles for whole 5 week trip. Have not got a single complaint about this car...and I usually have a lot to say bad about things!!! This car gave me about 38 mpg in Albuquerque which is all mountain driving... up and down... stayed there five weeks.... was getting 600 miles to a 16 gallon fillup...on the highway, with the car loaded down like three pack donkeys, and passengers in the car, it drove like buttah at 90 mph...no stress, no strain whatsoever...I disagree with the Edmunds report that says when it is loaded it is cumbersome... My last car that I traded in for this one, a Lexus RX330 is nowheres as good

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  Great vehicle for a long trip anywhere! - 2013 Toyota Avalon
  By mr_hydraulics - October 15 - 3:43 am

  I purchased the new Limited for a recent trip to the Southeast. The cars performance was wonderful and very comfortable for the long haul. The bonus features were the navigation system and blind spot warning system. Stereo system was awesome. I especially appreciated the comforts of adjustable ventilated/heated seats and lumbard/thigh support. We loaded the car with golf clubs and three larger suitcases with room to spare. Great handling/ride/responsiveness. Our trip was around 3300 miles and averaged 31.0 MPG - in combined driving - fully loaded. This was somewhat surprizing, as the lowest MPG was 27, when climbing into higher elevations. Great Toyota- great ride.

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  A darn good buy - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mike - October 14 - 7:50 pm

  Dont think you can beat this one for the money. Good, strong engine and real driver comfort. The only pickup in this price range which gives you a full size spare tire as standard equipment. Installed aftermarket rain shields so I can leave the window open in the rain - very necessary and worth the cost. Only complaints: seems like exterior paint was applied with a microscope - scratches very easily; also problems with the radio/CD player, which will have to be replaced. However, the audio quality is quite good - no complaint there. Good gas mileage on the highway - this little truck feels like a flying bird at highway speeds. Overall, very satisfactory.

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  One awesome truck - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By FFT - October 14 - 5:16 pm

  I recently bought a Tundra after I lost my beloved T-100 in an accident. I am as happy as I can be with the 2010 Tundra. I get a million compliments on it from everybody both friend and stranger. "Nice Truck" is all I hear. It is well designed and I call it my no problem vehicle. It can handle anything I ask of it. Nice engine, nice radio, smart design. Best vehicle purchase Ive made. Cant wait to finish the break-in period so I can start putting down the gas.

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  My Ride Camry V6 - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By kdavis - October 14 - 3:43 pm

  I test drive the Chevy Impala and the Ford 500, employee pricing gimicks aside I thought the Camry V6 LE was in the end the better car. It was easy to get below invoice quotes from the big 3 US dealers, Toyota had a year end rebate and I got that money. I paid right at $23K for a new just out of the wrapper grey cloth interior, mine is Lunar Silver with polished alloy wheels. It looks right at home in the company parking lot or at the country club, at home anywhere in this car. Still in brake in mode, so I havent given it full throttle yet. 4 wheel disc brakes are nice, the tires Bridgestones really pick up road noise and all. Im glad I shopped, but Toyota had the car I liked best!