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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  2006 Sequioa - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By pam - May 28 - 5:50 am

  this is our second Sequoia..we love it. It is smaller built than our 2002 model, but the gas mileage is a little better. We are averaging 16-17mpg. It is fun to drive and we are Toyota fans. We have a Tacoma also, and drove a 4 Runner for 16 years, and all 4 of our children drove it as they each turned 16.

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  Great, great vehicle - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By CDH - May 28 - 3:36 am

  I bought my 4Runner w/ 54k miles on it and have out almost 50k more on it in 3 years. Excepting regular fluid changes and the like, Ive only had to have it repaired once: I had to replace the AC compressor 2 1/2 years after I bought it. Highly reliable, enjoyable to drive, and very useful when I remodelled my home. Gas mileage leaves something to be desired. Highly recommened unless you have a long commute.

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  Works for me - 2007 Toyota Sequoia
  By Grouse - May 28 - 2:53 am

  Ive only had this vehicle for 2000 miles but so far I am pleased. It rides a little tougher than Id hoped (on a smooth road its great but where are those) but it doesnt jar your teeth loose and its taut and quiet. The 08 fixed all my gripes about this model except the price, I couldnt justify another 25K for fold down seats and that wonderful 5.7L in the 08. Drive 65 for 500 mi, youll be surprised (pleasantly). Having a trained ear, the JBL is simply not worth the money to me, but for R&R Im sure its just fine.

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  4th one is a charm - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Ken - May 28 - 1:40 am

  To set the record straight , I have owned 5 Tacomas. One was away back in the 70s , but the modern Tacomas were 2009 , 2012 ,2015, 2016. I found the first 3 to be all pretty much the same, except as the years progressed the electronics became better with each truck. The gas mileage on each truck was almost identical for the first 3 modern trucks combined 16.5 mpg. I never reached 20 mpgon any of them , city or highway. Thewinter months the mileage went down to 14-15 mph combined. I have owned 11 trucks in my life . Of them,6 American trucks , all needed to have work done under warranty( as much as $3000 worth ) . None of the Tacomas have needed anything done under warranty ( not counting a replacement for bad weather mats). The 2016 is great . A lot of people have criticized the engine for being sluggish and the transmission constantly shifting. compared to the 2015 , that is true, but I have realizedthat my mileage is almost 25% better with the newer 3.5 engine and 6 speed transmission. I am getting and average combined mileage of 21mpg, reached an alltime high of 24.7 on a trip last week. If I want better performance I use the 6 speed manual shift and it feels like a sports car, but use the 6 speed automatic for mileage . I have noticed that the truck has plenty of get up and go when you jump on it going 65 mph and wanting to pass. it gets up to 85 very quickly. As I mentioned before the electronics have developed as the models progressed. The JBL sound system in my Sport model is crazy good. Loud but clear. The new backup alert has saved me several times from backing into someone or something. Same can be said for the alerts in the mirrors when a car is beside you in your blind spot. I love the style of the new truck and the beefy look it has . I get compliments all the time on the appearance of the truck. With all the combined factors , I think I have the best truck of all the Tacomas. Maybe I am just lucky with the mileage, but the rest of the features make it a pleasure to drive. 10/14/17. I now have 21,000 miles and still love the truck. Mileage has remained about the same. Happy about my purchase

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  Rock Solid - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By J-Texas - May 27 - 8:00 pm

  Drives like a car more than an SUV, but its attractive and rock solid. Having it to do all over again, I would have upgraded to leather.

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  a dream drive - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By toyopetlover - May 27 - 3:07 pm

  Traded in my prius after I got into an accident and decided to go bigger, and after much research: tada : highlander. It was the perfect car that was not too big, and not too small. And with the addition of the plus package, perfect for the budget. Out here in CA, you can pretty much get this for about 30k or so before TTL. I think its a pretty good bargain comparing the other choices out there. Mind you, the RX 350 has no 3rd row. People say it is for kids, but for short trips, its definitely ok. For long trips, still possible, but youd probably need to do some rotation. Plenty of cargo room. Very quiet ride. V6 is thirsty for gas, but very powerful for moving around on highway.

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  Sienna beats Odyssey - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By bb - May 27 - 9:06 am

  Traded my 07 Odyssey EXL with RES for this beauty. Honda had horrible road noise bumpy ride torque converter in transmission replaced along with power steering pump all in less than 40,000 miles. Not to mention very squeaky side doors. Thought I was driving a Chrysler product. Toyota is so smooth soft ride and more comfortable 8th seat.

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  Overall great, fun car - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By Nectars1 - May 27 - 8:56 am

  I bought this car just before winter and so far I love it. Its so much fun to drive, its sporty without paying for a sports car. It handles very well in the snow as well. I definitely think it hits bumps pretty hard but thats really my only complaint. Its extremely smooth and easy to shift between gears. I think its a great car for the money. Its backed by the Toyota reputation!

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  Jumping for Toyota - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By Girl Gone Bad - May 26 - 9:50 pm

  After only having my 4Runner for 6 months I can say it is a fun SUV to drive, it handles like a car, looks great, runs great and is quiet except for a slight vibration effect or noise when its windy, it seems like wind blowing or buffeting against something. That comes and goes and is not annoying, just a little disconcerting at first. The turning ratio is easy and good, Ive taken it off road (4x2) and it was fun, fun, fun.

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  4 years in LA traffic... - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By hermesc - May 26 - 3:59 pm

  Ive owned this car for almost 11 years (bought it brand new) and drove it for 4 years in stop and go traffic in LA before moving out of California. Its a great vehicle, very reliable, comfortable, and good gas mileage. Even at almost 170k miles, not much to complain about. I make sure to take it in regularly for its maintenance at a certified Toyota dealership (its well worth the slightly higher prices). Hoping to keep the car well past 250k, and there are no signs suggesting otherwise.