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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  One Awesome & Economical Car 40mpg - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By loved my corolla - May 4 - 6:10 am

  I loved my Corolla, I consistently averaged 35-40 mpg combined city / hwy miles. I recently was in an accident - car was totaled and I must say the safety features kept everyone safe and alive! I am going to be getting another one, hope I get the same mileage with my new one!!

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  Good sporty little car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Danw - May 3 - 8:53 pm

  I purchased a 2009 Corolla XRS, 3 months ago. I like the car a lot, I drive at least 100 miles a day. I deliver for a living. I have had Toyota trucks in the past, and had nothing but good experiences with them. And decided to try a Corolla (a guy I work with has a 2003 Corolla with 220,000 miles with no breakdowns), thats one reason I went with the Corolla , dont like the space ship look of the Civic si. The only complaint I have with the Corolla, is the highway noise above 60 mph. Anybody else, have this complaint? Also, my left front tire is wearing, on the outside edge. Might be alignment, rotated tires and diffrent front tire doing same thing. Would Toyota cover alignment since I have less than 11,000 mls.

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  Impressions after the first week - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Sportrides - May 3 - 4:53 pm

  I had driven the previous Prius model in hopes of going hybrid, but walked out of the dealership thinking Id rather be bathed in honey and thrown in a mosquito infested swamp than drive that thing every day. The dynamics were awful, steering was numb, the interior was drab and I overall hated it. So you could say I was skeptical about the 2016, especially since its not exactly easy on the eyes. I have to say, I am totally impressed with this vehicle and genuinely enjoy driving it. The ride is comfortable. The steering and handling are more than adequate. The trunk is perfect for carrying all of our baby stuff and groceries around in. The transition between gas/electric is seamless. The AC has been great in the current 96 degree weather. Were averaging 49 MPG but are only 90 miles into it, with AC cranked, so I expect that to increase as we learn to drive our new car/spaceship/computer. The rear seats are a little tight, but are comfortable and the Moonstone interior is really nice.

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  2008 Urban Runner 4WD V6 - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By topneuro - May 3 - 3:03 pm

  Navigation big disappointment, Eclipse AVN 2210p with lousy radio, CD and nav. The iPod connector is behind the unit, special cable and rip apart the dash to set it up. The iPod connector should be readily accessible in front of the unit like the USB port for other media storage devices. The interior should be leather, either gray or black but not with with suede. For trouble shooting neither Toyota, Eclipse, nor TomTom are of help as they will blame each other or refer you to the other for help. The rest of the vehicle I have no complains, have a 2008 Urban Runner V6 4WD blizzard white pearl that borders on spectacular. Have noted the drive shaft "clunk" also a problem in Lexus GX47.

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  Great SUV - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By Sonny - May 3 - 12:06 pm

  This SUV was my first. This is a very good and powerful car. Although the exterior was alittle too oldish but I like the interior. I love leather. This car was very comfortable. I know because I took a 10 hour ride and my children were very comfortable. That my review on this car

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  Im Loving It!!! - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By linlil - May 3 - 6:16 am

  Traded in my 2010 Hyundai Accent GLS, which I bought new in 2010, for a 2012 Toyota Camry SE in December 2011. I was highly disappointed with the Accent and the terrible quality/ driving experience. After researching the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and the Sonata, decided none could compare to the overall value of the 2012 Camry. Especially, with the great ENTUNE system, silent engine/ driving experience and great MPG (29.7) avg (I have a gas heavy foot). Accelaration is quick and I only have the 4 cyl. What can I say, Im in love with my 2012 Camry. P.S with all the leather trim on the dash and in the car, I dont know what cheap plastic others have complained about.

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  Reliable as a Camry - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By gochi - May 2 - 8:10 am

  Bought a new 2009 Camry LE and am very satisfied with the purchase. The drive is smooth,gas mileage is great(getting around 29-30 on highway), roomy cabin, decent interior features like 8 way power drivers seat, ABS & Vehicle Stabilty Control, mp3/wma audio player and aux port. More than everything else I got this vehicle for its reliability and good resale value.

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  Love this truck!!! - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By 4runner_momma - May 1 - 10:50 am

  I LOVE this truck! Toyota builds the best vehicles on the road and my 4Runner is no exception. It gets me where I need to go, keeps my kid safe, and does all this without asking anything in return of me except regular maintenance, and new tires! I do wish it has a few more creature comforts...softer chairs (mine are leather), and latch restraints for the car seat, but all of this is addressed on the next generation. Overall I am extremely satisfied with this truck, and I am sure my daughter (9 mo. old) will be driving this when she turns 16! It will need a new paint job by then though...

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  Update from OKHunter - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By OKHunter - May 1 - 9:30 am

  Update to a review written not long after I bought the truck. Now have almost 130K miles. Did the normal timing chain/water pump at around 90K, and have had all the scheduled maintenance performed. Only problem I thought was a design flaw was the front ball joints, which wore out at about 60K miles, due to poorly designed seals. Also replaced the stock muffler w/ a Flowmaster, and the stock air filter w/ a K&N cold air induction kit; that raised the mileage to about 19 mpg combined. I plan to drive this thing until the wheels fall off, then Im going to put em back on and drive it until they fall off again. If you want a solid truck for the long haul, look no further.

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  Love My Avalon - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By hutch34 - May 1 - 7:30 am

  I came out of an Acura MDX into the Avalon. I waited for months for the new Acura RL to come out but was disappointed in its cramped feeling. IMO the Avalon is just as nice as the RL but much more comfortable. It approaches Lexus quality at a Toyota price. A really fine automobile.