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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  Looks Cool, Fun to Drive and Durable. - 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Moto Moto - July 14 - 5:00 pm

  I have considered buying a FJ since 2006. However the radical design gave me mixed feelings. I was so use to buying boring but practical cars like Accords and Camrys. Buying a FJ would be a drastic departure from my norm. I finally realized that I wanted a vehicle that invoked passion. I wanted a personality (not just a truck). So I purchased the 2010 TT. I am glad I waited. The 2010 version addressed a lot of the short comings of the FJ including - Back-up Camera, reduced turn radius, improved gas mileage and standard unleaded gas. I plan to keep it for at least 10 Years.

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  Great truck - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By h20bugz - July 14 - 8:40 am

  This is the first truck I have ever owned. I drive it hard and it has made 4 cross country trips pulling a fully loaded u-haul. I am about to roll 200K and besides tires, oil and timing belts I have only had the brakes and the clutch master cylinder go out. I bought it because of the reliability Toyota is praised for and I will definitely go back for another one. Problem is I dont see me trading mine in for another couple of years.

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  Great SUV! - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Akent - July 14 - 7:00 am

  This is my second 4Runner after driving my 1996 for 289,000 miles.The tanklike build is no longer there, so dont expect to be backing into trees and stuff without replacing either bumper.The ride is much improved, along with the cabin noise.The sunroof is a pain, since you either press the button to let it open the hatch all the way, or punch the button in short spurts to inch it back.The cup holders were redesigned into the console with adjustable grips and lighted for nighttime driving.The JBL Synthesis stereo is great.The fuel economy is 20- 21, which is similar to my 1996 model.But, I expect it will get better as it gets broken in. Interior needs XSP seats standard.

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  Loving it! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Flocculus - July 13 - 8:16 pm

  Having owned a loved the Prius for a year and a half, were about to buy another to become a Prius-only family. I cant imagine going back down on gas mileage from our around-50 average. The ergonomics are terrific. The space is perfectly usable. It has all the zip we need. Despite Toyotas prohibition, Im about to start doing light towing occasionally, which I think will be great. We have had absolutely no problems. Ive looked and looked, and there isnt another car on the market that stands up to this one.

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  RAV4 Again -- Just Like My Dad Told Me - 2018 Toyota RAV4
  By Sharon - July 13 - 3:01 pm

  My dad told me to find a car that was comfortable to drive, required little maintenance and treat it well. I bought a RAV4 again because the highest maintenance bill on my old 2012 Rav was $25. Dad was right

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  START STOP HAS TO GO - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By JIM YOUNG - July 13 - 12:49 pm

  This highlander has start stop tech. Which absolutely sucks. The engine tries to stop running before the car comes to a stop. It hesitates on start up. The advertising misrepresents this feature. It is not safe. It does not save gas. Its a joke on the american public. The consumer should be able to turn this off permanently. I had a 2014 highlander which was a very good vehicle, however, i have told folks to stay away from the 2017 because of the start stop crap.

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  Finally Got It!!! - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Troy - July 13 - 1:26 am

  I had always wanted a Tacoma, unfortunately I could never afford one until now. I started out about 3 years ago with my first Truck a 1999 Ranger. While this is a decent truck to start out with, I still wanted my Tacoma. So when I finally decided that I could afford one I went down to the Toyota dealer and bought a 2003 2.7L 5-Speed 4WD extended cab. It has loads more power then my Ranger(2.5L) as well as plenty of torque. While it is not a race engine, it still has plenty of power for what I need to do. I couldnt see wasting my money on a Hemi just to accelerate faster and get 8-10 MPG. The 4WD is superior to any other brand of truck, way better than the ranger.

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  Dad Got His Way! - 2015 Toyota Avalon
  By Chris Smith - July 12 - 10:48 pm

  Ive owned two Mercedes (Purchased new_ and two Caddies (purchased new) and this car compares very well with both of at less cost and certainly no sacrifice in looks.

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  Tall drivers beware - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
  By JD - July 12 - 8:20 pm

  Am in the 2010 Tacoma for 2 weeks now and its clearly evident that for larger - especially taller - drivers this is a cramped truck. It appears that the truck will be able to carry out most of the tasks I need it to do but if you are over 6 tall I would recommend a full size truck. Perhaps it didnt help that I had a Dodge Quad Cab before but there is no storage for tools, etc. in the cab...no room period. Once you have adjusted the drivers seat there is no leg room in the rear so the double cab doors are for access and will not seat 4 adults.

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  2012 SE 2.5 after 35k mi - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By drjjjj - July 12 - 7:00 pm

  Pros: The looks have grown on me (like the wedge) the interior is well designed and worn well (no wear) the mpg avg is 28-29, 65% highway, no breakdowns, should have good resale. Cons: have 1 second VVTi cold start rattle start at approx 15k, will need new cam, etc. Toyota will replace no charge-but factory sealed motor no more-well see. Tranny needed re-flash for slow speed shudder which wasnt too bad-about 45mph did some intermittent slight shudder -gearing too tall for mpg improvement? I would argue todays car is getting overly complicated because of the pressure to get MPGs!! Also, dont even touch the new direct injected or CVT trannys most offer now (read forums)