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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  Happy with 2nd Highlander & recommend - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By RWNJ - May 8 - 7:43 am

  I traded my 2005 Highlander for a Classic Silver Metallic 2008. Love the new looks! Very happy with the improved braking, steering and overall power. Love the convenience of opening the rear hatch window. The ride and suspension are not quite as smoothe as my 2005 Limited was, but this is a sport suspension and the car now has 19 inch tires and larger base. The new Limited felt about the same to me, so I went with the sporty look and happy with it. I love the layout of the new controls, large and easy to find everything. I miss the armrest. Even the door side is too low to rest an arm on - I am 55". Rear backup screen & the sensors I added are nice to have. Overall, thumbs up!

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  Great MPG in relation to comfort/style - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By MO in NY - May 8 - 6:53 am

  I love this car! Im averaging 37-49 mpg in spring/fall, 35-37 in summer (using A/C) and 30-33 mpg in winter (when using heating elements and going faster than I should to keep mpg higher). Its true mpg is much lower in winter, but its the same as with my 99 Subaru Outback, which averaged only 18-22 mpg AT BEST in winter. It seems engines work harder in winter to warm up the engine & keep it warm (also gasohol in winter doesnt help matters). I love the constant consumption, energy, etc. read-outs. This car helps you to learn how to save gas and operate it most efficiently. I was too uncomfortable in the Prius (it was like driving a tin can), but I bought the Camry instead.

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  Very pleased - 2010 Toyota Sienna
  By Lloyd - May 8 - 5:06 am

  We traded in a 2008 Saturn Vue AWD for this 2010 8 passenger Sienna. We are very pleased. Have already put 2000 miles on it the first month. It has more HP than the Saturn and gets better MPG. We have gotten as high as 24 to 25 MPG a couple of times. Very roomy and comfortable ride. We can put our grandson in his booster seat in the middle seat in the second row. He has plenty of leg room and can recline just his seat for naps.

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  Will it last forever? - 1996 Toyota Corolla
  By duster497 - May 8 - 4:33 am

  I was looking for a cheap, used and reliable car. I found this 1996 Toyota Corolla DX. Its dark green w/tan interior & a spoiler. Its a 5 spd manual, PW/PL/P mirrors, cruise, A/C. Everything works on this car, even the A/c. It has 158,800 miles on it, but it runs like it has 58,000 on it. Its fun to drive, easy to drive and easy to park. A little light at higher speeds, but not bad. Rides ok, a bit rough on bumps. Im averaging 30 MPG around town, a wee bit of highway and A/C use. If you can find a used Corolla in good shape, dont hesitate to buy it!

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  2009 Toyota Corolla S - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By tbarry - May 7 - 11:20 pm

  This is without a doubt the whole package. The redesigned Corolla is the perfect daily driver and small family car with its great fuel economy and new styling. In my opinion there isnt a better looking, fuel efficient, everyday small family car at this price point. I just picked my Corolla up yesterday and love it so far!! The car is smooth, quiet and handles great whether Im on the highway or driving around town. I test drove the Sentra and Civic as well but the Corolla came out on top by far!

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  Great truck! - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By BG - May 7 - 11:11 pm

  People on here have been whining about the shifting but honestly, its a Tacoma...not a race truck. It takes a little getting used to but once you settle into it and learn how it shifts, its not hard to adapt your driving style a little to take advantage of it. I love the design inside and out, everything feels solid and its everything you expect from a Tacoma. I am 61 and once I got the seat/steering wheel adjusted, its a comfy ride and its very easy to drive. I havent had much cargo to haul yet so I dont have a lot to say there except that I love the adjustable cargo locks, those are VERY handy to have.

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  THE car for America today - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By DonM - May 7 - 11:10 pm

  The Prius is the best common-sense car sold in America. It wont outrun other cars whose design is optimized for performance, either in a straight line or on a windy road. What it will do is carry 4 passengers and luggage with competent power, excellent ride, predictable handling, smooth operation, and as everyone knows, fantastic gas mileage. Its interior design is pleasing, and has a convenient layout both ergonomically and in terms of utility. After owning "performance cars" that place their emphasis on acceleration and handling at the expense of ride, this car with its CVT is a total pleasure to relax in and drive. Good tunes, good nav and effective Bluetooth, very satisfying ride.

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  Almost still original after 152,000 - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By GB - May 7 - 10:26 pm

  I bought my Toyota Tacoma with 40,000 miles on it. 7 years later I now have 152,000 miles on it. Other than routine items such as brakes, tires, batteries, air filters. Everything is still original. I did have to replace the o2 sensor at 102,000 miles. Great truck, my kids will be still driving it 10 years from now.

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  Stylish saver - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By Kirk Camoriano - May 7 - 10:42 am

  I purchased a Toyota as a second car. Im very impressed with the fuel mileage that has been averaging 34-38 mpg. The car looks great, but is pretty unremarkable in performance, handling and overall fun (then again I did not expect much of a driving experience or performance out of a Corolla)

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  Love my Celica! - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By Beth - May 7 - 3:40 am

  Since I bought my GT in 2001, it has never needed anything more than oil changes and tire rotations. Its sporty, but the hatchback makes it very practical, especially when you fold down the back seats for a large item. This is a great car and its a lot of fun to drive.