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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  Over 300K - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Jeffrey in Phoenix Arizona - April 27 - 3:35 am

  My 1999 Toyota Camry - 6 cyl - Manual Transmission - love the car - now has 302K miles on it. My last Toyota Camry, a 1987 had 387K miles before it got hit. I expect this one to go over 400K.

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  Over 300K - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Jeffrey in Phoenix Arizona - April 27 - 3:35 am

  My 1999 Toyota Camry - 6 cyl - Manual Transmission - love the car - now has 302K miles on it. My last Toyota Camry, a 1987 had 387K miles before it got hit. I expect this one to go over 400K.

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  Not bad at all! - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Ruben M. - April 27 - 2:08 am

  Traded up from a 2009 Camry LE. Everything has been upgraded from since that model. The ride is smoother & quieter, interior much more roomier. infotainment system much better. Very pleased!

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  Wears out quick - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By steve - April 27 - 1:26 am

  Bought car with 10k on it. 1st week plastic piece inside broke didnt even touch it. Car was very reliable, not much maintenance, but was getting very, very used feeling at about 65k, then at 74k transmission went! This was on a manual. Never had a tranny go in my life. Other cars have been driven to 150k plus never had to replace tranny. Oh well disappointed in Toyota. Gas mileage was good though. Also Windows rattled a little from 20k on.

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  Good but not great - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By RaymundoIrvan - April 27 - 12:00 am

  The Toyota Tundra is a relatively good truck, the 5.7 is powerful and the 6 speed auto is excellent. It is very quiet and roomy and quite comfortable, however it does have its drawbacks. The climate controls and radio controls are hard to reach. The side walls of the bed are too tall making it hard to reach things in the bed. The gauges are too deep making it difficult to get good info quickly. Bottomline is that once the competition adopts a bigger engine and a new 6 speed auto the Tundra will not have anything to brag about. It is a good truck but I would prefer a F-150 or a Silverado anyday.

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  Would Recommend - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ryan Krug - April 26 - 10:56 pm

  If you want a vehicle that will last, this is the one for you.

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  Thumbs Up!! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Tony - April 26 - 8:40 pm

  I just purchased the 03 Highlander about a month ago and it is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned (owning brand new 00 Grand Am and 03 Silverado prior). It had about 44,000 miles on the odometer and it still drives like new. We test drove an 02 Rendezvous with only 20,000 miles and still drove off with this vehicle. It is very quiet even on the windiest days. The gas mileage is consistently reading around 18 to 20 mpg, which for a midsize is pretty impressive. We bought this because we needed a familly vehicle with my wife delivering our first born a week later, and am totaly secure driving my family around in the Highlander.

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  Mixed Feelings - 2007 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By Thomas - April 26 - 8:10 pm

  I did a lot of resaearch and was awed by the reliability ratings of this vehicle and the reputation. I bought it based on these attributes but now I feel like I left a lot on the table in terms of style and features compaed to other similar vehicles. Some specifics that I miss in this suv versus my last one (and others I consdiered): -No Dual climate control -No Heated rear seats -Unattractive exterior styling -Handles poorly...lots of sway -Sound system poor especially when driving with windows open -No rain sense wipers -Big and bulky...not precise -A lot of plastic trim -No in dash cd changer -no auto dimming outside rear view mirrors

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  Poor interior engineering, cheap plastics, cheap fabric - 2012 Toyota Prius
  By malansworth - April 26 - 7:24 pm

  Interior engineering was not well thought out and is deficient in many areas relative to comparable cars. Insufficient storage compartments. The large storage area under the "bridge" is awkwardly placed and leaves objects exposed. Access to seat heater switches and the 12-volt auxiliary input under the bridge is inconvenient and a potential safety issue if you reach for them while driving. The console storage is large and deep, which means that you must pile up objects on top of each other. The USB port is inconveniently located near the bottom of the console storage, so there is the likelihood that the USB drive will break due to contact with the storage contents. Seats lack lumbar support.

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  Great car for the money - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By shar - April 26 - 6:40 pm

  I love this car. It drives so well. I had a small SUV, and it was difficult to drive. So all the storage capabilities of the SUV are in this Matrix, and yet it drives like a car and the gas mileage is like a car. All that see it are very impressed with the style. Its also a fun car to drive.