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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  Gotta love Toyota - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Tom - August 13 - 6:16 am

  I love my New White Corolla S. I fell in love the second I walked in the dealership. Only problem is, dealership couldnt give me my keyless entry remote the day I bought it, so I have to wait. Which means the cars security system locks up the ignition and disables the car from starting when I open the door with only the key. The steering wheel also shakes, so I suppose it needs an alignment. However, it is Toyota, its beautiful and I love the car. It is very peppy for only a 4 cylinder and has great pickup.

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  A Really Good Car! - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Laurie - August 13 - 1:30 am

  I have a manual XR & it easily gets 34 mpg city & 41 + on hwy. With the back seats down, it sure can haul a lot of stuff. I think this car is under-rated. Ive not had a lick of major trouble, just usual mtce & oil changes, etc.

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  The Poor Mans Lexus - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By GregVas - August 12 - 9:36 pm

  From day one, the Camry has exceeded nearly all my expectations. The engine is strong providing brisk acceleration. The interior is top notch and the navigation system is very intuitive. The sound system is superb providing clear and crisp audio - even when played loudly. From the heated seats, to the push button start, to the MP3 capability and on screen selection capabilities this car is truly a joy. Im consistently amazed at how much response there is off the line from the V6. And, the response doesnt end there, at highway speeds when you punch the accelerator the engine downshifts and provides a surge of forward motivation.

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  From a Tahoe to a Prius - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Mollie - August 12 - 2:00 pm

  Amazing car to drive. Love that I only have to fill the tank every two to three weeks.

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  Best car Ive owned - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By M. lawlor - August 12 - 4:00 am

  There are two types of people. Those that are amazed by my new car and those that act unimpressed. The latter are just plain jealous. The Prius has all the coolest techy gadgets, amazing gas mileage, drives great and is quite comfortable. No wonder its the best car Ive ever owned.

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  Great car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By kathleen - August 11 - 4:53 pm

  Great car, fun to drive! Looks good gets great gas mileage. A lot faster than you would imagine with a little four cylinder. Have had absolutely no problems with this car. Toyota is the only brand I have had that I can make that claim.

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  My awesome new Tacoma - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Edward Turpin - August 11 - 12:40 pm

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  Like the RAV4 - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By David Emrich - August 11 - 12:38 pm

  I was always more of a Honda guy. Had a 1996 Civic Dx coupe manual transmission, am/fm radio, no ac, crank windows for 273,000 miles, 8 years. Liked it. Always wanted an Accord, got 2015 Accord Sport sedan, 6speed manual, liked, techy, slightly cheap plastic. Toyotas are sleepers, in my opinion. Had 2010 Prius III, just after the redesign, 2011 Camry Base, 2014.5 Camry LE. Liked them all, but in a different way than my Hondas. Easy to live with. Prius wasnt fun to drive. Seat angled weird, like you were pointed toward the central gauges, but you body was traveling straight. Weird. Camrys were solid. Comfortable. Easy to live with. This is easy to live with. I like it. I like sitting up high. I have the LE AWD. Came home to find frozen into 2 feet of snow at jfk after having been in southern California, no problem. Rocked it back and forth a couple of times, drove right out. Impressive. Very peaceful. Doesnt rip around, so I drive it slow, and it works for me. Very well balanced in many ways. Fabric on seats in Accord was shiny. Fancy. Like an executives car. This is basic. Perfect balance between comfort, and durability. Doesnt advertise itself, "Hey, look at me!", just gets the job done in a very nice way. Keep it in ECO mode, get advertised milage. Satisfied with MPG. Without ECO button on, takes off a little too quick in first gear, in my opinion. Had 2014 Kia Sportage LX, was a dog in ECO mode. Sporty, and tight handling otherwise. This gets better feel economy, and feels more satisfying, overall. The Kia felt less satisfying to drive with time. This got better with time. Toyotas reliable, too, good to do business with. I got a great lease deal. Paid out of some negative equity I had after trading a lot of vehicles in a short time. This allows me to pay that off, plus lease the vehicle, get a fresh start at the end of the lease. Surprised Toyota would offer it. Recommended.

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  sequoia - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By rosehill - August 11 - 2:00 am

  Great on highway travel, comfortable, responsive, easy to control at cruising speeds. Travel on back roads- -dirt roads during winter with lots of snow and ice this year has been very easy and safe. Traction outstanding even on icy hilly terrain. Only complaint is rear visibility. Roominess for transporting is asset.

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  Toyots Prius - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By Cael Zander - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy this car, in the city or on the road. I do get the reverse of the estimated milage (50/53 mph on the road, 46 in town). The trunk is amazingly roomy, the seating comfortable for four.