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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  Not nearly as well built as a Camry! - 1999 Toyota Avalon
  By christianmama - April 7 - 10:00 am

  We own a 96 Camry and a 99 Avalon XLS. In spite of having paid lots more for the Avalon its pretty much a piece of junk compared to the (older!) Camry. The Camry is still tight and rattle free while the Avalon is a complete rattle trap with only 52,000 miles. The front door locking mechanism fell apart after 40,000 miles- out of warranty and cost $530.00 to repair. The right front rotor is worn out... we are trading it in on a Saab wagon next week as Im tired of paying the repair bills. I am a stay at home mom and the car is driven back and forth to school, the grocery store, and church. Needless to say, we are extremely gentle on cars. I will never buy another Avalon.

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  Glad I did it! - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By msurtees - April 7 - 10:00 am

  Finally getting rid of a 1991 Toyota Corolla. It was time to get a truck and I was thinking of Dodge, Ford, and Toyota. The more I thought about it, my last Toyota lasted me 11 years and had well over 200,000 miles on it...why would I go with anyone else?! Just bought it and I love it!

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  To get better performance--try - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Allen - April 7 - 5:03 am

  I,to,have had with hesitation,especially when starting out in the morning, or general slugishness. I began using 93 octane fuel about 3000 miles ago.The results were a VERY noticeable improvement. I am guessing that the computer chip that regulates ignition "advance, or some other function, was not a good match for the standard 87 octane fuel. My fuel economy has,the best that i can measure, increased enough to mostly compensate for the 20 cents higher price of the fuel. Even my wife comments on the improvement. The "07" Camry (with the 4 cyl engine) is a fine auto -- my dealer did all that he could to help, but with no "factory letter" on the problem, he was some what lost.

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  Too Little of a good thing - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Jon - April 6 - 6:43 pm

  I went to test drive the Hybrid Highlander, all the glowing reviews are well deserved. It was a little creepy sitting at a stoplight with a silent engine. Overall the Highlander hybrid is a very well built car. However, I am six foot four and the leg room in the drivers side is too small. I kept hitting my shin on the emergency brake pedal. Therefore, I deferred my purchase until the time Toyota is considerate enough to built a hybrid for a person over five foot five.

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  4 months in my RAV4 - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By ewg - April 6 - 3:40 pm

  Very nice car improvement over my 2003 Subaru Forester. Others have noted the stiffness of the seats but my wife & I like that and have noticed that seats are starting to feel softer with more use. The interior is designed well but the materials are budget. Im getting between 25 & 26 MPG in overall use; some stop & go plus some highway. Very happy with my RAV4.

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  Excellent Review - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Luann - April 6 - 6:16 am

  A very fun and gas-efficient easy to maneuver and most attractive car that can also accomodate a family with lots of trunk space and ability to transport when needed larger longer items in the trunk by taking the backseat down! This has become very handy with a small business and a trip to the local home store!!! I have gotten many comments on how attractive this 2005 model is from friends and family!

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  Love it ,except... - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Familyman - April 5 - 2:06 am

  Great features not found on previous models. Safety is also upgraded. Interior is stylish and flexible. Toyota quality is why we chose this minivan, however, that quality is not present in their "fly-by-wire" throttle. It turns out that the computer controlled throttle (not cable)often causes hesitation. This is a common problem with Toyota and they have attempted to remedy this via a programming "patch". What they call "Normal Operation" is what we and many other Toyota owners of this newer technology are stuck with.

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  Love it for what it is - No regrets! - 2012 Toyota Prius
  By boeserkritiker - April 3 - 5:47 pm

  The seat fabric is cheap. Not sure how it will hold up. The clove box seems to rattle a little sometimes. But other than that it seems like a fine built car and a great deal for what you get and being a hybrid. Paid 23k OTD. Average 56.5 miles per computer, calculated 2 miles less. I accelerate and slow down smoothly and stick to speed limit. Its not a sports car but I love it for what it is. It should be cheaper in the long run than another compact car if the hybrid system doesnt cause additional expensive repairs and comes with more features. The off-center gauge cluster doesnt bother me. the speed, etc is actually easier to read being much higher up than standard clusters.

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  Hey, its a Toyota - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By Erin Fiona - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Extremely reliable, suprisingly peppy in the 5 spd. model. The factory sound system has yet to let me down and by and large this is a very low maintenance vehicle. What it lacks in style, it more than makes up for in reliability. If you never want to worry about your kids breaking down in the middle of nowhere, this is the car for you!

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  Toyotas Rule! - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By KwanDuw - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Tootas are by far the best over all pickup Ive every driven!