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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  lil,red - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Chris Krieger - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Performance is great considering the fuel economy average is about 53 mpg over life of the car.The color Barcelona red and exterior design is very beautiful.

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  I will not buy again - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By UnhappyCustomer - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Nobody in my family works in the auto industry. No relative works in the auto industry either. This is my second Toyota car. I bought it in late October 2010 for about $16,665. This was bay far the biggest mistake I have ever made in buying cars. It turned out that part of one airbag was not installed properly. It seems that steering wheel will be out of control if the speed is high (say about 70 mph). There are some rattling sounds when the engine is turned on. You can not hear the rattling sound when the car is moving because the road noise is even worse. I would definitely NOT recommend this car to any friends.

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  Ticking noise in hubcaps - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By Angry Camry owner - June 16 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my new Camry for 2 months. It is making a loud ticking noise in the hubcaps. I took it to the dealer and they can not figure it out. A corporate specialist is coming out to look at it. Another dealer admitted it is a problem and Toyota does not have a solution yet. He recommended I remove the hubcaps. Meanwhile my new car has been in shop for four days.

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  My Avalon - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Jim - June 15 - 8:13 pm

  I had my Avalon over a year and it has been the best vehicle I have owned during the past forty-five years. Great ride and power when one needs it. I have not had one problem with this car. My friends whom ride in my car loves it. Lots of room in the back seat for legs. You wont go wrong buying a Toyota Avalon. We love it!

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  2002 Camry SE V6 - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Rory - June 15 - 5:23 pm

  Fun to drive sports sedan that can haul the family. Roomy interior and a classy exterior design that is appealing to the eye. I did experience sudden jerking 40-50 MPH while in 4th gear overdrive when you let off the gas. I upgraded the fuel from 87 to 93 octane (91 or higher recommended) and the problem seems to be resolving itself, but not yet resolved. Dealer could not identify the problem. Is it just my CAMRY that is doing this? Overall, we like the car. Rory

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  My car - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By patty - June 15 - 4:50 pm

  What can I say I just love it. I always own a Chevy or Ford. I can say this is one of the best cars I ever owned. Is cute and great on gas. And the dealership I bought it from they were great. They pick this car out for me and I just fell in love with it let me tell you, you cant go wrong .

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  A great vehicle with a few quirks - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Craig - June 15 - 4:06 pm

  This is my first hybrid. I have noticed that if you want to milk every bit of mpg from this vehicle, you need to drive in ECON mode. Using ECON mode I get 25 mpg in mixed driving. Without ECON mode I get around 20 mpg - sometimes less. EV mode is, IMHO, a marketing gimmick as it will not work unless the temperature is right, the batteries are fully charged, etc, etc, etc. When idling in park or in traffic, you sometimes feel a bump and small surge forward. When driving, you do not feel gas/electric switching at all. In ECON mode, acceleration is damped to conserve fuel. In normal mode this vehicle is quite powerful and easily gets to freeway speeds.

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  Poor transmission - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By sam - June 15 - 3:03 pm

  Very poor transmission. It changes gears and you can feel it since it stalls. Had rotor problems already. just has 1058 miles. Interior makes noise as though something is loose. The passenger side windows would not open front and the back. Just a nightmare since the day one. I do not think it is number one when you spend so much money for it.

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  Nice SUV, but the newer model is nicer - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Brian - June 15 - 9:30 am

  We purchased a 2006 Highlander to replace our 2000 Blazer. We chose to go with the Highlander because we wanted improved fuel economy, but still with a V6/4WD combination. We also were impressed with the safety ratings on the Highlander. Now, the Blazer was OUTSTANDING in the snow, and only time will tell if the Highlander will do well in the snow too. The power delivery from the V6 was better than I expected, but having also test-driven a 2008 model (expensive) it lags in comparison. The transmission is seamlessly smooth, and the suspension in the Sport package makes the vehicle more fun to drive. The third row really only provides adequate room for children, but it is nice to have.

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  Simply the finest - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Bill - June 15 - 7:50 am

  This is the finest drive I have experienced. I am convinced the 2005 Avalon is the equivalent of the Lexus, in terms of ride and road quiet. The Limited is a step up from the other models of the Avaoln as well. I have consistently gotten 26-27 mpg in mixed city and highway driving on regular gas. The seats are comfortable on both in and out driving or long distance trips and vented/heated is a great addition. The quality of the sound system is excellent. The car also has a powerful acceleration if you need it. Surprisingly agile in cornering too. Im sold on this car and on the guys at Toyota.