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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  Good value overall - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
  By Randy - July 23 - 9:20 am

  Great value, could have a softer ride. It rides like a truck. But overall a very good vehicle.

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  Quality goes a long way - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By easyrider - July 23 - 8:16 am

  Bought the SUV new at the time this SUV was made in Japan 90%, 10% in the states. The trk {SUV} is good on gas especially with the K & N air filter I put in the air compartment, and get up an go power. More than any v-8. This SUV has 3.3 V6, people said was slow but with this air filter it acts like a race engine. I bought the 2 wd drive for towing my boat of 18 of which it pulls out of the water with a full tank. Mind you NO 4 WD drive. Actually would like a hybrid high. for future. Hybrids are a needed thing the way Gasoline is heading. Not 25 cent a gallon anymore.

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  Corolla 2010 - Great, save the Steering - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Steve - July 23 - 2:50 am

  Bought this car after many solid reviews (all before it became known about the acceleration problems). Initially thought the steering was different (electric assist), but that once used to it, it would not be an issue. Wrong. Toyota needs to step up to the plate and resolve the high speed (highway) wandering it does. The hydaulic system was far superior and the change was made purely as a cost cutting move. Gas mileage has been as advertised, and have had mileage figures from 33.5 to 38.5 mpg (the gauge is off by 2 to 3 mpg as it shows getting better mileage than you actually are). Frankly, if the steering issue could be resolved, I would rate the driving experience much higher.

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  Better than a hybrid - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By boen - July 23 - 12:23 am

  At nearly 40 mpg this car is a commuters dream. If the steering wheel were two inches further away from the dash it would be perfectly comfortable for a tall guy like myself. All else is great.

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  Owned for 15 months 15k mi w/ transmission update - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Garrett - July 22 - 6:08 pm

  The first few months were a bit rocky with the new Tacoma. I had a suspension bushing go bad that caused a great deal of squeaking (sounded like a 30 yr old truck with a bad springs), annoying rattle in the headliner and the lagging / frequent shifting / wrong gear transmission issues that everyone has discussed in these reviews already. After a couple trips to the dealer to get those things all worked out, Im a fan. If you have a early 2016 model, go ask your dealer to reprogram the transmission with the latest update. I got mine done in early Dec 2016 and it made a night and day difference. The transmission has largely stopped acting laggy, the acceleration is much better and it drives like a different truck. If you are buying today, its a great truck and Id highly recommend it. Like any new model release, the early 2016s just had a few bugs that need to get worked out. Toyota has excellent dealer support (this is my 3rd Toyota truck) and did a great job of taking care of any issues. Update: Still happy with this truck. Great vehicle!

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  Prius, BUT!! - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By dickcsjr1 - July 22 - 4:46 pm

  The Prius Touring model is a great summer car. Recently I discovered I should NEVER drive it when snow may be expected. A unique design feature cuts off the power to the front wheels if the TRAC system determines that one wheel is spinning faster than the other. That can leave you stranded!!

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  The best car - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Snehanshu - July 22 - 12:03 pm

  We absolutely love our new Prius.

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  Yaris does all things very well for very little $$$ - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By hkyang - July 22 - 11:11 am

  COMFORT: The sedan has longest wheelbase in its EPA class, allowing it THE most rearseat legroom in its class. Check specs! This makes more than comfortable road trips with family or friends. CONVENIENCE: Yaris sedan trunk BIGGER THAN COROLLAs! Check specs! Much is made of Honda FITs cargo space, but on vacation with your family of four, FIT is reduced to being just another hatchback: LESS trunk space than a sedan, unless you WANT to cram the back so full you cant see out the rear! PERFORMANCE: Only thing that beats YarisSEDANs turning circle is a Yaris 3-dr HATCH. Only thing that beats Yaris MPG is the all-new, Made in Mexico, Fix Or Repair Daily Focus. Yaris is tried n true.

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  Love it - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By brian miller - July 22 - 9:23 am

  Its a very comfortable and fun vehicle to drive. We love this car! This car is equipped with lots of leg room. Three large adults can ride comfortably in the Avalon.

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  Fun To Drive - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By nanakuli - July 22 - 8:05 am

  I have over 100,000 miles on mine and I dont want to part with it. Pros are the reliability, the smooth V-6 on the highway, the visibility from the cabin, the ride on Primacy V-rated rubber, the mpg, the automatic a/c, the huge trunk, the cupholders. Cons are the slab-sided styling, the electric window only being auto up/down on the drivers side, no memory seats, hmmm, thats about it. Overall, the best beater back and forth to work car you could ever hope for. Its not a Lexus, but who (besides my wife) would use a Lexus for a beater?