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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  What fun! - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Love it - November 4 - 11:06 am

  I love the way this vehicle handles. It is quite nimble and quick. In the V6 model acceleration is better (much better) than I had with a V8 Explorer. Interior room is very satisfactory allowing me to have my large breed dog crate in the back without issue and to also offer room to the other dogs. It is fun to drive!! We did some off road driving yesterday through mud, up hills and over some rough terrain. I have the V6 Ltd model and am very pleased so far. I am small so the seats work well for me as does the rest of the car. The best thing about this SUV is the handling. It is so fast out of the starting blocks it was tough to get used to. Turning radius is on a dime. Stopping on a dime OK.

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  Great car! - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Bill - November 4 - 6:00 am

  I was all set to purchase an"05 Lexus ES330, but saw this car at the Detroit Auto Show. It was bigger, faster and got better mileage than the Lexus. I ordered it in Feb. and picked it up when I returned from a trip. So far I like everything about it. Its faster and more comfortable than my BMW 3 series was.

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  The best little car in the west - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By Debby - November 4 - 5:16 am

  After much study of the compact cars out there and trying several of them, I kept going back to Echo for the excellent comfort, especially the seat height for anyone with a bad back. As for the quality for the price, it is well made, handles so well, not wobbly at all, I am not sure what the Editor was driving, but my Echo is so responsive and smooth. Yes, there are cars out there with more power, but for a sub-compact car it has all the power you need, you can add all the bells and whistles you need. I got mine with the 15" wheels and it makes the ride so much smoother. I would recommend the Echo to anyone who wants comfort at a great price!

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  My First Camry - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By New car - November 4 - 2:56 am

  I just upgraded from my 10 year old Corolla to this Camry and am loving it so far. It has every option except the navigation and I added all of the available safety features (side curtain air-bag, traction/stability control). The ride is very smooth and the outside noise is minimal. Im 65" and find the head room to be lacking. I have to lean the seat back more than I would like to have enough head clearance. It does not have a telescoping steering wheel but if it did it would be perfect. The instrument lights are a bit too bright. When you dim them down to a comfortable brilliance, the radio/environmental controls are unreadable, so I have to live with bright instruments. Great car!

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  le. Just ok! - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By J Martin - November 4 - 1:08 am

  Purchased a 2016 LE approx 2 months ago.....3000 miles later...the verdict. Basic transportation....good room for 4 adults. Stereo sucks....pitiful speakers..no bass. Rear doors sound cheap when closed. Does get 32 mpg-at least according to the computer....Guess I was spoiled by my 2 Hondas.. Why on earth did Honda go to CVTs? Bought it because several of my co-workers have them. Less than thrilling, is all I can say!

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  Great car for the bucks - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By bajabob - November 4 - 12:30 am

  We have been waiting since 02 to buy a new Camry after having rented one on a trip. The ride and handling are much improved on the 06 as well as the reduction in road noise. The majority of our driving is short city trips with a small amount of highway driving. In spite of this we averaged 27.44 mpg on the first tank and 28.56 mpg on the second. The 2.4 liter 4 cyl delivers all of the power one could wish for and the transmission shifts without any noticeable feel of having done so. I would recomend this vehicle to anyone wanting a car of this size. The huge trunk is also an added plus for handling all the normal things one would normally need to haul in it.

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  Not what they were in 89 - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Rob Gregory - November 3 - 9:50 pm

  Well, though its good, there are some quality issues. First month I had it, it would miss and accelerate on hills in the cold. Toyota fixed that. The rear seats only fold down w/ the headpieces off and front seats forward. New tires at 22K. New rotors and pads at 50K dealer tried to charge over $1,000 for that. Got it done for $550. Dirt piles up inside rear door/wheelwell. The interior fan motor now freezes when the temp is below 25*F. Toyota wont fix that. I need to pay $400 for their mess. My windows cant defrost in the morning now. Tire pressure light is on all the time cause I refuse to pay $190 for a new valve that Toyota needs to program to your truck.

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  2001 Tundra - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By Jdun - November 3 - 9:40 pm

  We love our vehicle and it has performed so well that our local mechanic wants to buy it if/when we decide to sell it. Quiet and comfortable and good mileage-as high as 19mpg on the highway.

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  2000 Echo, loving it - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By Al - November 3 - 8:43 pm

  I purchased this car for my son in May 2005 with 88000 miles on it and have since added 6000 miles without any troubles. Its a solid little car which gets excellent mpg. With the price of gas going high, I was lucky to pick this up.

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  Love the Prius! - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By KRymar - November 3 - 5:50 pm

  I have owned this car since May 2002 and I absolutely love it. Im so happy I got it before the big "prius craze" began. I paid $20K for it -- just about have to double that to get one these days. Im in that mode where Im ready for a new car, but am not willing to give up the perks of owning this car. My only regret is that I didnt get the GPS system - boy how I wish I had! Ill probably keep this car longer than any other -- my gas mileage varies between 37 and 47 mpg depending on the time of year.