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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  205,000 Miles and Doing Great - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Flyover Land - April 26 - 4:03 pm

  As a traveling sales rep I put a lot of miles on a vehicle. I also like to keep my vehicles until they are either no longer reliable or require repairs that exceed the value of the car. This van has been an excellent companion. I purchased it used with about 45,000 on it. I am now over 205,000 and it is running fine. The ride comfort and utility can not be beat. So far I have put 1 set of brakes and two sets of tires although one of these are winter tires mounted on steel rims. The only item that is a concern is the power sliding door. at about 150K the passenger side cable broke. I understand this is common in these years. I have not fixed it and I may not.

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  Theres more to a car than mpg! - 2012 Toyota Prius
  By baldeagle8 - April 26 - 3:57 pm

  Bought 2012 Prius two four months ago. Unless speed control used cant get the 50 mpg. Road noise worse than my 69 Bug. Think all that interior plastic contributes to the noise issue. Display is almost impossilbe to see in the Florida sun. This is of great concern because you cant see the performance icons. Not worried about speeding, this car couldnt win the soap box derby. Cloth seats hard to get in and out of. High beam lights are not adjustable and need it badly. Selling dealer staff not knowledgeable about features. Lastly, never had a car hydroplane so badly whcih is a problem with the kind of rains we get in Florida. Has Toyota gotten overconfident?

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  excellent vehicle for my purpose - 2013 Toyota Prius
  By radar17 - April 26 - 11:34 am

  I bought a 2013 Prius new, largely to drive on country roads with an annual cross-country trip. Vehicle currently has 40,000+ miles on it with zero problems. On the cross county trips I stick to the freeways and it stays above 70 all day long and fully loaded with luggage, average about 48mpg (unless big head wind) as measured by fuel used. Around home I consistently average above 50mpg. Impressive amount of interior space for size of vehicle. Before buying I checked with several taxi drivers who told me they often see Prius cabs with over 300,000 miles on them with no major problems. Im 62" @ 210. Plenty of leg room. Very happy with car and would buy again.

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  Great Car!!! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Hcobeerman1 - April 26 - 6:13 am

  Awesome vehicle - Average MPG is around 48.5. Though mielage is better in city driving, still an excellent value. Sorry I waited so long in getting a Hybrid

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  Toyota is definitely moving forward - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Brian Chaney - April 26 - 3:03 am

  I love everything about this SUV. The fuel economy, the quiet smooth ride, the seating capacity, the quality of build. The only thing I think Toyota is missing is a little better turning performance around turns. Other than that I LOVE this car.

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  "Gypsy" - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Rich - April 25 - 9:26 pm

  This car has it all. We call the "GPS" lady "Gypsy." Gypsy gets us anywhere. This car is space age, and built like a tank. It is so solid and smooth as silk to drive. Everything is easy to access, especially the convertibility of the cargo area. Everything fits! We will have this car forever. We feel very special to own such a vehicle. Keep up the good work Toyota engineers.

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  A GOOD AUTOMOBILE - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By jacknhill - April 25 - 8:57 pm

  The 2015 AWD RAV4 XLE I got is a good car, has a sound system that cranks and 3 months free XM/SIRIUS radio and free maintenance for 25,000 miles.PLUS the 6 speed transmission is factory sealed and never needs to be checked.The deal I got was good as I traded in a 2013 CRV.The XLE w/17" alloy wheel are sharp but did not come with locks,WHAT?The 65,000 Michelin Latitude Tour tires are a must have as well.Comfort is great,ride is smooth and 24 MPG is good enough for now that the price of gas has dropped 50%.The running boards and trailer hitch and harness made the deal I got a darn good one,and no one else could beat it.Sport mode/econ mode/regular mode offer variable performance too.GOOD CAR!

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  Dependability! - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Bill - April 25 - 8:20 pm

  This is a classic Toyota. Very reliable vehicle with decent features that make it practical and economical. Cant say enough good things about the truck.

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  No Other Truck Compares - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Bill Hinman - April 25 - 3:16 pm

  Bought 2007 Tundra new for significantly less than I could have bought a comparable Hemi Double Cab. I currently have 181,000 miles on it and the only fix was the water pump which Toyota covered on warrantee at 96K miles. I have towed an 8K camper from VT to SC twice and although the mileage was terrible (8MPH) no issues to date. I have replaced the brake pads twice and rotors once. All other people I know that own ford, chevy or dodge have replaced wheel bearings, tierod ends, and brakes every 25k miles. This truck is the real deal no matter what anyone says.

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  Hoped for more - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Emma - April 25 - 2:53 pm

  I shopped for months for a new car & picked the Camry. I originally loved it. I thought great mileage & I loved the look of the new Camry. Now I am second guessing myself. Terrible mileage!! 23 mpg in the city & tranny seems sluggish or hesitant. Some of the thing inside seem cheap. If I had known then what I know now I would have bought an H3. If Im going to get mileage this bad I may as well look good doing it.