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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  My Camry - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By Patricia Miller - October 11 - 3:38 pm

  This is my 4th Camry since 1984, its the only car a woman should own, total reliability!! Oil changes, tires and batteries are all it needs.I drove the first one for 188,000 miles.

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  Great mileage, 41mpg and zippy too! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Clare F - October 11 - 2:10 pm

  My old car died, suddenly, so I had to buy a car quickly. I did not think I could afford a new one, but saw the Toyota Yaris. Wow, this car is HOT! I called many dealerships to find one, as soon as these cars arrive on the lot they are sold and I can see why. This car gets unbelievable gas mileage. The first tank full I got 40.2mpg the second tank full 41mpg and I dont live anywhere near a highway. It is a fun car to drive, quite zippy, but obviously lacks power on the big hills. It is comfortable to drive and has nice seats. I am delighted with it. I cant believe the price of it, rich or poor, this is a great car to buy and drive!

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  Best Blend of Comfort and True Utility - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By TunedLoop - October 11 - 1:26 pm

  Absolutely solid build quality. Very smooth ride for a truck; by my experience it rides better than a Maxima but not as smooth as a Deville, with much better handling than a 2002 Expedition. The V-8 is powerful and amazingly quiet until you punch the pedal, then it lets loose a smooth growl and pours power to the pavement. Havent towed anything with it yet, but believe it should handle most boats fine. Seating is comfortable, leather feels smooth yet tough enough to hold up well - heated seats have 2 power levels. If you give this truck a good, detailed visual inspection and compare build quality to any domestic, you will see that it rocks. Embarrassing, but true.

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  Best car Ive ever owned! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Elsa Hennings - October 11 - 1:13 pm

  This is absolutely the best car Ive ever owned, and Ive owned a lot. It is very well thought out, fun to drive, carries all the luggage my family of five needs for a long trip, and the fuel economy is typically 40 mpg or better. As a mechanical engineer Im quite impressed with how this car is put together, specifically the merging of the gas engine and electric motor to the transmission. The seamless crossover in power supply is awesome. Im about to go buy another hybrid Camry, something I never thought Id do.

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  Nice SUV - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By william wolf - October 11 - 12:20 pm

  Meets its write up

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  Build more cars this good! - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By jastertx - October 11 - 12:10 pm

  What a great car! 50 miles per gallon without losing spirit and spunk. A couple of more features (auto feature for headlights, DRLs, rain-sending wipers, power seats and steering wheel) and this car would be absolutely perfect

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  Finally, a Japanese car built IN Japan - 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Charles Encharge - October 11 - 7:46 am

  So far I am loving this vehicle. The FJ seems to be put together better and feels sturdier. Power is decent for the size, it will go when you need it to. Inside is decently comfortable. I didnt waste time on some options such as the power inverter, it barely powers a coffeemaker!

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  Still lovin it after all these years - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By Nancy - October 11 - 7:13 am

  I used to trade cars every two years, but not with this one. I bought the car new in 2001, the first year they were out, and I STILL love driving it. Rear seating is great when you need it, as is the cargo space. Like the others, the cup holders, well... But unlike some other reviews, Im still on my original tires (my model had Goodyear Integrity tires) with about 1/2 of the treadwear still remaining! I keep waiting to see the Hybrid version come out later this year.

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  Camry 2006 - V6 3.3 SE - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Alex in VA - October 10 - 11:10 pm

  The breaking in period doesn’t really let you feel the power of the engine. Once I approached to the 500 miles, I was able to gas up the engine and feel what the best Camry performance- speaking can do. The tests done by the pros indicate that SE V6 can do 0-60 in 6 seconds. My own test shows that it can do it in about 4.5s and without stressing the engine much which gracefully impressed me. After all it is 3.3L V6. The outside looks stylish, nicer than the Accord. I surveyed every single lady in my family and relatives and they find it more attractive than the Accord. They stated the same: “It looks more elegant, more car". You cannot go wrong with it.

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  the best car ever made - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By 2191toyota - October 10 - 4:18 pm

  i have had this car for 14 years and have not had any problems with this car its super quiet as if i just bought it its really fast to be a 4 cylinder car the stock speakers sound great and its the best car to get for anyone and i would really like how the new camrys have improved from mine since its such a reliable car and well put together to. it also has 291,003 miles on it and it still drives like new.