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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  Transmssion - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By kevin - November 4 - 2:50 pm

  At slow speeds, when gear lever in D, transmssion sometimes has difficulty in deciding appropriate gear to shift into. Toyota dealer says no problem, just a new configuration (drive by wire)that is developing a feel for drivers style. I believe there is a software glitch here. Also, am averaging 15mph city and 25 highway, well below published standards, while driving modestly. Finally, this car is hot, there is almost too much power for a front wheel drive configuration to handle. My 2000 XLS was a more satisfactory purchase.

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  Would I Buy Again? - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By 510man - November 4 - 11:26 am

  The Avalon is Toyotas version of a Buick. It is much improved over the prior models. The acceleration and economy are a nice blend. The car has great acceleration, for what it is, and the highway mileage is truly over 30mpg. The car has quite a bit of torque steer and can get squirrelly if youre not paying attention under hard acceleration. My opinion is it should have been a rear wheel drive. The car drives well. Its not to tight so it rides well but its not like driving a sponge when cornering (like a Lincoln, Buick, etc.) Road noise is excessive but some of that may be the CHEAP quality tires the factory put on the car. The AC and heat are the best Ive owned.

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  4th Avalon - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By AutoDrone - November 4 - 10:10 am

  Between my family and I we have owned every model of Avalon Toyota has ever made. Theyve never been particularly striking cars, but theyve been great bang-for-the-buck and the rear legroom is unbeatable. The 2011 exterior changes that, it looks 1000 times better. Unfortunately the interior seems to have been downgraded. The "faux-wood" has less shine and looks like a rental car and the fake brushed metal (plastic) center console is ugly and overhangs the rest of the dash by a good inch. The quality of the stitching in the rear seats seems lower as well. I really wanted to like this car based on the tech/look upgrades, but the interior changes are low rent. New version in 2 years.

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  A nice value in a basic SUV - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Cheryl in VA - November 4 - 9:33 am

  Just bought 2010 Base I-4 FWD RAV4. So far, it seems like a good SUV. I had fun driving it on hilly, twisty roads in my area. It had enough pep to merge into traffic on a 65-mph HWY. More energy than expected. The radio is better than some of the reviews Ive read, but Im not one who needs the best audio. Seats are firm; hoping they soften a little with use. The headlights on the RAV4 are surprisingly bright! I rarely had to use my high beams (unusual for me). The rear door needs to be changed to a left- hinge for sale in the U.S. Plenty of storage room. Would like more space to rest my left arm on while driving. Love the exterior design. Even the base model is sporty.

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  Satisfied new owner - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Ronald Troutman - November 4 - 6:33 am

  Only a short term review. Have had the car only a short time, but find that it is very well built as the other three Toyotas we have owned.

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  Tall people beware - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By nfinityman - November 4 - 1:19 am

  Like many other reviewers I spent quite a bit of time test driving the many competitors on the market today. I started my search by reading through the Consumers Digest car review edition that came out in February. Based on these results I concentrated on the Hyundai Elantra, the Ford Focus 2012 edition, and the Mazda 3 Touring. I ended up choosing the Toyota Corolla because it had all the features I was looking for at the right price. The interior was larger than the others with more space for backseat passengers and the actual fuel economy held up when compared to both the Elantra and Focus despite their 40 mpg claims. The ride is smooth and quiet, I just wish it had more power.

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  Little Workhorse - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By JAD - November 3 - 10:43 pm

  I work in TV in LA and this car has been a great worker. I love zipping around in this little car in the city.I say little but it doesnt feel that way until you go to park it.Its built tall so it feels as spacious and has all the cup holders & storage space of a large car, but with the ease of parking and turning of a small car. Ive read complaints about the center mounted dash...all I can say is "Get back on your rascal Grampa!" This car has great storage, great gas mileage, and can comfortably(YES) fit 4 adults (5 in a a pinch). It even handled admirably on snow when I went to Mt High today.I wish I had the 40/60 seats and cruise control but otherwise the Yaris is perfect.

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  great miles per gal - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By deb - November 3 - 9:10 pm

  we got average miles per gal 31.8 on a trip of 3300 round trip over 400 miles per tank of gas. were able to sleep as need.

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  Always Reliable - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Greg Winegarden - November 3 - 7:36 pm

  Since purchasing our Camry Hybrid back in November 2006, we have had absolutely no problems of any kind with this vehicle. The Camry rides and drives just as well if not better than many other luxury vehicles, but with much better fuel economy. The only strike against the Camry Hybrid would be the loss of trunk space due to battery storage, but overall this is a great vehicle if you are looking for good fuel economy and a fun car to drive. I would highly reccomend this vehicle to anyone that still wants the luxury car ride and ammenities, but still gives you good fuel economy.

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  Smooth and dependable. - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Rob F - November 3 - 7:13 pm

  Never had a beef w/ Toyota. This truly is a baby-lexus. Fully loaded, Its a higher price compared to competitors, but worth every penny. My only regret is not opting for manual trans.