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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  Outstanding - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By zman2 - March 1 - 10:00 am

  I have had my 98 camry for >6 years. The only problem I had was the water pump went out at 80k miles and took the timing belt with it. My wife started driving the kids around in this car and made me drive her new Jeep Grand Cherokee. She figured I was insured for more.

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  Everything I Ever Wanted - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By Desert Dog - March 1 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my SR5 Tundra for the 04 4Runner. As much as I loved the Tundra, I love this vehicle more. It has the same smooth V8, and the transmission is equally smooth. I love the way it handles, and the full- time 4WD means never losing traction on wet pavement (which my Tundra always did). I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a quality ride. Mine hasnt seen much off-road yet, but soon. The ride on the street is excellent.

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  Love This Car - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By angie - February 28 - 11:40 pm

  I love this car! The gas mileage is great, and it has decent power for a compact car. I recently got in an accident with this car and it held up great, no injuries. When we buy another car it will be another Corolla.

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  GPS Problems - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Pierre - February 28 - 6:23 pm

  Really like this car, only problems I encounter is the transmission "slipping" feeling and the feeling that the front of the Camry wants to "take off" with head and cross winds. Also, 8 of the last destinations entered into the GPS were not in the GPS software.

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  Everyone will want one - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Connie in Florida - February 28 - 1:56 pm

  LOVE this truck. The drive is wonderful. I have had so much fun in the last week since purchasing it. The interior is wonderful in sandy areas. It was a nightmare getting sand out of carpet. This truck is a show stopper. You have to be ready to show it to people everywhere you go. My husband bought a hummer last year but I see him eyeing my fj. We may end up as a two fj family. Gas mileage and grade could be better. Should have a outside temperature monitor and should be able to use inside charger without the engine running.

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  My inexpensive Lexus with style! - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Jerome - February 28 - 7:40 am

  I enjoyed driving this vehicle. I traded my 1998 Corolla for the 2006 Camry LE. After driving this vehicle for two weeks, I found it very smooth, fun to drive, and very quiet on the road. It gives me 30 miles to a gallon. Thats pretty good mileage consider its a midsize sedan. Its probably the best car that I ever owned. Thanks Toyota... you did it again!!!

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  Highly Recommened - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Jim - February 28 - 3:26 am

  Owned car for 2 months. No rattles/squeaks mentioned in other forums. Perfect commuter. Road noise is noticeable but tolerable & easily over come by excellent stereo. TCH has virtually no engine compression braking, so it coasts great for good mileage, however this leads to more than normal use of brakes in hilly country. This is really noticeable when driving on slippery roads. You can’t use compression braking to slow down & the CVT has no lower gears to shift into. Shifting the CVT into “brake” mode slows the car dramatically if theres enough initial speed to generate regenerative braking. May be why ABS, stability/ traction control & airbags everwhere are standard.

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  Best truck of 5 owned - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Sal - February 28 - 2:10 am

  Its the best truck of 5 that Ive owned. Smooth, quiet, powerful, totally civilized. Perfect size for everyday use. The only draw back is that the floor is too high. Seating position is similar to a car and not a truck.

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  What I Expected - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Dave - February 27 - 11:16 pm

  I can not complain too much at all. When you buy a Camry, you know what you are getting... a quality built, reliable vehicle. In 2007, Toyota redesigned the Camry to make it one of the most appealing vehicles on the road. I have had an issue with the driver-side seatbelt not wanting to click, but I am willing to write that off as an anomaly, assuming I will not have any issues getting it fixed by Toyota. I am only getting about 22 mpg, which falls into the lower end of the ratings. I would like to see at least 25-28 mpg. Well see. Light from dash/radio is too bright at night. It is like someone is shining a flashlight in your face.

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  On my second one - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By Robert - February 27 - 9:45 pm

  I leased a 2012 Prius C Two, and when the lease was up debated buying it, but given it was November, I negotiated a deal on a 2015. The three years with the 2012 were trouble free, but the 2015 upgrades are noticeable. The most practical improvement is the headlights, which now project a good distance ahead. Aesthetic improvements include new vents, a vastly improved climate control interface, and updated taillights. The Three includes Toyotas E-tune system, which is a mixed bag. The voice recognition can be quite frustrating, and the navigation has little going for it verses Google maps on my phone. The Bluetooth interface however is seamless, and using apps like Pandora is great on long trips. Consistent across the years is the excellent fuel economy, and trouble free motoring.