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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  Nice car (when parked) - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Tony the test driver - May 26 - 10:00 am

  This is a nice car in the S trim. Body kit makes amazing job beautifying this fairly dull car. Only grill remains dull. It is so smooth for a small car, you dont feel if it moves. But this is not enthusiasts car. It has no soul. You may accelerate hard but there is no feel of it. Steering is questionable. Interior is great besides some hard plastic in "should be soft" places, cheap controls and questionable location of the clock. Big trunk. Nice seats. Decent legroom in the back and suitable middle spot with flat floor beneath.

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  Great reliable car at a reasonable price - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By SmartCarFan - May 26 - 12:27 am

  You will not get these many features (touch screen blue tooth and audio, power seat) at this reasonable price. Ive owned it for three months and I can vouch for it. It changes gear fast so pick up is good and power is also good. On highway, it didnt feel as smooth as I wanted but its definitely less noisy. Headlights need some improvement. City MPG I get is 21-22 in the city and I live in congested city. Overall MPG is 3 to 4 miles less than stated but you dont get pick up without paying for the gas it seems. I own LE but Id recommend XLE or SE due to better aesthetics. Overall, Id recommend this car to anyone over Honda which is pricier and now has noisy CVT which I hate it. Also, ALtima has CVT and I hate NIssan car overall due its poor build quality. Closest competitor could be Hyundai Sonata but I fell in love with Camrys look and Toyotas reliability. I am happy with my car and family also love it.

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  After one month - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Carl Straub - May 25 - 7:43 am

  The Prius has been better than anticipated. We have the #1 option. (no GPS or fancy key). Rented one for 4 days so we could try first. The electric engine provides a lot of torque going up hills etc. The acceleration is actually good if needed. It has good room inside. You soon get used to not seeing front "hood", actually stop too far away at first. Also own large sedan (LS 400) but find we jump in Prius most of the time. Here is clincher--was able to get a load from Costco home (folded down rear seats). If youre consider it-rent one first. Enterprise has them.

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  Fun to drive - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By merrittcw - May 24 - 11:53 pm

  Surprisingly powerful and quiet. This Highlander is my 2nd Hybrid (03 Civic was first). The vehicle meets my satisfaction. It is extremely quiet and has the feel of a luxury SUV. Gas mileage isnt overly impressive, but it is better than a traditional SUV. If you are looking for a well built vehicle with integrated technology, this is the SUV for you. With respect to value, the extra cost associated with hybrid technology does not compensate for the saved fuel cost at this time. I imagine this product line is a cash cow for Toyota. Still I enjoy the technology and am happy with the unique aspects of this Highlander.

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  rough shifting - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Jean - May 24 - 12:03 pm

  Not many miles yet but like the ride. Interesting to read other reviews about rough shifting from first to second becasue I notice it too. Not encouraging to hear the dealers consider this normal. I figure Ill get used to it. Miss dual control air and memory seats but for the money its a great little car

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  Wow! Awesome - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By BuckleUpSon - May 23 - 12:03 am

  Ive been driving this car for about five years, absolutely no problems. Which was a pleasant surprise considering 4 of the 5 years were from college driving, which was very tough on the engine Im sure. Other than regular scheduled maintenance (oil changes, filter changes, etc.) I havent had a single problem with the car, not one. Also, I have the v6 model, and was quite surprised at how "peppy" the car was even at high speeds.

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  Expensive yet spartan - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By GTFLDAD - May 22 - 10:13 pm

  Nice truck. Toyota reliability throughout, but they arent giving anything away! If you want the nice features like lit-up window/lock/mirror controls on the door or a simple garage door opener, you better pony up a few more bucks.

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  Priced right - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By ATL-GA - May 22 - 9:53 pm

  Decent car for the money. 1 year old, with only 1 real problem. Fuel gauge is flaky, when you fill up; it can take 15 minutes for it to register full. In the dealership for the 3rd time right now to try and fix. Need it fixed while it is still under warranty. Hopefully it will be fixed this time. Car is excellent on Gas, when people say 35 miles to the gallon, believe it. Between my Parent and myself (2008 and 2009 Camry’s) weve both got 35mpg no trips. Lots of room, lofty comfortable ride. By no means exciting or sporty ride.

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  Best bang for your buck!! - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By toyotacamry2x - May 22 - 2:56 pm

  The only reason to complain would be if you didn’t know what you were buying. The Camry rides smooth, has enough power to take care of the day-to-day, and looks just as good if not better than its competitors (basically just the accord and sonata). It’s clearly not a sports car (even though the V6 feels like one) so if that’s what you are judging it against it will always fail. P.S. - Must have accessories: sunroof, premium wheels, dual exhaust (even if it’s just for looks)

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  Nice car spoiled by junk suspension - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By PMOT - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Nice, but not exciting, car with cheap clunky suspension. I didnt expect sporting suspension, but rather, a nice quiet ride. But every bump brings a symphony of clunks and rattles from the front and rear suspension. Unacceptable in a car in this class (Hyundai Sonata does a better job). Great mileage with high test in the tank (30mpg @ 75-80 on the Mass Pike). Reasonable performance. The 3 disk CD changer gets "tired" after several hours of play. Looks like most of the other homely, expensive Japanese sedans (except for Nissan now). Should have kept looking for a Maxima SE! You should too!