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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  Your moneys worth - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By efc - August 6 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Camry. The ride is comfortable & the cabin is quiet. Road noise is very minimal. The 4 cylinder engine is surprisingly peppy. Friends/family thought it was a V6 engine. its worth the money that is spent.

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  Sweet ride - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Bob West - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Bought a used 2002 Highlander recently and love it. Vehicle is very user- friendly, controls are convenient, easy to get into and out of and lots of fun to drive.

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  Highlander is the best SUV - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Raju Veludandi - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I am experiencing the feeling of Lexus with my new Highlander. Better fuel economy, better price, better looks, pretty comfortable interiors and exteriors. Overall very good vehicle

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  I Bought One Too!!! - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By lovemytoy - August 6 - 10:00 am

  My fiance wanted to buy a 2004 Corolla, so I went with him, fell in love, and bought one too!!! I had been driving a 1994 Camry V-6, with 260,000 miles (I used it for commuting).This new model has great features and a lot of power!I was surprised at its "get up and go"!

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  Im so happy!! - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By ALBA2001 - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I recently traded in a 2000 Honda Accord V6 for a 4 cyl. 2003 Toyota Camry. I traded the Accord in because the gas mileage was eating me up. I have been so incredibly happy with me trade! My Camry drives like a sports car, its handling is extremely responsive. The 2.4L 4 cyl provides unbelievable pickup, and the fuel economy is delightful!

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  Driving Experience - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By aquiah2000 - August 6 - 9:26 am

  This car is a car of the 21th century. It is fun to drive. It accelerates well with quiet interior. The interior was nicely designed with more space and features. The dashboard is perfect. The exterior is beautiful to look at compare to the previous model.

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  2001 4RUNNER FRAME CORROSION - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By maine4runner - August 6 - 7:36 am

  Been a good vehicle to date, but the latest issue is major. Frame corrosion by muffler which will not pass inspection without getting fixed. This is at 112K miles and 11 years. Beside the chrome bumpers which I just replaced, the rest of the car is perfect. Toyota response is a case #, and will not tell me how many cases have been reported. The local dealer has had a few come in with the same issue. Searching the internet, I find many people with similiar issues. Anybody having similiar experiance.

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  nice car - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Carlos - August 6 - 5:36 am

  The cars really nice. Mileage is impressive on 4 cylinder. Who needs more power? Not here in FL for sure! Some people think the motor is noisy. I disagree. Its not THE sport SUV, but still nice. very easy to drive, brakes well on wet. Stability is OK for a SUV, but the rear wheels blocks a little in hard braking. Most people will not notice, though. No big problem, its a safe car. Just use it like a SUV and not like a Porsche, you will be OK.

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  Love my Prius - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By dougb61 - August 5 - 11:00 pm

  Although the 2009 looks pretty much like every Prius since the 2004 redesign I think its still a good looking car. For a small car the interior is spacious, lots of leg room even in the back seat. The seats recline to an almost flat position if needed. The rear seats lay flat opening up the storage space of the hatchback for plenty of storage. Up front there are two glove compartments, a small compartment under the radio, a sunglasses compartment overhead, and two large compartments between the seats. On the road I find the Prius has plenty of get-up-and-go when needed and the touchscreen display gives me the feedback I need to maximize my fuel economy.

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  Great, underappreciated car - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By J M Hlgrt - August 5 - 8:28 pm

  The car is really great. Dealers are all over the place with regards to familiarity with it, however. More upscale features such as sun roof, GPS, power seat and heated seats are indeed available in the four trim level, but those require a bit of effort (worth it) to find. Thats where the quality of your dealer matters. Back to the car. The dashboard and roof are relatively low, giving you a great view of the road around you. And I really like the sunroof - it sits far enough forward and i wide enough that you really feel the presence of the sky. I had a 2007 Prius 5 which survived 251,000 and was still getting 47 mpg until we sold it. Since I posted original review my mileage on the new Prius kept getting better and better. I use ECO mode and am a pretty efficient driver, but still... It crept past 54, then 55, 56, 57, 58 and seems to be settling at 59 mpg! Its crazy! 200 miles and the tank is like 3/4 full.