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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  Great SUV - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bob - March 14 - 5:13 am

  I have had my new 4 Runner Sports Edition for a little over a month. I have put a little over 1500 mi. on it. It runs perfect in every way. I tried to find something wrong with it, but I have not been able too. Motor, electronic, stereo and ride are excellent. Im getting 19.8 mpg. average driving. The stereo is really nice, I just love the surround sound type speaker setup.

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  Toyota dependability - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Modameister - March 13 - 9:56 pm

  I have had this car for a little over 4 years. I bought it when it had just over 50k miles on it. Now, it has almost 120k miles. I plan on running it for another 100 or 200k. Its a good little car and will probably be around for my kids to drive when they are old enough in another 16 years. My only issues with it are its not very roomy, Im 68" and dont fit very well, but I fit in here as well as I do in most cars, even bigger cars. The drivers side handle has broken, the ceiling fabric has developed a rip in the rear by the rear window from the drivers side windows being open. The drivers inside handle is broken and the window doesnt roll up. I only get just over 30 mpg. It was 36.

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  Great Ride - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Thomas - March 13 - 8:23 pm

  I have ony had this truck for a week, but its making me forget my beloved 10 year old F150 Lariat. I have the TRD package and I read about the "rough ride" of this trim. I suggest you check your tire pressure - mine was 6-7 lbs. over recommended. I towed my 22 foot pontoon through the city on a Friday evening and the truck handled the load like a champ. Acceleration and braking was very controlled and confidence-inspiring.

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  Seems to have been an excellent decision - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By TEEJAY - March 13 - 11:13 am

  Well with almost 16k on it now we havent had one single problem! At first I thought my wife was crazy for wanting a 5 speed, but then I drove the Matrix. I love the intial acceleration that the manual offers. I leave all of those big gas hog SUVs sitting at the stop light and pass them again sitting at the gas pumps! We are averaging high 30s overall. On a long trip you can get over 40 mpg if you set the cruise at 70 mph. I plan on driving this thing well over 200k so I use synthetic motor oil and change every 5k when the maint. light comes on. I also installed a k&n filter which gives me a little more HP! Go Toyota!

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  Fun To Drive - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Tanya - March 13 - 9:50 am

  I consistently get over 50 miles per gallon and my driving is 90% highway. Its a fun car to drive and I use the GPS system extensively. I have never had a problem with it and fill up once per week. I have tried regular gas and 87 octane and have found no difference in mileage so I returned to the use of regular. Based on my current experience, I will probably continue to buying hybrids in the future and not return to pure gasoline vehicles. Based on the difference between my old Avalon and the Prius and the number of miles I drive, Im saving $1,100 to $1,200 per year based on fluctuating gas prices plus the tax deduction. Next year, I will have my difference in price back.

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  Amazing gas mileage for suv - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By 04Hldrluvit - March 13 - 5:00 am

  When I first picked this up, I knew I would be paying a lot for gas, but little did I know how great this thing was on the highway, where 95%of my driving is. With the scan gauge tool, I was getting 28 mpg at 63 mph cruise. Interior is very car like and comfortable, buttons are all huge and simple. The awd is not even noticeable. Standard stability and traction control and abs is just why Toyota is dominating domestics.

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  140K miles and still rockin!!!! - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By Mark - March 13 - 2:56 am

  After 140K miles, this Toyota is still doing great. Have not had any major problems with this van at all. In fact this van gets better gas mileage than any vehicle we have ever driven and owned which includes a 4 cyl PT cruiser!! This vehicle has been in 3 wrecks and still was very affordable to replace the parts that needed replacing. It still looks good too! It drives very well even after the 3 wrecks. Ill keep this van and keep putting money in it to keep it going. It is worth it.

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  2007 Toyota Prius - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Arizonan - March 12 - 1:33 pm

  This is a remarkable car. Whoever designed it took into consideration many elements, not just gas economy and exterior appearance, that provide convenience and comfort. Smartkey is only one of them. Controls on the steering wheel -- wow! Backup camera -- dont let anyone tell you that this is a stupid feature. It may save you hitting a person or vehicle in a parking lot. Weve even been able to take a long road trip in the Prius and feel quite comfortable. Highly recommend the Prius even if you prefer 15 mpg!

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  Great Car! - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By dkadwell - March 12 - 10:35 am

  We bought this car in 2007 with 6000 miles already on it. We were replacing our Hyundai Elantra which gave us nothing but problems. We love this car. It folds down flat very easily and we have hauled everything in it from trees to our daughters complete nursery. We love it. It have never once given us an issue. It is a little tight with car seats, but still works for us at this point in our lives. It gets about 32/33 mpg city and closer to 36/37 highway. It has been great in these rising gas prices. We have about 104k miles on it and it is still running strong! Highly recommend this car if you want a little more than Sedan but dont dont need more than 5 seats!

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  OK truck, but pretty small once you get down to it - 2017 Toyota Tacoma
  By PowerDawg - March 12 - 9:16 am

  To be honest, I was not in the market for a mid-size truck when I started shopping for a new vehicle, but after a ton of research, the Taco offered the best "bang for the buck" so to speak. My 2007 Avalanche was stolen, so I was forced into the new vehicle market. That Avalanche was the best truck I ever owned hands down, so I was pretty biased going to the various dealer lots. After driving the new GMs, and Fords and in seeing their cost, I opted to go to a used car lot. They had a 2015 Tacoma TRD PRO that I test drove and I felt really good in the truck. Since the cost of the 2015 was only $4k cheaper than what a 2017 brand new one was,(gotta love how these hold value) I went for the new. After 4 months of ownership, I thought Id throw this review out. First out, the truck is really a good truck. It does the daily commuter routine really well, and the V6 has the oomph to get out in front of traffic when you are merging if you really get on the gas pedal. The off road capability is incredible and really impressed me on some back country fire roads on my occasional fishing trips. I havent used it yet, but I really do like the piece of mind the "Crawl Control" gives me. The gas mileage is as advertised, but Im a bit of a lead foot, so you may even beat the estimated if you are light on the gas pedal. All the "technology" features are user friendly and intuitive. The real problem I have with this truck is the size. Im a pretty big guy, 61" 240, so the truck with me, the wife, kid and dog makes for a pretty cramped feeling that I never got with the full size truck. If you are coming from a full size to this class of vehicle, definitely work with the dealer to see if you can test it out over a weekend so you fully grasp the space you are going to lose. My other big issue is the carpet is a pain to clean dog hair out of. For some reason it acts like velcro when you try to vacuum it up, but that isnt that huge of an issue because duct tape works wonders for this task. It just takes a lot longer to clean out than my old vehicle did, so again, Im biased. My third gripe is the seats. Ive tried every setting they have and I cant get that comfortable, its almost like Im between settings - either my back is too upright or Im too laid back. Also, not being able to lower the seat brings me to bump my head on the roof on bumpy terrain. This is annoying but not overly so. Toyota really needs to have a power seat function. For the money, you cant beat this trucks functionality and of course they hold their value really well. The amount of accessories you can get from both Toyota and 3rd parties is incredible, and they add even more functionality to a very capable and functional truck. Overall Im happy with my purchase.