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 a Happy Camper - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By DisAppointed - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I finally broke down and bought a Toyota after hearing the glowing reviews from all the owners. What a mistake. I thought that I was buying a reliable car. However, the day after I bought the car, it wouldnt start. The battery was dead. I checked and couldnt find any electrical item on. The dealer towed it and replaced the battery. They couldnt find anything wrong either. The rest of the problems were minor compared to this, but I expected zero defects from the way everyone rants about Toyota. As soon as I find a gullible buyer, Im unloading this trash.

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  Need Power Increase - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By petarro - April 29 - 10:00 am

  Car is Excelent, now... the Power of the Car is not so good. The Car is not Powerfull

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  Toyota is Tops - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Queenie - April 29 - 10:00 am

  It is hard to imagine that this car is priced so low and is every bit as great as a Lexus at thousands more. No car could possible compare with this in this price range. I drove them all and their is absolutely no comparison.

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  Toyota is Superior Quality - 2018 Toyota Avalon
  By RP - April 28 - 9:52 pm

  with months of research..decided on the 2018 Avalon XLE. I do Love this car. It looks sporty, it handles nice and has ample power..very comfortable to drive.

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  you get what you pay for - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By Jane - April 28 - 2:20 pm

  I had agreed to trade my 04 Lexus GX 470 in because of dismal fuel economy, and because my son is in college and we still needed an SUV I was suckered in to this. Well, needless to say you get what you pay for, the design both inside and out is pathetic and the ride quality is just as bad ( with floaty feel and horribly weighted steering.) Problems: 1. Excessive engine vibration transmitted through steering column. 2. Excessive front braking, front brakes grab, seem out of proportion with back. Braking consistency varies. 3. Engine idle, loud resonance or “boominess”, growl in first gear. 5. Transmission erratic with inappropria erratic with inappropriate shifting.

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  Great utility vehicle - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By pete - April 28 - 2:13 pm

  We are happy with the car but did have an electronic component plug come loose after one week that cut the power to most of the car. After repair there has been no reoccurrence.

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  Glad I did not do the Lexus - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Jim Meadows - April 28 - 12:26 pm

  I tried to talk myself into the LS 460 or the ES350. It came down to the ES, and I decided to save 10000 and still got a superior vehicle: more bells and whistles, better ride, more room (even larger in back seat than the 460) better gas mileage (average for us is almost 29) more power, regular gas. The car is so smooth, the only thing I downgraded was "fun to drive". I have a back problem and traded a cadillac to get something really comfortable. This is it. My last three cars have been Cadillac SRX, Infiniti Q45, and Lexus LS 400. The Limited Avalon is superior to the Caddy, and equivalent of the 400 and 430 and Q45. I cannot believe I got this much car for this price.

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  Good transportation - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By rdmiami - April 28 - 9:33 am

  The Corolla is a great car to commute. Thats it! it is not a fun car to drive, it is just ok. If youre looking for fun (performance and handling), look somewhere else. Its a great, grandma car!

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  Very Reliable - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By kctoyotaowner - April 28 - 9:20 am

  I bought this car in 2000 after my H.S. graduation. I wanted something that would last me longer than a typical first car. I got what I wanted! This vehicle has carried me through several moves, college, and now a daily commute in my career. It handles well in snow and ice and have never had any issues with the A/C and heating. I have replaced the struts, tires, battery, and brakes - everything to be expected. Im at 100,000+ and still going! Some loss of pickup with passengers but overall, a great car.

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  Great snowbird vehicle - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Marc - April 28 - 4:30 am

  We travel to Florida for the winter each year and wanted a vehicle that we could load all our stuff plus two cats and a kayak and drive comfortably. The Highlander hit the spot. What I most like about this SUV is simple the way it drives. Its smooth, quiet and comfortable. It has a very solid feeling on the highway. Visibility is not the greatest which is typical of any SUV but the blind side monitors are great for lane changing. I would not have this vehicle without this feature. The Toyota Entune tech package with NAV, is fantastic and easy to setup and use. Only a couple of minor complaints with this SUV. When you open the glove box door it hits the passenger in the legs. It needs to be raised. Also I bought the Limited version believing it had most everything I wanted, and I was a little disappointed to discover that it didnt have automatic high beam/dimming. Other than that, it has about everything my Cadillac DTS has on it. I looked at 3 other vehicles, the Pathfinder which was a nice vehicle but was a bit noisy, and the new GMC Acadia which was also quite nice but overpriced - about $8,000 more than a comparatively equipped Pathfinder. Our local dealer, Capital Toyota in Chattanooga was very hospitality and easy to deal with. I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a mid sized SUV.