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 Nimble - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By San Diego Rav 4 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a 96 BMW 318is and love the RAV 4. It is very nimble and responsive, Has enough get up and go for city driving, and is more fun to drive than I thought it would be. Not a luxury car or as solid as a BMW, but it is a great vehicle for the money. It is so easy and comfortable to drive.

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  Bad Experiences - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By mee304 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased one in the artic frost pearl white, very nice looking car. I took it home 80 miles from the dealership. There was excessive wind noise from the drivers side top and about half way home the check engine light came on. The car had 5 miles on it when I took it. I called the dealership and the following day I had to bring it back. They ran the diagnostic and discovered a problem with the engine, transmission and two other things. The noise from the top was because of a defect in the top designed that Toyota was already aware of but decided to put it out anywa

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  Great Investment - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By case2003 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  My AWD V8 Limited 4Runner is very stylish, powerful, and comfortable. It gets great mileage for an SUV at 19.2 mpg even with the all-wheel drive. Its my first Toyota after owning 3 Pontiacs, 1 Chevy truck, and a Dodge Ram. It is superior in quality and I feel it will be a great long term investment.

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  Awsome truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By bryan nc - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Great truck. Handles very well on and off road. No problems out of it yet.

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  Everything you would want bundled up. - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Don Noble - November 7 - 10:00 am

  The Camry has not changed its reputation over the years. It is a vehicle that gives you a quiet, silky smooth ride, plenty of pep on the road, while maintaining a compact car like gas mileage. 33 MPG on the highway. The 4 cylinder engine, at 160 hp, would fool most people as they would think they were driving a 6 cylinder. Rear seating provides adequate space for a family of 4. The dash functions are simple and well laid out. When I look at the new sticker prices of some of the less dependable vehicles on the market today . . . the Toyota Camry is an absolute bargain with its price, comfort, style and overall dependability.

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  As fun to drive as a toaster - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Skuuter - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I do not own a Camry, but drove an LE rental for more than a week. The car had very few miles on it so it wasnt abused. Personally, I dont see what the attraction to Camry is outside of reliability. For myself, Id trade a little reliability for a dash of excitement. The car is boring, in styling and in performance. Its well built, a comfortable cruiser, good for commutes, but I would never buy one unless I had to. Its just basic transportation at a premium. I think you folks need to shop around and experience some other brands, unless driving is not something you like to do.

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  Very Satisfied - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By Bpa49 - November 7 - 9:13 am

  Before buying I researched and read reviews about every brand of truck in this class. The Tundra was by far the most vehicle for the money especially after the rebates that were going on in July, 08. The SR5 trim level has all the most common standard features that you would not have on a similar priced Ford or Chevy. Has plenty of power with the 5.7, very comfortable to drive, quiet, and even the gas mileage isnt bad for a 6000 lb 381 hp vehicle. I travel 42 miles per day on the hilly interstates of western PA and average 15.6 mpg. On a 600 mile trip I averaged 18+. Only complaint is sometimes the transmission downshifts a little too easily even going down a moderate hill.

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  Glad I Chose It - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Rob - November 7 - 7:40 am

  This car rides just as well as the familys Benz sedan or Infiniti suv. Its been great in stop and go, as well as on the highway. The cloth seats feel both durable and comfy. Real world fuel economy has been more along the lines of 22.5/25 vs. 23/28 advertised, par for the course if not better. The 4cyl can chase down your normal traffic without even punching it. This car deserves a look for cargo space alone, which even includes an extra few cubic feet buried beneath the mats. Take a seat in the back and youll immediately notice how far away the front seats really are. Passengers have plenty of leg room and can even recline if need be. It gets a lot of looks for its exterior too.

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  Full Throttle - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Yarrrr! - November 7 - 2:46 am

  Flawless car. Any time I think I hear a noise or think the car has changed in some way, its just me. It is amazing. Mine gets 39mpg on the highway (manual) and gets around 30 in town. Its great fun to wind it out once in a while through the gears. Absolutely amazing quality and efficiency. I love it!

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  Great car - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Enrique - November 6 - 11:40 pm

  Worth the price, the only issue im having is the mpg, im getting an average of 21 mpg