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:

• 

  excellent car - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By joe397 - November 18 - 6:19 pm

  very reliable. has 63000 miles on it and i have driven almost all of it. done long drives of 250 miles a day on it and never given any problems.

• 

  Navigation big disappointment - 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Don - November 18 - 12:26 pm

  I purchased the navigation system and entered a destination only to find out a major interstate that opened in Nov. 07 is not included on the DVD. I have version 8.1 (the latest version). The navigation system sends me the wrong direction because there are no current updates. I have a $250.00 TomTom that is updatable on the internet and a much more useful tool than the $2000.00 navigation system from Toyota. The Sirius/XM is over priced from the dealer, I went online and found a $400.00 kit that I installed in 20 min. and works just like the OEM version.

• 

  RAV4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By jo sebern - November 18 - 12:20 pm

  Fuel economy is a little less than hoped for, 22 - 25 MPG, but I drive at least 70 on freeway, air conditioner on much of time and I live in a hilly area so am expecting a lot for what car is put through. The iPod location is not the most convenient, nor is location of power outlets. Wish rear window opened, continental kit should have a locking system, looks good but door opening is a bit problematic... cannot carry things longer than interior. Love rear seat adjustments and fold down configuration, but middle seat is useless. Lots of power and turning radius is fabulous. Fun. Great visibility. Really like the RAV4, wish the emissions were a bit better but have a v6, so...

• 

  Great vehicle. - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Patrick - November 18 - 5:30 am

  I traded my 02 Ford Windstar for a 2008 4WD Base Highlander. I have driven the Highlander about 1,000 miles so far. The Highlander is much nicer to drive, has more power, and gets better MPG (around 21 MPG in mixed city/urban interstate driving). The only downside is less space behind the 3rd row seats. I would have bought the hybrid, but the extra $10-12,000 is insane.

• 

  Great Little Car - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By tell302man - November 18 - 4:22 am

  This car is perfect. I believe some of these reviews are written by Domestic car owners to make this car look bad. I have a Solara with 230,000 miles and this Corolla seems ever bit as good. Dont believe this nonsense about Toyota not being the best! They are the BEST!

• 

  5 Stars after 4,750 Miles in a 2016 Prius 4 - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Chris Taylor - November 17 - 1:24 pm

  I was the first person to purchase the 4th generation 2016 Prius in my area, so Ive had some time with the car. The 2016 Prius was the first Prius I considered buying. In my opinion, the styling is much better than prior generations - it has more of a masculine sedan look. The suspension improvements and lower seating position make it a much more comfortable ride over prior generations. Its also very peppy when driven in power mode. It is a reasonably quite car, but not ultra quite like a Lexus. The mileage has been phenomenal. My last tank measured from the gas pump was just over 60 mpg in suburban Florida driving. On long road trips, I average low 50s mpg cruising near 80 miles per hour. It runs in EV mode a substantial percentage of the time, which contributes to the high mileage. The transition from internal combustion to EV is seamless. The 2016 Prius has retained the positive attributes of prior generations (i.e, high efficiency) while improving on driving dynamics and styling. In short, it is a car with very few sacrifices and major benefits in terms of efficiency.

• 

  My beautiful Camry - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Lina - November 17 - 5:53 am

• 

  Lovin It - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By P. Frazier - November 17 - 5:26 am

  Overall, I love my Prius. I do a lot of driving and have only good things to say about it. I dont get 60 mpg but, Im a fast driver and youd have to consistently go 30 mph to get the 60 rating in my particular car. I average 45-50. I only have to gas up twice a month!! When I first got it 2 yrs. ago people would point and stare when I drove it. I was the first one in town to have one, so it was an oddity. Now, I get the thumbs-up and Im seeing more and more of them around town. I cant say enough good things about it.

• 

  New Owner and I love it! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Happy in LA - November 16 - 9:13 pm

  Ive had my Highlander for two weeks and I love it. It really takes off when you accelerate and climbs hills with ease. I love the "buzz" factor too. A lot of people are curious about hybrid cars now and its fun to be on the "cutting edge" of a new technology. I had a Camry for 13 years and getting this new car has been a big thrill. The small features like extra cupholders, power outlets and cargo cover show the thought that went into the design of this vehicle. The informational dash read-out that shows the power source (gas or electric) is also well planned because it explains the new sounds you hear when the power train shifts from gas to electric or both. Bravo Toyota! I love it!

• 

  2007 Corolla LE Auto - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By david - November 16 - 8:40 pm

  I just recently purchased my 2007 Corolla and it has 9400 miles on it and I love the car. I am getting combined mileage of 31 mpg! It runs and drives great, I test drove several other cars and decided this is the best value and do not regret it one bit. I highly recommend this car to anyone looking for an economical vehicle.