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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  New 08 Highlander FWD - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Dale - November 28 - 9:23 am

  Purchased the 08 Highlander FWD on Thursday. Very solid and well built vehicle, with a powerful V-6 engine and well matched 5 speed automatic. The interior is upscale and flawless. I also have a leased 05 Sienna van, and the ride is very similar. I noticed the power steering is slightly overboosted, and could give a little more effort and road feel, but that is the nature of the electrically assisted steering, as opposed to the older hydraulic power steering. As noted by others, the liftgate is on the heavy side, and requires some effort to close. My Sienna has never been back to the dealer, I do my own oil changes and brake pads (very easy), and I expect this Toyota to be as reliable.

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  278,000 miles and counting - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By gene_neill - November 28 - 7:14 am

  I bought my Prerunner new in 2004. My previous truck was an F-250, so it was tough to give up the size, and the big V8 engine - in fact I still miss those things. But this truck just keeps on and keeps on and KEEPS ON, so I just cant complain anymore. In all these miles, I have done pretty much NOTHING except change the oil, and whatnot. The only thing that has ever broken was the power steering pump, somewhere around 150K miles. I plan to continue driving this as my main (and only) work and personal vehicle at least until it hits 350,000. I see no reason to believe that will be a problem.

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  Owned the vehicle for just one year - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By SpartanMan - November 28 - 12:54 am

  Purchased the vehicle in the Spring 2015. When I test drove it , it was only around town, only short trips . No problems at that time, loved the vehicle. In the Fall, I took it on its first long journey to take my son to college, several hours away...and for the first time my back was KILLING me after just a couple hours non stop driving . It was then, I realized just how uncomfortable the drivers seat was....no adjustable lumbar support, no good thigh support. I used wedges, pillows, side leg support ...anything to help the leg and hip pain. Nothing worked. I ended up using my old Ford Expedition for long trips the remainder of the year. Never had issues with comfort in the Ford or even my wifes Nissan Altima. Traded the Rav4 ( and Expedition) a year later for a 2016 Kia Sorento, which I made sure to take on a prolonged test drive before buying. Needless the say, the Kias seats are excellent. ........If you find the seats in your Rav comfortable, then yes, the Rav4 is an excellent choice and should provide reliablity and value for years and years.

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  Avalon 2005 - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By jfwynne - November 27 - 11:46 pm

  The 2005 Avalon is the steal of the year. The XL is equipped with all the features you would expect on a vehicle costing thousands more. They have a great product which will set the level in competition against the best Europe has to offer. Toyota has done their homework on this vehicle. Plenty of room for six footers.

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  Happy at last - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By sandra - November 27 - 10:00 pm

  Love it! Love the back tailgate door swinging out instead of up...much easier to use, especially when your arms are filled with packages. Its comfortable, drives beautifully, great mileage, has a lot of pickup, lots of room. I love the interior and exterior design, plenty of cargo space and compartments. I feel safe in it!

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  4Runner for Highlander - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Lawrence C. Reardon - November 27 - 8:41 pm

  I needed to replace my 2007 4Runner Trail with a new vehicle that would get me, passengers, the dog, and goods, through the snow, the mud, and the dust to my camp in central Maine. I also needed a safe car that I could maneuver on the highways up and down the East Coast, get decent mileage, and have a solid array of safety features. Unfortunately the new 4Runner does not have adaptive cruise control, blind spot/cross lane warnings, crash avoidance systems, etc. I refused to pay an extra $10,000 for the Lexus. So I ended up with the AWD Highlander Platinum Limited and its extensive array of safety features. Obviously, there is a big difference between driving a truck-based and a car based SUV, such as the Highlander. In this respect, I dont miss the 4Runner Trail. Well see when Im stuck in high snow whether I miss the 4WD. But for now, Im thrilled driving the Highlander. While the interior looks massive, it isnt a big car. While I thought about the Ford Explorer for a couple of days, as I liked the parking assist and the safety features involving the front of the car, I opted for the Toyota because of quality assurance and the cheaper price. I have driven it for two months, including nine-hour trips up and down the East Coast. I have stopped worrying about changing lanes because of the safety features. I was able to carry more goods than the 4Runner. And on the last trip North during a cold winters day, I averaged over 25 mpg...with only 1500 miles on the odometer. Who knows what Ill get during the summer after it has been broken in. My personal list of likes besides all the safety items: a comfortable seat, a decent sounding audio system, a nice interior design, especially the shelf in the front to carry wallets, phones, etc., the flip-up back window, the car handling, the automatic headlights/bright beams, and the automatic windshield wipers. I only wish they had included front parking radar. I am one of the last to have a Windows phone, which doesnt quite mesh with the Entune system...but it works. While I miss the rugged 4Runner capability, but I now have AWD and all types of safety mechanisms that will keep me safe. So far, it exceeds expectations.

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  Toyota Avalon Limited - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Arnold - November 27 - 8:10 pm

  Great sedan at thousands less than Lexus. 32MPG hwy with loads of power. Nav could be a bit simpler to use both otherwise a well executed design and layout. This is my 2nd Avalon and a Lexus in sheeps clothes. Ultra quiet engine, loads of interior room and limo like back seat. Toyota did a super job on this often overlooked sedan.

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  Very Stylish and Sporty - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By 0hheck - November 27 - 8:02 pm

  When replacing my previously leased car, I was looking for a quality vehicle that had a great reliability reputation. I looked at Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu and the Toyota Camry. I wanted specific features, such as push button start, remote start, proximity entry, quite/comfortable ride and excellent fuel economy....all for a reasonable price. The Camry SE Special Edition had all the features I wanted and was the best buy in terms of cost as well as future resale. Im currently getting in excess of 41+ mpg on the highway with the way I drive. Around town, Im getting 27+ mpg. If youre looking high performance, you may not choose this model as it only is available with the 4cyl engine. However, this engine provides quick acceleration and passing performance. For my purposes, the V6 is more than I would need. Overall, Im quite happy with my Camry.

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  Love That Toyota - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Jerry Fassio - November 27 - 6:30 pm

  We purchased a Highlander in April 2004 and have found the car really comfortable and great to drive. Maintance is at a minimum. It looks good and drives like a dream.

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  If you read this you will buy it - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By chrisl - November 27 - 5:23 pm

  Trust me, this is a very capable vehicle in all aspects. I usually dont write reviews, but in the case of the FJ I am making an exception. Like most of you, I did a lot of extensive research before I made my final vehicle decision. My advice would be not to get hung up on the negative reviews, and focus on the positive ones, itll save you a lot of wasted time. The blind spots are not as bad as some people say they are. The rear seats do fold all the way down. Road noise is not noticeable and the interior is quiet. This vehicle is extremely reliable, and capable of some astounding things. This vehicle has been tested to its limits and still scores big!