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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  Better than expected - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By mjwilli1 - April 9 - 3:14 am

  Purchased new in 2009, I have a 4 cyl, with the towing package. That was the best investment I made. I have moved three times and can tow any trailer form Uhaul. No maintenance issue to date, but have replaced the tires once. They are expensive. The gas is not that great (Ave 25 MPG) especially when you tow (average MPG) but it runs great. 61,000 miles as of 12/2014. A/C is OK, not great. No complaints from passengers. Plenty of room in the back even for tall people. Back seats come down so I can haul almost anything a typical homeowner needs. Overall - Excellent!

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  Great - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Sandy - April 9 - 1:36 am

  Im averaging 34 mpg and enjoying all the advantages of Camry reliability and comfortable driving for the models long life. Get 40-41 on the highway and find that town driving depends on how heavy my foot is.

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  TundraCrewMax - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By TundraCrewMax - April 8 - 10:50 pm

  Great truck. Excellent build quality. Fun to drive. Tight turn radius. Plenty of storage. Good gas mileage for such a big truck.

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  Attractive Car - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By BECKY - April 8 - 5:53 pm

  Great car. The drive is smooth and the interior is soft and inviting. I still have the new car smell after almost a year of driving. The Corolla has some pretty good get-up power when you need it. Reliable and a good family car.

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  My XLS Avalon 2005/06 - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Just Me - April 8 - 3:13 pm

  This is my fourth Avalon. By far its the best. My last one was the 2004 XL. This new XLS style is more refined and elegant style. At times Im not sure the engine was turned on, its so quiet. I only have around 450 miles on the odometer but it seems that I will get over 30 MPG on the highway. I already got over 23 MPG in the city. Thats better than my 04. It is a wonderful automobile that offers so much comfort as I travel down the road. It may not have the Lexus name plate, but it sure feels and handles like one, yet cost thousands less. Its spacious inside and offers a silent retreat from the stresses of the day because everything works so well, all the buttons are at your fingertips.

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  Everybody is lookin... fun vehicle - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By James Evans - April 8 - 3:10 pm

  The vehicle performs and handles very well. I am always looking forward to every driving experience. It is an attention getter, and seems to magnetically attract attention.

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  Fun, Reliable Car - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By Lina - April 8 - 10:16 am

  Ive had this car for almost 2 years now. I fell in love with the color first (Speedway blue) and then liked the rest of it. LOVE the sunroof; I drive with it and my windows open every day during the summer. It handles pretty well, EXCEPT in snow! Do NOT buy this car if you live where it snows a lot. I end up taking public transportation every time it snows. I havent had any mechanical problems with it - just the regular maintenance. The only thing is the drivers window rattles and the breaks just started squeaking, but those are very minor. It is very spacious - inside the car AND trunk. Overall, great car, just wish it was better in snow!

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  Five Months In - Pretty Impressive - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Worcester County - April 8 - 3:16 am

  Got the base Hybrid in late July. Consistently 41-42 mpg in 40% hwy/60% local roads commuting in Central MA (lots of rolling hills). Now temperatures closer to freezing getting 39-40 mpg. Still beating the pants off the EPA estimate! Highly recommend this. Why get a Prius and be cramped (unless you want 50 mpg)? Car does three things: gives gas engine little holidays including stopped time and initial take-offs (the most inefficient for the gas), doesnt waste momentum- recovers the energy from braking to power the hybrid motor, and gives you all sorts of feedback on how to drive it most efficiently- kind of like playing a video game (though you can ignore it and just enjoy driving)

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  Driving excitement - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Jane G. - April 8 - 2:40 am

  This has been the best car ever. Maybe not the sharpest looking but the way it handles, its smooth ride, quiet interior, quick acceleration and outstanding gas mileage makes it tops in my book. I consistently get 28-29 mpg. On my curvy road to and from home, I could effortlessly sail around the curves without a worry. Driving on snow and ice was solid. My husband preferred my car to his Ford Explorer for winter weather driving. If I could get another exactly like this but without the higher miles, I would.

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  Toyota Corolla 4 Door Sedan - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Teresa - April 7 - 4:06 pm

  I bought a Toyota Corolla in January of 07 and have nothing but good to say about it. It is excellent on gas and very easy and comfortable to drive. I drive 17 miles each way to work and my Corolla saves me money on gas