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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  No Start Problem ! - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By animaladvocate - January 11 - 4:08 am

  I have a brand new - 3 weeks old 2012 Toyota RAV4 V6 4WD. It didnt start yesterday morning, it didnt start today at lunch. After reading all the directions and trying everything, it started on the 5th try. I contacted dealer and will be bringing it in tomorrow. Read another review that another customer was told to "live with it". I wont. This needs to be fixed or should be considered a lemon. Will update after my service appointment tomorrow !

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  Extremely Pleased! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By matt_n - January 10 - 10:20 pm

  I really do love my Yaris. I was a bit skeptical after reading some reviews from various editors, but in the end I decided to trust the consumer reviews, and Im glad I did. As long as you understand that you are not going to have the fastest car in the world, I think you will be pleased if you purchase a Yaris. I have a light touch on the pedal to conserve my MPG, but it has no problem traveling in the fast lane. I have never driven a hatchback, but now I am hooked forever! Some reviews talk about a lack of a fun factor, but trust me, its a lot more fun than handling a big truck or SUV. Its a great feeling to fill up my tank and know its going to last me the week! That alone is worth it.

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  Love it - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Betsey - January 10 - 10:06 pm

  Having been an owner of a 97 Camry, I love this car. Its not much smaller inside, but rides better. Very comfortable.

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  The best economical option out there - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By rsucre - January 10 - 6:10 pm

  My first car was a 2007 Toyota Camry XLE V6 3.5L automatic. After driving it I fell in love with the Toyota brand. However, as a college student, owning a Camry got very expensive in regards to gasoline and maintenance. Therefore I decided to go with a more economic option and trade-in for a 2008 Corolla CE. I felt like it was the best decision possible. I needed a car that was both reliable and efficient with fuel, and the Corolla exceeds both of these requirements.

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  Disappointment for a Toyota - 1997 Toyota Tacoma
  By Josh C. - January 10 - 10:16 am

  Within a year of purchase my Tacoma overheated twice on a flat interstate at normal speeds and once in West Virginia. Auto trans prevents effective use of already limited power and gas mileage has never been above 22. Under load, it sinks to around 12. It now has 106k miles and Ive repaired the transmission linkages 4 times and had numerous electrical problems. Very disappointing for the reputation of a Toyota.

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  Super car - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By Jack - January 10 - 10:03 am

  We only have 500 miles on the car but could not be more pleased. Most driving has been in snow and cold and it performs as well as any other front wheel drive. This car is easier to get in and out of and has more headroom that the Chevy Impala I traded. Mileage around town is only about 35 mph to this point but it is small town, stop and go and temperatures have been near or below zero. Expect improvement when it is broken in and temperatures rise.

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  Love it, Love it, LOVE IT! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Shug - January 10 - 7:03 am

  I drive 30,000 miles per year and LOVE this car. Traded a Lexus RX350 and hardly note a difference, except fuel economy! I get 43 MPG most of the time, worst has been 35MPG-WONDERFUL! Not included in any recalls so expect to hold value, too. Great pickup, passing power. Love to play the how many miles per tank game, getting up to 650 per tank full. Watching the MPG screen is like playing a video game-how high can you go and keep? LOVE It! I am driving much smarter now. Driving this much means I look for comfort and this is as good as my Lexus was. I can adjust seats Up, Dwn, forward and back and tilt. Its raining and I can look over at all those wet people and drive by for days!:)

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  Great Car! - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By suzie - January 10 - 6:50 am

  I bought my 2000 Camry new and it now has 110,000 miles and is still driving great! I do all the routine maintenance on it, regular oil changes, had the timing belt changed before it went out... as precaution. This particular Camry must have been well built. The only trouble I had was the battery went dead and I had to replace it. Im looking for a new vehicle but cant hardly bring myself to buy one! I wont get rid of my Camry no matter if I buy a new car!

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  Great car! - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Debbie - January 9 - 9:16 pm

  I had previously owned 2 Toyotas but most recently had a 1990 BMW 525i. I enjoyed my BMW for 12 years. However, Im very impressed with the Avalon. I did plenty of research and probably knew as much about the car as the salesman. Its everything I had read about...comfortable, roomy, plush...It drives well on the open road. Id never had automatic doors, a cup holder, leather, CD changer. So Im in heaven. Great value for the price.

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  No 60 mpg; has some bugs, but good car - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By eyeonthescreen - January 9 - 2:50 pm

  Our Prius averages 44 mpg, not the 51-60 EPA mpg in the ads. It has been in the shop three times now on recalls. The GPS-controls and display software needs some upgrades to be competitive with other makes. BUT, despite these short comings, my next new car will likely be a Prius. It is a work horse, I can pile more stuff in it than in my Avalon, which is a much bigger car on the outside. Interior head and leg room is also better than my Avalon. Prius style is true 21st century; not some makeover of a 20th century design. It has great voice interaction capability and blue tooth connectivity. And despite being hard to navigate around, the GPS does an excellent tracking job.