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:

• 

  Saves money without sacrifice - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Glenn S - April 13 - 10:46 pm

  After doing extensive research we dedided to get the 2005 Prius. Now everyone we take for a drive wants one! It is fantastic! We get a minimum of 40MPG with A/C running all the time. Very comfortable, smooth ride, quiet and spacious. Everyone is very impressed with it.

• 

  Best value for the money - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By josreb - April 12 - 5:14 pm

  I bought my 2002 Camry LE at 52k and now have 129k with no issues and I dont really expect any. We are a Toyota family having had 5 Corollas, 2 Camrys and a recently purchased 1998 Lexus ES 300 with 120k miles. If taken care of with regular maintenance these cars will last well beyond 200k miles. My next car will most likely be a 10 yr old Camry or Lexus. Cant go wrong IMO.

• 

  Love This Car - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Toyota Lover - April 12 - 10:46 am

  I love love love my RAV4. I got this SUV because I was looking for reliability after having trouble with two prior cars by a different maker. And boy did I get what I paid for. This car is great. It drives great. Havent had any problems. I can fit a lot in the back w/o the seats. Back seat passengers are relatively comfortable. Maneuvers well.

• 

  Love the FJ cruiser. - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Kal - April 12 - 9:26 am

  Bought this car after a lot of research. I am a big Toyota fan and this car has lived up to my expectation. Used to drive a RWD Mercedes Benz and just hated driving it in the winter in Iowa. But this car drives like a champ and is so comfortable. My boys (8 and 4) love the car and can sit comfortably in the rear seat. Blind spot is no big deal. if you drive well you get used to it just like anything else in life. Would not miss out on the other great features of the car because of that.

• 

  Purchased my Echo new in 2001 - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By johnmichael2 - April 12 - 7:26 am

  My Echo will be 10 years old in the Fall with 104,000 miles. I recently began looking for a new car due to age and mileage. Then I realized how much I still enjoyed the car. The car is in great shape and has only needed normal replacement items such as oil changes, tires and brakes. After evaluating the Echo I decided I am happy with what I already have. The reviews posted here made me realize with so many with higher mileage I should keep driving the Echo.

• 

  jpitre1242 - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By jpitre1242 - April 12 - 12:56 am

  I cannot believe I have not turned to Toyota before now. For some reason Toyota has gotten it right. I feel like the driver comes first in design, not the mechanic. This is a fun truck. I dont feel like Im trying to be the "Dad" type of guy. Just a young family man being smart about fuel economy and enjoying the sporty drive. Its all good to me!

• 

  Solid Vehicle - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - April 12 - 12:40 am

  Bought this vehicle new. Has easily been the most reliable vehicle Ive ever owned with no dealer visits at all. At 73K miles (averaging 19K/year) all I have needed to do is change the tires once and oil regularly. Extremely unexpectedly, havent even changed the brakes (although Im close, measured depth was around 55-60% remaining as of a month ago). I log every gallon of gas by the current mileage. On full synthetic oil Im getting 27 daily to/from work ("leadfooted" - not granny drivin on V4) but only 33 on pure Hwy at 80mph. Had exactly one defect - manufacturing defect for rear speaker covers - they crumbled after about 3 years.

• 

  Cross Country Machine! - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By daf62757 - April 11 - 3:36 pm

  I bought my brand new 2011 Sienna XLE about a month ago. I was going to take a cross country trip (Indy to San Diego, LA, San Fransisco, Elko, Grand Junction, Denver, Salina to Indy. I wanted a large van but not a full size van. My wife loved the Toyota and after about a month of dealing with local Indy dealers on my 2006 Rav4 as a trade in, I finally bought one. The selection of available vans was better at some dealers than others. I bought from the dealer in Anderson, Indiana because they gave me the most for my trade in. After a month of ownership and about 6K miles, I can report back that this mini van is excellent. It got very good gas mileage, comfortable, and fun to drive.

• 

  It has everything! - 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By kingira - April 11 - 8:23 am

  I have owned a MB and a BMW convertible for the past 17 years. They both used premium gas and were fun to drive and handled great. The seats were comfortable, too. My new Avalon handles almost as good, the seats are even more comfortable (hugging me), and it does not use premium gas. The new electronics and technology is super. It takes several weeks to get to know how to use it but it is worth it.

• 

  Sienna Really Is Number One! - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By Gail - April 11 - 8:16 am

  We live deep in the countryside and our routes have harsh paved roads, so we eliminated the Honda Odyssey because of its pronounced road noise. The Sienna absorbs the rough pavement and really does feel like we are driving a Lexus. The ride is luxurious without feeling like we are floating down the road. Gas mileage is 27-28 mpg consistently when driving 55-70 mph. The steering feels precise and it has a tight turning radius. The engine is quiet and has strong acceleration when needed. The interior has versatile configurations, depending on the cargo, whether it is groceries, grand kids, dogs, handicapped relatives, or all of the above! The LE plus some extra options is a great value!