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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  You cant have mine..... - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By erodlink - June 9 - 5:10 am

  Saw on CNN the other day, that a fellow was buying Prius and selling them for more than he paid. Well dude, you cant have mine, I love it! I traded in my Ford F350 Super Duty, because it wouldnt fit into my newly built homes garage. What a blessing!!! Of course I dont act like I am macho when the guys next to me rev their engines, but I smile everytime I gas up. Driving to my other home, 135 miles away and back, used to cost me about a hundred bucks in gas. Now I am paying about thirteen dollars.

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  2009 Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Don - June 9 - 4:20 am

  Fun car to drive with more technology than the space shuttle. Navigation system is dependable and easy to use. The car handles like a dream and is responsive to every driver command. Fuel economy appears to be very close to the stated numbers. The Camry Hybrid is truly a high tech car that will rise to the top of its class. Our primary family car is now the Camry Hybrid. We are giving up our SUV. Other than the extra room we have sacrificed we have no regrets. The Camry is a great car for young and old alike.

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  Awesome Prius c :) - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By vvj - June 8 - 11:54 pm

  I got my silver Prius c One about 3 months ago, and I am absolutely loving this car!!! Since most of my driving is in the city, Im averaging a ridiculous 57 MPG without doing anything special. I also love the look and feel of the interior - feels very premium for an entry-level car. The light gray seats (only available on the One) are super soft and comfortable (so much better than all non-leather seats on other cars). The color combination of the seats and dashboard/head unit looks amazing with the silver exterior color. There is also a surprising amount of space inside - way more than you would think looking at the cars exterior. Im also very pleased that Toyota added a touch screen, softer interior materials, and LED headlights & taillights all standard for the 2015 model - they really give the car a premium feel. Combine this with an incredible price of $18,500 ON THE ROAD, free 2 year maintenance, rock-solid Prius reliability with a tried-and-true hybrid system - and you have a car thats very hard to beat. The only reason I wouldnt recommend this car is if you do ALL of your driving on the highway - youd be better off with a Corolla or Mazda3 for the same price. But even if you do mixed city/highway, this car is still fine - I have no problem getting this car up to 80-85 MPH (slightly more road/wind noise than Corolla/Mazda3). And if you do mostly city like me, the Prius c is the halo car for congested, stop-and-go traffic areas like mine - not only for fuel efficiency, but more importantly for pollution (which can be 10 times less compared to other cars in these conditions). The bottom line: I could not have wanted a better car than my 2015 silver Prius c One :)

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  Awesome Prius c :) - 2015 Toyota Prius c
  By vvj - June 8 - 11:54 pm

  I got my silver Prius c One about 3 months ago, and I am absolutely loving this car!!! Since most of my driving is in the city, Im averaging a ridiculous 57 MPG without doing anything special. I also love the look and feel of the interior - feels very premium for an entry-level car. The light gray seats (only available on the One) are super soft and comfortable (so much better than all non-leather seats on other cars). The color combination of the seats and dashboard/head unit looks amazing with the silver exterior color. There is also a surprising amount of space inside - way more than you would think looking at the cars exterior. Im also very pleased that Toyota added a touch screen, softer interior materials, and LED headlights & taillights all standard for the 2015 model - they really give the car a premium feel. Combine this with an incredible price of $18,500 ON THE ROAD, free 2 year maintenance, rock-solid Prius reliability with a tried-and-true hybrid system - and you have a car thats very hard to beat. The only reason I wouldnt recommend this car is if you do ALL of your driving on the highway - youd be better off with a Corolla or Mazda3 for the same price. But even if you do mixed city/highway, this car is still fine - I have no problem getting this car up to 80-85 MPH (slightly more road/wind noise than Corolla/Mazda3). And if you do mostly city like me, the Prius c is the halo car for congested, stop-and-go traffic areas like mine - not only for fuel efficiency, but more importantly for pollution (which can be 10 times less compared to other cars in these conditions). The bottom line: I could not have wanted a better car than my 2015 silver Prius c One :)

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  Love This Truck - 2011 Toyota Tundra
  By campingfool - June 8 - 9:09 pm

  I bought this truck new in 2007 after driving a few of the competitors and decided to go with Toyota because of its known reliability and large towing capacity. I had an accident a month after owning the truck and it still drive the same after repair. I bought a 10,000 pound 5th wheel and have hauled it to Yellowstone and the Appalachian Mountains with no problems. Sure gas mileage stinks while hauling (8-10mpg) but it’s a truck. While my comrades pull their trailers and start complaining their transmissions are getting hot mine doesnt even flinch. I hope this review helps eliminates any doubts about buying this truck. I also dont notice a jitter but Im not a professional reviewer.

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  THE BEST HIGHLANDER TO BOOT! - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Ben Richards - June 8 - 8:45 pm

  The 2017 redesigned Highlander is the best SUV on the market. It still retains the luxury SUV feel and comfort, all while bringing in new and improved upgrades! The new upgrades to the transmission makes stressful driving a thing of the past, with its comfortable shifting, cruising when you need it and power when you really need to step on it and put the pedal to the floor! And let me tell you, this baby has 5 USB ports! Who needs 5 USB ports you ask? Any family where the kiddos need to be constantly attached to their devices, thats who! That is genius on Toyotas part, now I dont have to listen to my kids complain and moan while we are all in the car. All I have to do is plug them in and they shut up for hours! I wouldnt consider anything other than the brand new 2017 Highlander, it has comfort, luxury, and power! I dont know what that other guy was talking about, if he really drove a Highlander he would know that everything pales in comparision to this beast of a machine! Plus, its got black tires, and who doesnt love that?

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  Owned 14 months: 3.5 L, V6, VVT-i spd - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By chengdu - June 8 - 8:03 pm

  I needed a four-wheel drive vehicle for the mountains. Ive had not a single problem with this Rav4 2007 Basic. Seats fold in 60 sec to load it with firewood. It handles well on mountain snow. It does not die, or gear struggle, on steep roads, loaded with equipment and four passengers. Downhill, the steep-grade feature nicely paces the vehicle without your active acceleration. The Basic has standard features such as cruise control, vehicle stability control, traction control, 4WD on demand - superior features for the Catskill Mountains. Its a quality vehicle.

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  Best in class - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By taco - June 8 - 5:23 pm

  This has been the best truck I have ever owned. It will out 4by any other truck, and out last as well. Has great style, and comfortable for a 4x4 truck

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  The best car in the world!!! - 2005 Toyota Celica
  By michelle - June 8 - 12:26 pm

  I love my Toyota Celica GTS. I think that its the best car I have ever had and I have had a lot. The Celica is like no other car i have ever seen. The Celica looks like a high price car but it isnt!! I have no problems with the car, I love everything about it.

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  A league of its own - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Tom B - June 8 - 10:40 am

  I paper-compared all 5 full-size mfgs and narrowed down to Chevy and Toyota. Toyota still was the no-brainer. Why buy a 16 valve, push rod V8 with 315 HP when you can have 32 valves amd 381 HP. Also, rear disc brakes, 6 speed tranny and an interior big enough for hide-and-seek. The SR5 package, to me, rides like a Lexus. The 6 speed tranny is almost anticlimactic as it is so smooth: it feels like a 1 speed. This truck will turn tighter than my 1992 x- cab Tundra. Fuel mileage is dead-on 18 mpg as rated, however, I drive 28 mi of a 30 mile commute on the interstate. Even with the 4.30 rear diff. gears this truck turns only 1900 rpm at 70 mph.