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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  Almost there - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Pedro - April 30 - 4:56 am

  I bought a 2006 Toyota Highlander in July. It was a good purchase but a little more than I could afford - dealers have a way of making you spend more than you should. I love the color and the smell of the car although I bought it used with only 8700 miles. The ride is good but a little noisy - it may be wind noise when the windows are down. Gas mileage seems pretty good but not as good as I was promised. I drive mostly in the city and get about 19 to 20 miles to the gallon. I have a large family and needed the extra seating. The rear seat is a little cramped for my older ones but it is OK for my younger kids. I hope this is a reliable car.

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  Lexus LS for less - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Richard - April 29 - 6:16 pm

  I have owned a Lexus LS and recently purchased my Avalon. If you could close your eyes while driving it would be hard to tell your were in the Avalon. My family has owned Toyotas since 1971 and some members even drive the LS460. The Avalon is the LS430 in different clothing but performs, drives and rides the same with the exception of the V8 but the Avalon offers sufficient power with the large V6. Great fit and finish and the interior is like sitting in your easy chair.

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  Good Camry LE - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By satx59male - April 29 - 6:01 pm

  I have to honestly say with 21300 miles and 3 yrs. I did not have any problems with this car. Including the door switches. I was upset with the recall in 09 after only having the vehicle a month. Also, dealership in San Antonio and Toyota would not credit me $150 for maintenance due to 2 yr program which began 2 mns after I leased it. So, I leased another, 2012 Camry L at another dealership for about the same price from 3 yrs ago. Same gray ext and ash interior. Sales manager at Alamo was straight forward and knownlegeable.

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  Alls OK @ 65,000 miles - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By shihchi - April 29 - 12:35 pm

  Bought new 4 years ago. Avg. 50+ mpg summer, appx. 47 in Midwest winter. At 6, I find legroom a bit tight. Have driven in 6" snow storms and rain with no problems. Its not as fun to drive as my Mustang GT was, but its not boring. Have had no quality issues. Have been through all of the recalls. All in all, its just what we thought it would be when we bought it. Not sure why everyone says hybrids cost a lot....sticker was 22,000 and we got it for 18,700....a lot cheaper than many non-hybrids back then. Feels good to get such good MPG now and back in 2008 when gas skyrocketed.

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  2006 Toyota Carolla CE Automatic - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By seesaw - April 29 - 11:53 am

  Found the Drivers seat is a bit loose on its track. It shifts back on acceleration. There is a rattling noise in the trunk when Corolla rolls over a deep pothole. Is it a loose spare tire equipment? The outside air vent blow warm air into cabin when the temperature thermostat is set to its coldest position and the outside air is so much cooler. Default CD Stereo system does not play MP3 audio files. Flimsy release latches for trunk and fuel filling lid on drivers side floor.

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  2009 Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By gowron67 - April 29 - 5:35 am

  Purchased in Nov 2009 and for the most part have loved the vechicle. AWD in the snow and ice on the city streets has been excellent. Transmission did have to be replaced at 16,000 km. Gas milage not great but expected with a V6 and AWD.

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  Best Little Car - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By rickolano - April 29 - 2:14 am

  The car aint sexy, it isnt good for Christmas shopping cause boxes dont fit in it like a 26" TV nor in the trunk. BUT BUT BUT>... Its the most reliable car Ive ever had. I have owned Chrysler New Yorker, VW Jetta, Ford Capri, Ford Mustang, and Ford Pinto. This has outlasted all of them and cost the least in all areas. At just over 100,000 miles I had to replace the two drive belts, flush the radiator and transmission (never done before now). Easy to change your own oil and spark plugs. On my 3rd set of tires. Now a low droning humm indicates I need a rear wheel bearings replaced. Gas mileage is awesome and I wont give this car up nor sell it. The cost to own is just too damn reasonable

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  MY FIRST NEW CAR -ITS A GOOD THING - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By BRUCE D K - April 29 - 1:36 am

  Well this being my first new car I can say that I did the research and even rented the 2004 mdl.for a weekend cruise to Vegas from L.A. The rental handled and performed flawlesly as does my 05 mdl. The only dif is the 5 speed automatic upgrade from the 4 spd on the 04 mdl. This car is for the most part a pleasure to drive, city driving or freeway or Death Valley for that matter.My avg frwy mpg is 32 and I dont drive the speed limit if at all possible . No speeding tickets yet ! Los Angeles in town mpg is realisticly 24. Toyota really did this little 4 cyl.eng. very right. There is no lack of power with it loaded or not.

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  Great first car for anyone any age - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Camryman08 - April 29 - 1:14 am

  I bought this car back in august of 1998 new. It is an extremely easy and comfortable car to drive. Only problems i had was the starter going bad but a quick visit to the toyota dealer changed that back to new! The car is very peppy and acceleration is adequate if not good for normal driving. You can tell the engine is lacking power when accelerating from a stop up a hill, but otherwise it manages to merge on the highway and pick up speed nicely. I added a k&n air filter to mine and it improved acceleration at lower rpms so i really recommend one of those if you think the 2.2 4 cylinder is lacking power. Otherwise, this car has great visibility. Paint is still great and shiny after countless Denver hailstorms and snowstorms. I really recommend this car to anyone who wants a comfortable, safe, easy, and peppy ride.

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  The Lexus of mini-vans but not perfect - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By Toyota Guy - April 28 - 8:36 pm

  Open the door on the Sienna and you are in for a shock. The XLE with leather interior looks as good as any luxury car on the market no matter what you spend. The next surprise is the performance . . . awesome! This 266 hp V6 would blow away 90% of the guys next to you that think they have hot cars. Highway acceleration is every bit as impressive. Ride will match nearly anything on the market. The turning radius is mind-blowing. The negative: Visibility stinks; Ive almost had a few accidents! Hood must be propped open to stay up! How cheap on a $30K plus car! Tranny shifts a bit hard at times and has minor surges. Paint chips easily. Needs pinstripe or something to jazz up the outside.