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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  Prius ROCKS - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Deb WOlfe - April 5 - 10:00 am

  This car was a rental for four days for me and I at first was a bit intimidated but soon realized it was the coolest thing I have ever driven. The economy of it makes it the most alluring but you add comfort and convenience of the interior and it wins hands down for us! When shown to family they loved it as much and I possibly have 2 people actually wanting to buy it for their next vehicle.

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  rough, tough and fun to drive - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By cj812 - April 5 - 10:00 am

  Ive had nothing but good experiences with this vehicle. Looks great, handles great and has to usual toyota quality.

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  Camry over Accord. - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By VA for Camrys - April 5 - 10:00 am

  Bought the Camry LE w/ABS over the Accord LX. Had both at my house for 48 hours. The Camry has a smoother and quieter ride, more room and looks more expensive. The Accord is a good car and superior to the Altima and Galant, but doesnt stack up to the Camry. The Accord is a little quicker and has sportier handling, but if I wanted that Id buy a sports car not a 4 door sedan. I guess thats why the Camry is still outselling Accords. While testing the two cars I noticed that the Accord had a cheaper feel to its interior, the Camry just felt like a more expensive car. My final verdict came after I drove both on the interstate, the Camry won hands down!

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  Great Car - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Kai - April 4 - 7:13 pm

  Ive only had the car for 2 days and Im very satisfied with it. The leather seats are outstanding and the ride is just comfortable. Ive had a 1997 camry for a year and it does not ride nearly as well. The camry has lots of body roll and the Avalon does not (It has a firmer suspension).

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  Excellent...except in snow - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Joe - April 4 - 11:26 am

  Terrific vehicle in every way except incredibly poor, dangerous snow traction (on 4x4!!). Problem appears to be Toyo A20 tire. Problem is worsened by availability of only 1 other factory sized alternative, a Bridgestone with an equally bad snow rating. Out of actual fear of factory tire snow traction during past two winters, I switched to 235-55x19 Yokohamas (at only 16,000 miles) with much better snow results thus far. Treadwear on factory tire was also very poor, and I drive in suburban traffic at 35-45 miles per hour I may be forced to full snows if Yokos prove no better than Toyos after mileage accumulates. I have alerted both Toyo and Toyota.

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  Second Highlander even better than our first - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By JillRN - April 4 - 9:06 am

  We decided to upgrade our 2011 Highlander to the 2017 XLE AWD and could not be more happy with the decision. The new model has many safety upgrades and is a perfect family vehicle. Love the push button start, backup camera, and navigation. It is quiet, stylish, and handles very well. Looking forward to many years of driving enjoyment! Toyota makes the very best mid-size SUV that has a ton of features in a reliable package. Very pleased!

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  Traded an XB - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By blu287 - April 4 - 7:03 am

  Work at a Toyota dealer....Traded in an 06 XB which i loved but the 0% for 60 plus the same drive train which I trust made it irresistible. 36.9 mpg on the first tank. Surprised at the interior space..Im 510" 240 fit just fine. Vehicle seems to search for its spot in the lane at freeway speeds. Could be me though I had 17s on the XB. Overall a great car...Oh by the way my other car is an 2009 Audi A4

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  Good choice for a long commute - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Jacob King - April 4 - 3:53 am

  Overall this is a great vehicle. After two years, there are no visible problems, and I have been very impressed with its reliability. Interior looks great and it is a comfortable way to make my hour-long commute every morning.

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  For all the Camry lovers out there this is THE CAR. - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By omikron - April 3 - 5:46 pm

  Just wanted to share my recent purchase experiences with this car. I test drove Camry SE, Sonata(regular), Accord LX. The reason I didnt try the sportier versions of Accord and Sonata was simply because I didnt feel that other than the rims anything was different. Anyways, Ive almost purchased Sonata due to very nice look and great price they gave me. Though walked out saying will return the next morning(so to speak sleep on it). Went to drive 2011 Camry SE (4cyl, 6A) the next day and simply didnt want to get out of the car. The bad things(in my opinion) that Ive noticed in Sonata right away were: engine noise, transmission shifting was awkward, visibility limited.

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  An Easy Decision - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By ProPower - April 3 - 1:00 pm

  It came down to the new Pathfinder or the 4Runner. The Pathfinder is a great ride,V-8 acceleration from a V-6, comfortable interior. But the Toyota seemed to be better built, with higher quality interior materials and a smoother highway ride. The 4Runner also feels lighter and more nimble on pavement thanks in part to the X-REAS suspension which all but eliminates the body roll and pitch that plague a lot of SUVs.