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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  Great Car! - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By formergmowner - January 3 - 1:23 am

  I managed to lease the elusive and rare 6 speed manual Camry SE. Since I control the acceleration of the car I love the way it moves and doesnt lag or over-rev like the automatics do. I used to have 3 Mustangs and this car definitely compares in the "fun to drive" category. Plus, with the more powerful motor its actually faster than my Nissan Maxima 3.0 V6 that has 222 hp and this is only a 4 cylinder with 179 hp! AWESOME car overall.

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  Great truck for two - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Eric Daly - January 2 - 8:48 pm

  Love the truck, just needed more room. The 4 door is in the works.

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  All is well except the paint! - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By roset1 - January 2 - 6:55 pm

  We own a 2005 Highlander Limited which has become the family pony. Overall, we have been very happy with it except: Since day one, there was a pencil eraser size bubble spot on both side mirrors. The bubble grew like a blister and eventually it popped. Come to find out, the mirrors were NEVER primed prior to painting. I brought it up to the dealers attention while still a dime size blister and still under warranty, they did nothing about it. Now, 6 years later, my mirrors have peeled. Toyota assumes no responsibility. Word of caution: inspect your vehicle and look for even the smallest flaw in the paint. Point it out and have them fix it prior to buying. It will save you $$ and grief.

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  Third 4-Runner & it only gets better!!! - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By partisan - January 2 - 8:50 am

  This is out third 4-Runner, and we are about to hit the 36K miles warranty mark. The power is really good, and we are averaging 19 MPG. I wish I could honestly say I had some problem, but thats not the case. This is the first Limited, the other two were SR5s. Being built in Japan with 100% Japanese parts seems to be the best builds. As for SUVs, this really is as good as it gets!

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  Senior Citizens love our Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Jean & Stan - January 2 - 3:03 am

  Having previously owned a Honda Pilot and a Toyota Highlander, we opted for a vehicle that is more user friendly. We found it in the Toyota Venza. We are looking for to our trip back to the Midwest, anticipating great performance and comfortable ride from the Venza. The dual heat/ac controls and large cargo area behind the rear seats is a big plus for us. We just feel very comfortable riding in this vehicle.

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  Back & Leg Pains after Driving for 2 days - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By HLH - January 2 - 12:23 am

  My wife just bought a 2009 Camry LE with lumbar support - but after 2 days of driving to and from work she is experiencing back and leg pains. She never had this problem with the lumbar support in the 2008 Sienna LE.

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  Best Car EVER!!! - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By apl - January 1 - 11:36 pm

  I have owned several cars and SUVs... gas mileage aside, this is the best car ever! Its fun to drive, stylish, the interior and controls are incredible, and the 50+ MPG means you basically own the car for free. I spend about $16 a week for gas (in NYC). With my Jeep, I was spending over $75. This car pays for itself. Everybody should drive one.

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  Fun for Mommy and kids - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Marta - January 1 - 8:43 pm

  At first I thought it might be a bit small for my 2 toddlers, but it is so roomy in the back seat a tall person fits comfortably, lots of leg and head room, my kids love it and I agree. The fuel efficiency is excellent, I sometime feel like I am driving a car. It handles great.

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  Excellent Economy Car - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By karrat - January 1 - 3:13 pm

  I had an Accord for a while, but rising gas prices ($3.50 at the time) pushed me towards a more economical car. I settled on the Yaris for the fuel efficiency and cost; I get around 37 mpg on average, mostly highway driving (35 mile commute each way to work). It is a very basic vehicle, but it suits my needs just fine. I opted for the MP3/CD player which was well worth it. The AUX jack in the center console is very useful, but the placement (right below the shifter) is a little awkward. The car looks quite small on the inside, but my friends comment on how much room there is on the inside (more than they expected, at least).

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  Best car I have ever owned or driven. - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By soundcrafter - January 1 - 2:09 pm

  With 170,000 miles and not a single problem I can say I picked a winner. It drives like a dream on its Michelin tires. I get 26-30 mpg highway. I love the rounded curved dash and display. I do hate looking at the cassette tape deck (it reminds me that I am getting older and soon will someday be obsolete). I keep wanting to replace it with something new, but other new cars cant match its ride. I test drove the 2014 Mercedes, new Avalon, Lexus, infinity, BMW... The only car I liked better than the Avalon was the Audi A8 at $65,000. I will keep this car until it literally falls apart.