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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  Glad we got it ! - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By John - August 27 - 6:13 pm

  I purchased a XLE with # 8 package (DVD, NAV, etc...) and could not be happier. Looked at all of the usual suspects. I love everything about this van. the interior oozes quality. Fit and finish are superb. Performance is as expected for a vehicle of this size. I am impressed with initial fuel mileage. You cannot go wrong with a Toyota!!

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  Satisfied and still evaluating - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Terry - August 27 - 3:19 am

  Loved the fact I could buy the SE and upgrade the seats to full leather without upgrading the entire model to the XLE. I didnt want some of the XLE features so this worked well for me. I had a SE with 198,000 miles so its nice to have more comfort and conveniences.

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  about 13k miles and still like new - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By luvtoyota10 - August 26 - 11:39 pm

  Ok i got my venza back in 2010 in sept and i have been pleased ever since. It is very stylish and people stare at it when i drive by. Its very comfortable. I just found out the dashboard was padded! What a suprise never touched it. Everything is ergonomically correct. Visibility is great from the front but but as good in the back i really dont care because i have a back up camera. A bird was stuck in my grill and i tried to get it out and it fell to the bottom of the grill and now i have to take it to the toyota dealership to get it out.

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  Toyota Convert - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RavFan - August 26 - 10:10 pm

  After previously owning/driving American-made cars, I can say that after driving the RAV-4, I may not go back. Although Ive only had the RAV for a few months, it feels like Ive been driving it forever. The ride is great, the new V6 gives it tons of power, and the larger size makes it a good fit for my family. Compared to the comparable SUVs I test drove (Ford Escape, Chevy Equinox), the RAV-4 blows away those competitors in my mind. Whether on the highway or hilly 2-lane mountain roads, Ive always felt in control behind the wheel. Thus far, I havent found a driving task that the RAV-4 couldnt handle.

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  Just Impressive SUV - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By md4runnerman - August 26 - 4:23 pm

  I bought this vehicle in mid March. Honestly, I cannot find one thing wrong with this vehicle of any substance. From its beefy outside looks for 2011 to the luxurious interior this vehicle rocks! The engine is buttery smooth and quiet. Coupled with the transmission the driving experience is wonderful. Great pickup, horsepower, and acceleration. I got the navigation package which includes the JBL sound system. It all is working seamlessly. There is a lot of interior space, seats are comfortable, third row seating can be folded individually, auto climate system is great, dashboard controls and layout is first class. My gas mileage has steadily increased from 16.2 to 18.4 mpg.

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  Rav4 303,000 miles - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By Cat L. - August 26 - 12:36 pm

  I love my Rav4. I have to say I prayed over the car too and that helped. My Rav4 has 303,000 miles on it. I had it checked recently at Superior Toyota in Birmingham. I wanted it checked out and felt like apologizing for my mileage. The owner of the company said "Its a Toyota; thats what they do." It means so much to drive a car for years after paying it off. Besides regular things like brakes, tires, and oil, that youd have to do for any car, Ive only had one thing fixed;that was a timing belt, after it had 268,000 miles on it. I will definitely buy another Toyota Rav4 one day. My finance teacher said to keep a car until you no longer trust it. I still trust it.

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  Follow Up review - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Jeff - August 26 - 8:40 am

  When I bought my Yaris in 2006, I posted a quick review. I wanted to follow after 2.25 years and 40k miles. I commute 36 miles one way to work in often heavy traffic. The Yaris is great for this. It stops quickly, and starts quickly. For maintenance, so far I have changed the oil and air filters and replaced the front tires. If I keep my speed around 60 (the speed limit, btw), I get over 40 mpg; real nice when gas was $4 per gallon. When we go to lunch, my colleagues like to pile in just to ride in it. I still love the car and highly recommend it.

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  Usual Toyota Quality - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By NiceCamry - August 26 - 6:10 am

  No negatives here. Typical Toyota quality. Smooth tranny, strong horsepower when needed, good fuel economy (28 city/hwy). My car has been trouble free with no tranny issues claimed by others. Very smooth/quiet ride. My SE adds the taut driving feel and not mushy as the base unit. I get complements all the time on the looks/ride. Compared Honda, Nissan, Mazda... sorry cant beat the package/pricing of the Camry. This is our 6th Toyota and we continue to receive the quality we expect. You can not get that comfort with any other automaker other than perhaps Honda.

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  Love our Sienna limited premium awd - 2015 Toyota Sienna
  By Bettina - August 26 - 2:43 am

  Bought it and love it!

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  Nice Car - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By CCV - August 26 - 12:11 am