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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  Bar None best car for your money - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By texas toyota - May 5 - 4:10 am

  Recently drove from Abilene, tx to Dallas and back. My corolla got 37.5 miles per gallon. And thats with the a/c on. Idling in drive through, my lead foot, and pulling over 10 times on the way there and back. Love how cheap the vehicle was. And it is perfect for my family.

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  Best Value in America - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Drewski79 - May 5 - 3:20 am

  I bought my 5 spd corolla in sept 06, and have put on almost 21000 mi already. I drive 80% hwy and avg 41 mpg. Awesome! I have had ZERO problems with this car so far. The 5 spd shifts great and has enough pickup for my needs. A sports car it is not, but for anyone who doesnt need race track thrills, this is simply the best car available. Awesome gas mileage, bulletproof reliability, and it even looks nice! Also, for those of you who work on their cars, there is loads of room under the hood so working on the engine and other components is not a cramped nightmare.

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  So far, a great experience - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By jmacthethird - May 4 - 11:23 pm

  So far, this has been a great vehicle! Ive only had it a week but noticed gas mileage has actually been better than whats advertised on the sticker. I am averaging 30mpg combined and 40mpg average on the interstate and sometimes it goes even higher according to the gauge. I havent seen anything below 30mpg, even in stop and go. Note that ,on the gauge, the number is the average mpg, where as, the slider is the actual mpg. This is my first Toyota lease experience and the whole thing has been great. I opted for the sport because it seemed the best value, vs options and it comes in the gray color I like. I think this is going to be the start of a great relationship.

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  06 Avalon XLS - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Dave - May 4 - 9:16 pm

  This vehicle has the worst transmission I have even driven.It jerks every time it shifts and feels like a 10 year old Honda tranny.It is the only "Newer" vehicle that I noticed that still gear hunts.The seating position is horrible as well.Im 6 feet(not extremely tall but not too short either) and the Avalon has no head room, leg room and terrible gauge visibility (I actually get cramps on my legs).This kinda keeps me away from enjoying the other amentities that comes with the car.Lumbar could be more stiff.Lastly, this is a brand new car and it makes creeks and rattles from under the passenger seat. One of my lights went out already.Im getting a BMW next time.I loved my old 323i.

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  4WD Corolla - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Steve - May 4 - 8:06 pm

  Being a car freak, its not hard to choose the 3.5 L RAV4 Sport over its competition. Somehow, I cant feel there are 268 HP under the hood, maybe because of the weight of the vehicle. On the other hand, it really handles the curves well (in fact, handles better than my Lexus IS350), thanks to the sports-tuned suspension.

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  Great heart in a small package! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Pat Lynch - May 4 - 7:41 pm

  This is a used car thats 13 years old, and Ive had it for 9 of those years. This car has made me a loyal fan of smaller SUVs, and I think Toyota is tops. No major repairs have been made on the car - just oil changes and tires. It has a few little dings and quirks but nothing to get too excited about.

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  Too heavy - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By tylwld - May 4 - 3:13 pm

  My 1999 Camry 2.2 that I got this year is about to have 258,xxx miles. Head gaskets have never been replaced! It still runs great even the way I drive it! Ive added a short ram intake, strut tower bar and new plugs and wires. The strut tower bar is highly recommended and the intake makes it about twice as loud and deep, great sound. The check engine light comes and goes but its never anything major. Both driver side windows are out, I wish all cars had crank windows.

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  Tacoma - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jose Rosario - May 4 - 10:46 am

  The Truck has great force. Very comfortable, and rides smoothly even in rain conditions.

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  Great car - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By mchalmers - May 4 - 10:42 am

  Drives better than expected. Lots of room, smooth transition between electric and gas engine. Kids love the tech features. Coming from an Audi A6 and thought it would be painful but not as difficult as expected as you feel great with a hybrid. the only downside is that with 200 miles on the car the MPG reported from car is 33.8 and I hope this increases as the car gets broken in

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  TRULY SURPRISED - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By runner12345 - May 4 - 10:00 am

  My last car was a dodge durango ( bad choice). I looked at predominately US cars as my next choice to replace the Durango. Drove the Chevy Blazer, Expedition, Explorer, Yukon etc... was pleased by those cars but not impressed. Test drove the SEQUOIA and LOVED IT. The handling, designed, spacious and very easy to handle made it an instant BUY. I would highly recommend the car to those looking for an SUV. Having the additional features ( DVD player), heated seats etc... was worth the time. I found out that getting the SR5 model loaded ( with leather) is practically he same as the Limited but much cheaper in price!!!!!