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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  EXCELLENT CAR - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By VAIL - December 5 - 2:00 am

  I drove this car early this summer and loved the feel of the car. It remind me of the 1998 camry for feel and confort. Excellent car and add toyota reliability.

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  Great car!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Nickie - December 5 - 2:00 am

  I just bought the Corolla LE - it is wonderful! It drives and feels just like luxury car. It has great pep and styling. The interior is huge for a compact car, a lot bigger that the 2002 model.

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  A Poor Choice - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By fourstar - December 5 - 2:00 am

  The Camry is a very comfortable car. For a long trip this car is quiet and it rides wonderfully. The interior controls are excellent. I am dissappointed with the build quality and the overall gas mileage (Average=23.1). There a intermittent rattles that cannot be fixed. The styling is bland. I would not buy this car again.

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  Makes Me Laugh!! - 2012 Toyota 4Runner
  By pipes3 - December 5 - 1:17 am

  I laugh every time I read the reviews about the 2012 4runner because they are all way off!! People, please remember this is not a sports car or a preppy crossover which all of the experts unfairly compare this truck to. What these so called experts do not realize is that there is nothing out there comparable to this burly, reliable, beast of an SUV. Consumer reports with the 4-foot red-head who bashes the 4runner is ridiculous! She has the truck going through a slalom and says there is too much body roll! Really!! This truck is solid as a rock, will run for 300,000 miles and looks tough as nails. Do yourself a favor and test drive this truck and do not listen to the bad reviews....

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  Former Corolla Owner - This Feels Like Real Luxury - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By steve6206 - December 5 - 12:08 am

  2012 Camry SE. I must be different because I find the exterior quite elegant, not at all humdrum like the Honda and Hyundai offerings. Interior is very spacious, especially in the rear and even with the front seat fairly far back. Overall fit and finish is excellent (especially the leather), everything lines up nicely. One quibble is the plastic with the metal finish behind the gear box, could have been a little more robust, doesnÂ’t give off a solid sound when tapping on it. Ride is very smooth, engine whisper quiet and there was no wind noise (some people reported this). I like the "ECO" feature (which you can disable), with some practice IÂ’ve been able to keep it on quite a bit, canÂ’t wait to see the mileage. For the price, more car than I expected.

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  Excellent! - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Bill Barnes - December 4 - 5:13 pm

  This car has been a joy to own not only because of its reliability and functionality, but also because it is super fun to drive. We were amazed immediately at how stable and solid the car feels. I have no regrets at all.

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  Wonderful Except in Snow - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Bosco - December 4 - 12:13 pm

  Bought this for my wife to replace a van looking to improve snow performance. THE VAN WAS FAR BETTER. Thats right, AWD and horrible in the snow and ice. If this isnt enough you cant buy all season tires that are good in the snow due to the size of the tire!!! Your only option is to purchase one of two snow tires on the market at about $1K and deal with having to change twice annually. Only buy this vehicle where snow and ice is not an issue.

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  240k runs great! - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By 4everRunner - December 3 - 11:26 pm

  Purchased this truck two months ago and am very satisfied with it. The highway mpg is 20 but city driving returns terrible mileage, at about 14. Hesitant before finally deciding to buy due to its high mileage, but after starting driving, it is very satisfying, particularly the engine. Some interior rattling over bumps but highway cruising is fairly pleasant. 4WD is noticeably more smooth and accelerate more powerfully than rear wheel drive, but probably consumes more gas. Perhaps due to its high mileage, when 4WD is engaged, the turning of front wheels cant reach maximum angle. I plan to drive until the truck dies - if gas price allows.

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  Jeep to Prius: Great! Even in the Snow - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By mjacks - December 2 - 9:06 pm

  I must admit that my biggest concern about trading my Jeep for a Prius was the extreme Chicago winters. Yes, the clearance is much lower, but I never once missed work because I could get through the snow. The interior is roomy and very well laid out. While it wont win any drag races, it has more than enough power to drive comfortably in any traffic condition. I will definitely buy another for my next car.

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  Please Change The Name - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Prog - December 2 - 8:20 pm

  I am a long time Toyota owner and a first time Corolla XRS owner. I am a male in my late 20s and for how agressive and clean the car looks, the name evokes a complete opposite response from people. Everyone thinks it is a weak chick mobile. I wish Toyota would keep the platform, change the name and market the car more like the Civic. Anyway, the bottom line is I wanted a car that got great gas mileage, carried 5 passengers, has decent speed, is reliable, and looked good. It was the smart choice due to unforeseeable gas prices, but unless your friends, family, or peers know what the new XRS looks like, they will think you drive that old school rollerskate.