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 "compromise" used car I found - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By DaveV - January 26 - 4:48 pm

  I was in the market for a used car that was not too big, too small, not a real expensive "luxury" model nor a real basic model with no frills. I knew I wanted leather interior, a power drivers seat, good acceleration,comfort, quiet interior and VG seat comfort so the search went on for about two months reading reviews and test driving used cars. A 2010 Lincoln MKZ caught my attention but I found that the seat was not as comfortable as I wanted and the three Ford service centers in my area stunk when it came to appointments and their attitude towards their customers. I then test drove a 2004 Solara SLE and I knew I had found the right car so the search began for the right Solara for me. I ended up driving 149 miles to a Toyota dealer in Georgia to look at a 2006 Solara SLE V6. Based on the CarFax and Autocheck reports and the overall condition of the vehicle, it seemed to have been pretty well maintained so I bought it and drove it home. (newer timing belt and water pump) I had my local Toyota dealer go over the car and it needed spark plugs and a battery. The $498 for spark plugs (mostly labor) was a shock but the irridium plugs do last for a very long time and I only put about 5,000 a year on a car so those are likely the last plugs to go in for me. The transmission felt sort of odd in the way it sometimes shifted when I coasted to a slow speed then reapplied pressure to the gas pedal so I mentioned that to the dealer and they cleared and updated the computer module to learn my driving habit and that did make a difference. The new plugs did improve the feeling of acceleration and Ive been using 89 octane for the last two months then I plan on going to 87 soon to see if I feel a difference in performance. The car is comfortable, quiet inside, everything does what its supposed to do and the styling is timeless IMHO. Driving around town is pleasurable but this vehicle really shines on the highway at higher speeds with enough reserve power to pass other vehicles that are already doing 70MPH even with the A/C on. Thank goodness I felt the 3.3 engine was mandatory for me. On a smooth road surface the car rides on a cloud and when theres a bump or rough road surface the "sport suspension" shows up but the bumps are cushioned. So if you want a big old luxury car ride or a real sports car ride this car may not be for you as its a combination of both. There is some "road feel" through the steering wheel but not like a real sports model but overall this is a very nice vehicle and Im not sorry that I bought it. Just be aware of the older Toyota "dashboard" problem with cracking or feeling sticky and the pulling the left on some model years that Ive read about on-line. If the car pulls to the left dont rely on a wheel alignment to cure it. Find another Solara that doesnt pull to the left or that has a dashboard in better condition.

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  Exceptional! Power, MPG, 4x4, Comfort - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By scott - January 26 - 3:56 pm

  Exceptional value for $27,200 for a new 2008 Tundra DC 5.7L 4WD bench seat long bed! This truck has taken me where only jeeps can go (major 4x4 trails) and got me back. Zero maintenance problems. 18 MPG on highway! I can seat 6 comfortably. Handicapped wife sleeps on back bench no problem! Power is amazing for stock. Tows 20 camper trailer as if it isnt even there! Note- I dont work for Toyota, I just LOVE the truck!

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  Most reliable vehicle Ive ever owned - 1998 Toyota T100
  By Ron G - January 26 - 2:00 pm

  Bought it used 8 years ago, and Ive driven it like I stole it ever since. Currently has 196,000 on the clock and I can list the repairs on one hand: new ignition lock cylinder at 120k, new ignition coil and wires at 190k. Less than $600 in repairs. I get about 21 mpg on my daily commute, running it like a scalded dog. The rep on these is golden. Ive had several offers to buy mine from complete strangers. This one has made me a loyal Toyota customer for life, if not longer.

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  A great big little car! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Katarra8 - January 26 - 11:00 am

  A fun to drive, economical car with a great style. It has more headroom than my previous Cadillac, more leg room, and the rear passengers have leg room, even with the front seats all the way back! I love not having to even take my keys out of my pocket to use the vehicle! Weve got a second Prius on order, because my husband and I BOTH want to drive the car!

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  I hate this car! - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By janie - January 26 - 8:07 am

  I have been a Toyota fan since I bought my first one in the 1960s, I havent owned any other brand and I was never disappointed until 2016. I was extremely happy with my 2004 and never would have given it up(it only had 48,000 mi.) if it wasnt totaled by another driver. At low speeds(30mph) the car hesitates as if I am continually touching the brake. At highway speed (60mph) the car does not hold the road and drifts, so I am constantly steering to hold the car steady. At my six month checkup they told me the car was performing normally and this was backed up by a case manager at Toyota headquarters. I have the temperature set at 66 degrees, but the air always seems too hot or too cold. I am short and I find the visibility poor. I am also over 65 so I am not a fan of having to program everything,but thats my problem, not the cars. Well, thats enough complaining for now.

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  Not what I expected - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By John - January 26 - 7:33 am

  I was disappointed by the fuel economy of the car. This was the major reason I bought it. Fuel economy was 19/20 mpg and I was not driving in an aggressive manner. Build quality was rather poor for price. A lot of features were missing, eg there was no indication on the remaining miles in the fuel tank. Stereo system was of poor quality and sound. It felt wobbly and shaky when I drove it on the highway and did not feel very safe. The center of gravity should be a bit lower. One positive aspect was that there is plenty of room inside for two adults, two kids and baggage.

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  The most versatile high MPG hybrid - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By jcihak - January 26 - 7:21 am

  When we went looking for a car that got both high real MPG and had good utility, we had few choices. It was either a sacrifice of MPG or cargo space. The Prius Vs only competition is the C-Max, but in the real world the V gets better mileage and has a lot more cargo room. . Although the Prius V is not a standout car, its the one that met all our needs, and left us pleasantly surprised. . We got the Model 5 with the 17" wheels. It handles much better than any Prius I ever drove before. I think the trade-off is a big turning radius and expensive tires. However, the big tires do not seem to hurt mpg. . The engine is noisy when pressed, but still manages even on long highway hills.

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  The Solara SLE will blow you away! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By thetoolman - January 26 - 7:06 am

  No car is perfect but the Solara comes close. First the few cons: 1. If you are over six feet tall you will find the headroom tight especially in the rear. 2. The view out the rear window is poor. Other than that this car ROCKS! To have a smooth, powerful, reliable, beautiful loaded head turner of a car for under 27m is incredible. The interior is impeccable with high quality materials fit for the finest Lexus. Outside the car looks like the $64,000 Lexis SC430 except that it has a real back seat (roomy too!) and a big trunk. Go figure. The smooth powerful V6 is a joy to behold and the interior cabin seems soundproof. The SLE is loaded with features but the best feature is owning one.

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  Great but.............. - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By OhwhatUdotome - January 26 - 12:46 am

  So far after 1700 miles I only HATE 2 things. 1. The pedals for gas/brake/shifting were designed only for people with size 5 or smaller shoes. My Size 13s are constanly getting tangled in the tiny pedals. 2. Shifting into 2nd gear seems to be a challenge for this clutch as it tends to grind loudly unless the pedal is press extra hard to the floor when shifting. I would buy and automatic possibly but never a manual with this pedal dimensions and clutch.

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  Nice Prius - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By ProudPriusOwner - January 25 - 11:53 pm

  Read about it, bought it, love it. The interior is amazing. Im just waiting for PHEV now.