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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  Awesome - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Ben-David Kaminski - January 13 - 11:26 am

  With the proper driving you can get over 40mpg. The car is great in snow. It is a great car to customize and turn heads for little money. Toyota quality should last a long time.

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  2016 Highlander LE Plus - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Ken Francois - January 13 - 10:32 am

  Consider buying LE Plus AWD...especially if theres a chance of moving to snow country.

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  Satisfied Owner - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Igor K. - January 13 - 12:40 am

  It is a smooth riding small car with nice style and acceptable performance. I only have 637 miles on the car so I dont really know about economy but I suspect it will be very good. I like the way it drives on the highway and its easy to park and handle on city streets. I am getting lots of positive comments about the car... that happens to be radiant red. Overall it will meet all my needs.

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  First Camry - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Djz - January 12 - 10:43 pm

  My family outgrow our 2003 corolla. We test drive Accord and Camry several times and decide to go with Camry because the comfortable drive and quietness. The reverse pull at 35 and 25 mph when the gas pedal is released bugs me little bit. It interferes with anticipating driving when running up to red light. Got 28mpg for the first tank, 80% local/stop/go. Not bad, thought miss my corollas 38mpg. Pay more on gas for more space. Cloth arm rest does not make sense as it will get dirty quickly. It is boring to drive but I prefer comfort over excitement when hauling the whole family in it. Trunk fits 2 big luggage side by side. Was hoping to get a manual but hard to find. Cannot wait any longer.

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  Wonderful Commuter - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By DriverMike - January 12 - 7:36 pm

  I have had the car for two months so far and have over 5K miles on it and no problems. Low tire pressure gauge has come on, that may be a nuisance. The car rides great and feels like a baby Lexus. I drive 200 miles per day. The A/C is awsemome and the 6CD player is great!. I am extremely pleased so far.

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  Good value - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Charlie - January 12 - 7:33 pm

  Lot of power, good acceleration. Easy and fun to drive. 25 to 27 mpg around town, 36 to 38 on the highway. Did get over 41 mpg once.

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  315,000 mi and still going strong - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Nicholas - January 12 - 9:33 am

  I purchased this car with 276k miles on it two years ago, and it has not failed me yet with nearly 315k on it. All Ive had to replace (aside from normal things like brake pads and oil changes) is the alternator belt. The six speaker stereo sounds great and can produce low bass and high treble. The quality of the materials used is unsurpassed, all the dash and trim still fits with no creaking or popping out of place. The v6 engine is smooth as butter, so quiet its hard to hear it running. The exterior is a little bland but is also conservative and clean.

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  Driving the FJ from Dallas to California - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By txbo - January 12 - 5:40 am

  Purchased the FJ in late October, my first trip was for a total of 4026 miles. I drove at speeds up to 105 mph, the FJ performed flawlessly; I used both high and regular octane fuel. My average was 20 mpg, never used the 4WD. We drove to the Grand Canyon, Sequoia NP and Yosemite, The return trip was down Hwy 1, from Monterey, Big Sur and across Hwy 46. The FJ was fun to drive with out any incidents. Most driving fun was on I40, two black H2 Hummers were coming up in the passing lane, I was behind a truck and moved over behind the first H2, the second H2 moved up behind me. It looked like two black H2s were escorting my Voodoo Blue. They wanted to lose me thus the 105 MPH and could not.

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  Does not Match up to 2005 4Runner Sport - 2014 Toyota 4Runner
  By joestehling - January 12 - 12:57 am

  Basic vehicle is good but numerous things are cheapened and useless items added from the 2005 Sport model. Reliability has yet to be determined but I am confident it will be as reliable as the 2005 Sport I traded in.

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  2017 Toyota Highlander Limited is a great way to g - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By Jeff J - January 11 - 11:56 pm

  The Toyota Highlander Limited is a fun car to drive and ride. It has all of the most modern safety features including Blind spot, Lane assist, Lane departure, brake assist, collision avoidance, and radar cruise control. It drives very nicely and the steering wheel feels good and is heated. This SUV drives more like a large four door sedan than a SUV. The front seats are very comfortable with heated and cooled options. The second row is heated but not cooled. The power lift gate is nice and you can open the back window without opening the gate. The only problem so far is matching the EPA gas mileage expectation.