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:

• 

  i was a chevy man you cant beat the toyota camry - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By E Allen caldwell - December 8 - 5:27 pm

  I read some of the reviews to the ones that had problems its the people that you bought it from.didnt take care of it i paid 500 for mine first thing i did change the oil both cv joints an tires its the best car i ever had it has 300.000 on it now and still running strong.i do all the maintence on it myself its never left me stranded it gets 30 mpg air is ice cold you could not find a better car.i take it every where .it doesnt matter out of state .it just keeps on going thanks toyota

• 

  A great vehicle! - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By Billy - December 8 - 5:26 pm

  We have owned this wagon since it was new. Often we have thought of trading for a new wagon, but there just doesnt seem to be anything comparable in the same size and price range. Here we are 13 years later and still waiting for a wagon as roomy, powerful, reliable and economical as the Camry! Current resale is around 2500.00, what a joke! This car is such a value vs. the cost of a Volvo or Audi, I guess we will just keep on ridin. Someone please start making wagons like this again!

• 

  Good Value, Great Ride for a Truck!! - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By pepjrp - December 8 - 3:20 pm

  This truck drives and rides great, much better than most in this category. I use it for light hauling, mostly yardwork and home remodeling supplies. It really fits this need very well. I would not want to tow a very big trailer with the V6 though. Interior is great, good design, fit and finish. Plenty of room for my family of 3.

• 

  At first impressed and then not so much - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By spidermum - December 8 - 3:00 pm

  I am a 7 year Toyota owner and didnt think twice when it was time to buy a another car. My 2003 Corolla took me to 150,000 miles with no problems (besides standard maintenance). I bought my CERTIFIED 2008 RAV4 in November of 2009 and have had to replace the breaks, tires, and battery since then. At first, I loved the snappiness (torque) of my V6 Rav4. After replacing the breaks and the tires (after 6 months of ownership) I was a little discouraged. Then, my battery went out and what I didnt know is that the power steering is powered by the battery. I lost complete power steering in the middle of a major intersection and am thankful to be alive.

• 

  2006 Toyota Avalon Limited - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Richard K - December 8 - 5:56 am

  I just got the Limited in 10/06. Love driving it. It is quiet and very comfortable. We would love to have the one that has DLCC, but the dealer doesnt have one for 2006. The 07 is more expensive. Therfore we decided to take the 06. I was disappointed after learning that we can not add the DLCC even though we willing to pay for it.

• 

  05 Prius 1 Yr review - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Prius55 - December 8 - 5:16 am

  Fun to drive and no problems after 1 year of driving. Also a great conversation starter. Driven on a wide mix of daily commutes, short trips, and several out of state 800+ mile trips. We are ready to buy a second one to replace our gas guzzling, pollution producing pickup truck. Its fun to be green.

• 

  LOVE this truck - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By cat1996 - December 8 - 3:20 am

  After having a Tahoe for years this is SO much better! Looks better too. Love the console between the middle seats to keep kids separated and pretty much love everything about this SUV. Took it on a 1400 mile trip last month with 2 kids and husband and have NO complaints at all. Lots of room for packing and comfortable ride. DVD definitely a plus on a 9 hour drive. Kids were able to plug the Gamecube in and play with the AV inputs and electrical outlet - you cant beat that feature!

• 

  big bang for your buck - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Bill N - December 8 - 3:00 am

  Just got the SE trim last week, and the more I look at this car and the more I drive it, the more I love it, the seats are comfortable, although fake leather for the price you are paying is a bummer, it still looks and feels great. The ride is smooth, sometimes a bit noisy from the road, but handles great, for my day to day driving, the pick up is fine, we didnt buy it to be a racer. the entertainment well, was disappointing to find out, with the higher priced JBL system, it didnt come with a CD player, first car since the 80s that didnt have one, but, the Nav is great, the sound is good and easy to control. The room for the back passengers is great, plenty of leg and head room, the cargo area is great, especially when you fold the seats down. All in all, a great ride for the money, and I have no regrets, except maybe for the dealership I went to, but, thats for another review.

• 

  Nice Upgrade - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Bob - December 7 - 10:36 pm

  Traded in a 2005 Sequoia for a this. Bigger seats, wider vehicle and improved gas mileage with the 5.7. Drives great, lots of toys, liked the 2005, but this is definately an upgrade.

• 

  Safety issues - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By review101 - December 7 - 7:33 pm

  Good mileage, some noise, average maintenance costs; youve heard it before but rarely are there reviews on how it stands up to impacts. Bought it new. Only issue was the check engine light that was part of recall. Dealer fixed it for free, it was good for a week then light came back on. I had about 96k when I was rear ended by 02 Toyota Camry on freeway. I was stopped when he hit me at approx 40mph. Vehicle buckled out instead of in. Exterior damage seemed minimal, but once we looked at the frame from below, it was totally bent. I was told metal went up through floor of rear seats. Good thing I only had groceries in back seat instead of my kids. Fluke? Who knows. Had to post