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:

• 

  Good pricing and good card - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Huu ly - December 12 - 6:30 am

  I have Toyota Avalon XLE . Just buy before this Camry SE like 3 week. But my Camry is better than Avalon. Save gas

• 

  2005 Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By sean - December 11 - 11:10 pm

  I bought my Prius only seven months after buying a Dodge Dakota. The cost of gas was almost equal to my monthly truck payment. Although you donÂ’t usually get quite what the sticker says the fuel economy is absolutely phenomenal. It truly is the car of the future! It is impossible to fully understand how impressive this car can be until you drive it. It has great safety features and is very convenient with the available smart key and GPS navigation system. I love my car and it was the best car I have ever bought.

• 

  Fun Car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By commuter515 - December 11 - 8:46 pm

  Very fun car to drive, tons of room, lots of great features not found on comparable cars: the hatch glass opens independently of hatch, wall type outlet, auto sensing lights, passenger seat folds flat, etc. Great mpg, I commute 120 miles a day, all highway, I average 33 mpg at 70 mph. Acceleration stinks but this is not a sports car, its a wagon. Like a car, it is not perfect - I currently have 130,000 miles, cat converter went bad at 120K, locks are starting to fail - they do not respond to keychain. AC condensation hose came loose under dash and passenger side carpet got soaked (everyone thought it was the sunroof but it wasnt). But still an awesome car.

• 

  Satisfied Yaris Owner - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Commuter - December 11 - 7:30 am

  I replaced a 1981 Toyota Starlet with a 2008 Yaris S Hatchback. The new car is superior to the old one in every respect. Fuel economy over my 20 mile round-trip commute in moderate-to-heavy traffic has ranged from 35 to 39 mpg thus far. The car is tremendously fun to drive, and has plenty of power for freeway maneuvers. Thus far, after 3 months -- no complaints!

• 

  Fun - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Rodger - December 11 - 7:16 am

  I just bought this last week and drove it 5 hours to San Diego. This is far more comfortable than I thought it would be. This car gets a lot of looks. I had it raised 6 inches and it looks amazing.

• 

  Durable Truck - 1995 Toyota Tacoma
  By Meross - December 11 - 3:16 am

  This truck is fantastic. 182,000 miles and going strong. Drives like new, never breaks, and super reliable. This truck has never broken down- never- and starts every morning like it was new. Original clutch, original starter, original alternator, never a valve job, and the thing still averages 20mpg combined city/highway. This is simply a terrific small truck.

• 

  Reassurance for those wondering - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Patrick H. - December 10 - 8:46 pm

  I had some hesitation in buying this car because of all the issues (e.g. transmission problems, etc.) addressed on several online forums. I havent experienced any problems in 4K miles. I am particularly impressed with the V6 performance. I drive on the autobahn in Germany and this car keeps up with the BMWs, Audis, and Mercedes (top speed elec. limited to 140 mph). Germans who spent thousands more stare in disbelief when I am on their tail. Other cars may be faster, but for real world driving (even on the autobahn), this car is more than adequate. Forget all the naysayer reviews which quibble about handling - you arent going to drive on a racetrack.

• 

  best car i have ever owned - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By DOC - December 10 - 8:05 pm

  all the people writing bad things about this car are out of there minds,for the money you cant find a better car,ive owed 6 accords and 2 sonatas and they dont compare to the Camry.,great car

• 

  Great Car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By jmstt - December 10 - 1:46 pm

  I purchased this car because it had everything I was looking for. Performance, 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds. Practicality, good interior space, easy to get in and out of including putting an infant in a car seat. Luxury, when I test drove this car I thought I was in a Lexus. It is very solid. The JBL radio with the handsfree bluetooth system is worth every penny. I couldnt believe how easy it was to pair with my cell phone. Every time I get in the car it automatically finds my phone. The sound quality is excellent and answering or dialing a call couldnt be easier. The six speed auto transmission is very smooth.

• 

  What more could you ask for in an SUV? - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Lisa - December 10 - 12:33 am

  Love my car... Its beautiful--no space alien design--its luxurious, and it drives like a dream. I commute 80+ miles one way, so my vehicle plays an important role in my life. I couldnt have made a better choice. The handling is surprisingly good when you consider the extra weight, and the vehicle is so quiet, half the time Im not even sure its really on. The Limited trim gives you just about everything you could ask for, but after market options are available-- and mine have worked out just fine.