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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  Love it - 1995 Toyota Corolla
  By sara - November 14 - 9:00 am

  I love this car. I could afford a new car, but I will drive this til it dies. Great gas mileage 25-30. Hauls lots of stuff but is small enough for parking in tight spaces.

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  The RAV 4 Limited for 2006 is great!!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By DawnM - November 14 - 12:53 am

  This car is wonderful. I previously have owned a 2003 RAV 4 L, and still like it very much. The 2006 model, is really very well designed and a lot of fun to drive. The improvements over the 2003 model include a nice feature of automatic fold-down seats in the passenger area, and more interior room. We will enjoy both cars very much.

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  Does Everything Without a Fuss - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By Central Maryland Dad - November 13 - 11:42 pm

  This 2012 RAV4 Base is my first SUV and Im pleased with my choice. I needed a fuel efficient, roomy, do-it-all car for my daily commute, driving the kids, and something my partially disabled wife could drive, too. I put about 9,000 miles on the SUV since I bought it used in January, including a couple days of central Maryland snow. So far, this RAV4 does everything well enough and nothing spectacularly. Performance is adequate. The 2.5 liter four-banger has enough power for my commute and in-town driving. Highway merges arent a problem as long as Im willing to gun it hard. The power is barely adequate with three passengers and highway merging is dicey. My overall fuel economy is a pretty good 27 MPG. Braking is effective. The long pedal travel was disconcerting enough that I had the dealer re-check the brakes. The brakes work well under all conditions once I got the feel of them. The car holds the road suprisingly well, much better than I expected from an SUV. The steering is predictable and solid. The four-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and the gear changes are merely noticeable, even under hard acceleration. I hardly notice them any more. Front seat comfort is okay. Im 64" and weigh about 310 pounds. Leg room is sufficient and I have plenty of headroom, about three inches. I wish the seat had better thigh support. The seat cushions are very firm, almost hard. The side bolsters hold me in place nicely, even during hard curves and corners. All of my drive times have been shorter than an hour. I have no information about longer trips. The rear seat is surprisingly roomy. Teenagers (up to 58") can sit behind me and still have enough room to be comfortable. I could sit behind me and have enough room! The rear seat cushions are as firm as the front seat cushions. However, my teenaged rear seat passengers ride for short trips and havent complained. My main interior complaint is the frikkin noise! A lot of engine and tire noise penetrate the cabin. Road noise is so bad that I cant listen to the radio. I stopped playing the radio during my commute lest my ears ring painfully at the end of the trip. Cargo and storage is cavernous. I love it! Im glad the first owner did not get the optional third row seat. There are plenty of pockets, cubbies, and other cavities for small things. The cavernous cargo space is a boom box, though. I think half of the road noise is amplified back there. Safety seems fine. If I dont notice, then its probably good, right? The headlights are nice and bright. The all-wheel drive, anti-skid control, and anti-lock brakes worked unobtrusively or as expected in the snow. Win! This RAV4 is my first car to have Bluetooth. I dont know how I lived without it! I have one USB port and one 3.5mm headphone jack in the Base trim. The radio sounds okay for playing speech but lousy for music. Its the cheap base model radio and it sucks. I dont know if I would notice a better radio over the aforementioned interior noise, though. Reliability? Maintenance costs? Its a Toyota! It gets top reviews and recommendations everywhere. This is the fifth Toyota in my family and all previous Toyotas have been rock solid. I expect my RAV4 to be just as reliable. Ive been driving the snot out of this car ever since I got it and Ive been satisfied with it.

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  CE 5spd - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By bri - November 13 - 10:43 pm

  I bought this used in Sept. 05 with 50K on it and now have over 114K on it. I havent had a single issue with it. Its not flashy, but with the 5spd its fairly peppy and fun to drive. Surprisingly roomy and easy riding on the highway. 36/38 mpg in the winter 40/42 in the summer, pretty much all highway miles.

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  Excellent Sedan/Wagon/SUV - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By tictoctictoc - November 13 - 2:50 pm

  Ride: Have driven on I76, I80, I 90, I190, I78, I70, I86, Route 22 central PA and really its all smooth drive except for some bumps on I 86. Pickup: Good. Did well on the ups and downs of the Alleghenies. Noise: I contradict on the critics comments on the wind & road noise- Driving at 65mph and can hear the crisp and crystal clear music at level 6-7 maybe the premium JBL system (std on venza) is the performer. Engine & Mileage: V6 is powerful but fuel efficient. Driving between 50 mph-65 mph highway will give an avg fuel consumption of 27-29 mpg... isnt it wonderful!!! Tire: noise is also very low (have 20" Michelin). Seats: Leather seats are comfortable for a 4-5 hour dive at a stretch.

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  Highlander Review - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Andrea - November 13 - 10:46 am

  Great SUV, roomy and comfortable, very smooth ride for passengers (front and back). Navigation is great, useful, and amazingly accurate. First hybrid weve owned, but the gas mileage is better than regular SUV, but not as high as advertised. We average 22mpg Hwy and 26 mpg City. Great visibility, easy to get in/out. Overall fun drive.

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  A Very Good Car for the $$$ - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By dan4182 - November 13 - 4:43 am

  A very fine car for the $$$, matches up well with others (Lexus, Lincoln and Cadillac) that cost thousands more.

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  A Great Not So Little Truck - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Andy - November 12 - 6:33 pm

  Absolutely no problems for 12000 miles

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  Great MPG and Comfort - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Marvin Mortensen - November 12 - 4:00 pm

  One of the nicest vehicles I have ever owned. Recent trip to NC gave me between 33-34 mpg. Amazing and thats going 70-75 mph most of the trip. The only complaint I have is that you cannot shut the wipers "off". They are completely automatic and come on whenever a few sprinkles hit the windshield. I would recommend this car for overall comfort and fun to drive and of course the great mpg.

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  Love This Car! - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Brooke - November 12 - 9:22 am

  I purchased my 2007 Toyota Corolla LE, 5-speed manual transmission car from a dealer in 2011 after parting ways with my 96 Honda Civic. I love this car. It has great get up and go and is super reliable. When I first got this car, I had a long highway commute each day and I got amazing gas mileage (36 MPG). Two years ago, I moved and my commute is now a 10 minute drive through town and even though my MPG dropped is is still averaging about 33 MPG. Not bad! When I purchased the car it had 75,000 miles on it and since then I have nearly doubled that to 135,000 miles. It is still going strong. No issues. No super expensive repairs, just regular maintenance. This car is great! I had planned (and would love) to drive this car until it refuses to go anymore but our family acquired two large dogs so I am forced to seek out a larger vehicle. But I am sad to see my car go! I would buy it again in a heartbeat!