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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  2005 Toyota Corolla XRS - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By MGARDNER - May 6 - 8:26 pm

  I love my 2005 Toyota Corolla XRS. It is fun, sporty and very reliable. You cant go wrong with a Toyota!

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  Good Family Car, But..... - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By RG5626 - May 6 - 4:30 pm

  Although I test drove this car three times before deciding to buy, I did not appreciate how "floaty" it drives until I had it for a while. Also, I live in a hilly area and was liked the hill assist feature it was supposed to have for the brakes. But since stopping on a hill a few times Ive noticed that this feature does not work at all and the car rolls backwards even more than my last one that did not have this feature. Ill take it in for a look in case its just not working. The interior is the real selling point for this car and is very functional. I like it better than all of the flippy doors on the Camry. Have not gotten the Bluetooth to download my cell phone address book yet.

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  One month review - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Susan - May 6 - 4:13 pm

  I love my new Camry. I thought I would miss my Pathfinder, but the Camry is so much fun to drive. It drives like a sports car, but looks like a sedan. It is a very solid car and the pick up is just great. It is very roomy and the trunk is huge ( a Sopranos trunk, three bodies). I was choosing between an Altima and the Camry and I know I made the better choice. The Camry has a much better, higher quality look and feel. I have been getting 24 mpg so far.

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  Nice car, but... - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Roman - May 6 - 2:13 am

  This is my second Camry and I like it, especially the art decoish design and simplicity of interior controls. The cabin is more spacious and offers more leg room which is a big plus. Very responsive handling, and on the highway the ride is smooth. Reasonable fuel economy. However I have noticed, like others, that the new transmission is not that smooth, especially when accelerating from a stop. It can occasionally accelerate quickly and jerk you ahead, or hesitate, and sometimes Ive noticed the car slow down unnaturally via the transmission. The motor can be loud when rpms are high. The door handles are awkwardly placed, mainly because they dont allow you to rest your arm on the arm rest.

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  The Mighty Avalon - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By cardodger - May 5 - 9:18 pm

  I purchased my XLS used with 175,000 miles on it. I was looking for reliability, safety, and a low payment vehicle that could help me while I paid of credit cards. The car has been reliable, comfortable, and a pleasure to own. Everyone wants me to do the driving when a group is going somewhere and no-one thinks it has the mileage that it does (200K+ now). I keep getting the urge to look at other cars that might be more sporty or fun to drive but look at the reviews and issues with other cars and cant think of anything more fun than having had no problems at all with this terrific car. I would recommend it to anyone who needs to drive - any distance...

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  Love Our 4Runner - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Hell on Wheels - May 5 - 4:26 pm

  Bought New 12/31/2002 Fully Loaded with V8. Buying fully loaded made it essentially a Lexus GX 470 without the SNOB quotient - also it wasnt even available at the time. It is "pricey" when fully loaded - But worth it if you want the power seats - F/T all wheel drive and an excellent all around family automobile without having a minivan.

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  Ultimate SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Jim Sappington - May 5 - 1:23 pm

  We got what we wanted, a "just right" size SUV, fun to drive, good on gas and well made.

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  Best Looking Car with Worst Finish Ever - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By jaywa - May 5 - 3:46 am

  We have owned our 07 Camry XLE for a year. We loved the styling but not the 4-cyl engine so waited several weeks for a V6. Mileage out of the showroom was way below advertised (barely 22 mpg on a 400 mile interstate road trip), but seems to have come around over time. This car is a blast to drive and turns heads everywhere we go, but it has the worst paint job Ive ever seen. With less than 10,000 miles it already has more scuffs than cars with 50K, plus several chips down to bare metal. This is with 98% paved road driving. Tranny is quirky as well, feels like its shifting all the time. Maybe 4 or 5 speeds and more torque would have been the way to go.

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  Edmunds Promise - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By John McCormick - May 4 - 11:41 pm

  Edmunds promise price and deal was honored at dealer. Easy way to shop.

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  Love It, but Takes Learning to Drive - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Bradley Rymoh - May 4 - 7:40 pm

  I truly love this car. My mileage in suburban Maryland averages 45 to 46 mpg -- a little less than EPA, but still double what I got with my Forester, so I am very happy. I have two small complaints. It seems not to turn as tightly as other cars Ive owned, making parking in tight spaces tough. And with its keyless power button and unique transmission, I am not comfortable giving to a valet to park, so when I visit my clients office I need to park a short walk away rather than in the valet lot right outside her building.