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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  I love my Javier! ;) - 2013 Toyota Corolla
  By mrsneal - August 14 - 2:17 am

  I absolutely love my Corolla! I loved the warranty options offered by ToyotaCare, and I generally couldnt be happier with my dealership and that entire process. There are very few negative things I can even say about this car. The gas mileage is great, I average 32.2 around town! When it comes down to it, hes not a luxury sedan, and there arent umpteen million bells and whistles, but hes fun, sporty, and an all around an awesome car if youre not a nit-picker. More electronic garbage is more to possibly malfunction, I dont need it. (Even saying this, my 92 Celicas electronics all function perfectly, so I really wasnt concerned in Toyotas functionality, other brand owners, beware!)

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  Gary Brinson - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Gary Brinson - August 14 - 1:03 am

  I have been a GM person for 30 years even though Ive had other brands as well during this time. I decided to try the Toyota Tundra double cab and I have not been disappointed. The quality is very good and Ive not had to take it back to the dealer for any problems yet. It is also fun to drive.

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  We love our Sequoia - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By ToddH - August 14 - 12:06 am

  This is the best vehicle weve ever owned. The ride, drive and comfort are way beyond what we expected. One of the very best in its class and we looked at every one of them...

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  247k miles and still kicking! - 1996 Toyota 4Runner
  By jnp16 - August 13 - 8:34 pm

  I got this car 7 years ago at 150k miles. Im now nearing a quarter of a million mi (247k). Ive had to replace several things, but nothing unexpected and this car has only left me "stranded" once (hole in radiator, so if you count pulling over to put water in as "stranded"). This thing takes a beating from me--I offroad often and it takes 300miles trips constantly as I go back and forth from school (for 6yrs). Couldnt ask for a more fun, better looking, more reliable car! I plan on running this thing into the ground, and at 247k that still seems far away! Things changed: o2 sensor, radiator, timing belt, rear axle seals, booster, ignition, 1 fuel injector. Spread out over 7yrs, NOT BAD

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  Solid Truck - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By Chris - August 13 - 5:40 pm

  I have always been a car guy but since I moved into my first house, the need for a truck had become quite apparent. Overall, I really like the truck, the appearance is what initially sold me on this particular model. In the few months since I bought the truck, gas prices have soared and unfortuantly I am only getting about 17 mpg (and that is with an Cold Air Intake installed on the truck). I have not had any problems thus far with the truck. Very reliable Pros: Fun to drive, Loose back end makes corners fun (equipped with LSD), nice acceleration, nice appearance. Cons: Fuel economy, loose back end, paint job is kinda cheap, engine bay gets dirty quickly. Overall happy, but miss my car

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  Excellent family vehicle. - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By TWM - August 13 - 4:56 pm

  Brand new vehicle that weve had for 24 hours. I really like the feature set of this auto. The leather appointments are well finished and of extremely high quality. The laser cruise adjust is very nice on the highway. The navi system is accurate and easy to use. The three zone air conditioning works very well. There are almost too many features to discuss. Suffice to say, this is a luxury mini-van if there is such a thing.

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  Great except for the navigation - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By D Karin - August 13 - 3:40 pm

  I purchased a 2028 Camry XSE with all options. Everything is very good except for the Scout navigation. Nothing is built into the car. To use it you must have the Scout app on your smartphone and the phone linked to your car. Once you get into the car you need to plug the phone into a USB port, and then start the app on Entune. If you go out of network, functionality goes away until back in network. When you leave the car, you need to remember to unplug and take your phone with you. If you get a heads up display, you will only see navigation on a V6 with integrated navigation. The app itself leaves much to be desired. In three years you will need to pay a subscription fee to use it.

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  Rav4 2009 - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By NKK - August 13 - 10:23 am

  I have had this Rav4 for almost 2 weeks. Its a Base V6 4wd. The first tank of gas gave me an avg mileage 24 mpg for a combination of Highway and City. Ride quality feels solid but engine noise is very evident for the first few gears and once we pick up speed >40 miles you can hardly hear a hum. I chose the Rav4 over CRV, just because it offers a v6 option and Honda doesnt. I am hoping 270 Hp coupled with 4wd should suffice to drive on hilly and snowy winters.

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  Bills first 16 months with Highlander H - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Bill - August 13 - 7:13 am

  Bought for economy. Hwy @ 26 mpg, city @ 32 mpg, thus almost reaching rating of 28/34. Excellent power, smooth transition between gas and electric, transmission shifts seemlessly. Dealer service dept very fast for scheduled service. Zero maintenance problems in 31000 miles. Very quiet operation in city and highway. Big enough to haul stuff like power washer, wheel barrow, construction materials, etc. We are very pleased with the vehicle.

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  My Second Prius - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Beth Webber - August 13 - 6:26 am

  No matter how many times car people tell me that the Prius is never going to pay for itself, Ill still drive one. This is my second one and I love everything about it, especially the fact that the pollution level is so low. My mileage for my 2003 averaged 45-49 mpg (actual mileage) and the new one is 49-52 mpg so far. Foo on the naysayers-this is a really comfortable and well handling little car. I love the back up camera and the 8 airbag option also.