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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  No hill holder on 4cyl. 4wd - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By rr93lwb - July 8 - 8:08 pm

  2011 RAV4 Limited 4cyl. 4x4. For me (63") I find seat bottom short and uncomfortable. Mom (54") loves the seats. Ride isnt terrible but still bounces around like SUVs do. Rides nicely on highway. One of the quieter vehicles. Visibility is pretty good. Storage and cargo space is great. Mom is averaging 14mpg because she drives short 3-5 mile trips to the store or doctor and frequently sits in traffic. But, its still 3-4mpg below lowest EPA estimate. 1 highway trip 1000miles I averaged close to 30mpg. There is no hill holder on the 4cyl. 4wd model. Car rolls back quickly and easily if stopped on incline and remove foot from brake. Very disconcerting. Only thing my mom does not like.

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  I LOVE this car! - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Raul - July 8 - 6:40 pm

  After test driving the Matrix, Scion xD and Honda Fit, I chose the Corolla. For some 1.8 is small but that small really comes to live. The mileage is great and with gas prices being what they are now, I save money. Last vehicle I had gave me 16 city 18-20 hwy. This Toyota is giving me 28.8 city and 36 hwy. Bought it 8 days ago and I have loved every minute of it! It is a great car at a great price and superb gas mileage, and it is almost the same size as a Ford Taurus. Roomy, comfortable, plenty of leg room, huge trunk, and for the young ones reading this, an excellent radio/cd system, that delivers superb sound, and I did not buy the model with all bells and whistles either!

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  Very versatile - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By ATXIronHorse - July 8 - 9:33 am

  Excellent reliability and versatility. This car is a great daily commuter but can also haul and off-road with zero problems. No mechanical issues after 80,000 miles.

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  Loving my used corolla - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By qtcountrybo - July 8 - 4:10 am

  Got tired of $75 fill ups and bad mpgs from my pick up so I traded it in on my 2010 Corolla. Love the $30 fill up and 35 mpg. The car is very easy to live with and very simple to use. I reliezed this the second day I had it when I jumped in, cranked it up and was flipping through the radio all without even thinking about what I was doing. Normally it takes a few days to get use to a new car but not this one. Its comfortable, quiet and very realiable. Its no sports car or powerhouse but then again, if thats what I wanted then I would have bought one.

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  Versatile Vehicle - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By NY Blue - July 8 - 12:33 am

  Great package incorporating two real areas for seating adults and a bed that is usable for most of my homeowner duties. My wife loves the driving height, seat position and comfort. At 64" it is very comfortable for me even in the rear seat. The upgraded radio sounds incredible. Gas mileage for a truck, 22 MPG on hwy and 19 MPG around town is more than I expected. With only 1200 miles I am told it will get better but I am not counting on it. Unlike some other reviewers I did read the manual and you can change the keyless entry to give a chirp when activating the alarm.

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  Cool.... - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By hercules00 - July 7 - 6:13 pm

  I initially fell in love with this car for its looks. And now that I have driven it, the love has just increased. The beauty isnt just skin deep :) I love the way this car handles and especially corners. The sound of the screaming engine when the car redlines at abt 8300 is also very pleasing. The best part is that you snugly fit into your seet and it feels like the car is growing out of you and is a part of you. Everyting is within easy reach. However, I the sunroof is already squeaking, the exterior door handles buzz with the bass from the music system and something is rattling near the muffler. I am a little disappointed at the famed Toyota build quality.

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  I LOVE IT!!! - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Whoo-hoo!! - July 7 - 5:36 pm

  I just bought this car with 125,000 miles on it. I know, by reputation, that this is pretty much just broken in for a Toyota. The car handles beautifully. I have been using it for business, and I have no complaints. I have always wanted one, and now, I FINALLY HAVE IT!! Peppy, and FUN to drive! Ill drive it until the wheels fall off, which I am sure will be a long, long time!

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  i love it - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By megan - July 7 - 2:33 pm

  i love this car. i drove a nissan frontier for a while and this is such a welcome change. the ride is so smooth and quiet. my sister visited recently with her husband and children and we were all able to fit in the car comfortably. i love the pick up and go that its got.

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  Solid power-train, terrible interior quality - 2013 Toyota Avalon
  By athacarguy - July 7 - 8:41 am

  Toyotas will run forever and hybrid design is solid. The car is quiet and the seats are great. The interior build quality is terrible however. My headliner warped in the first 4K miles, the dash creaks and pops when you hit a dump and the door panels also creak constantly. A happy customer tells four people about their experience and unhappy customer tells 10 people. The crappy part is I have to sell it at a loss to buy the ford fusion. My gut told me to go with the ford and I should have followed it.

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  Great Looks - Poor Performance - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Fishiman - July 7 - 12:46 am

  I bought the Camry based on looks but test drove the car on flat lands. In hills, the engine is way under powered and tends to lag badly getting on freeway or in most traffic situations. The vehicle does not get as good of mileage in town as I thought. However, freeway driving is great, smooth and good milage. Because of the gushy suspension, poor gas milage and sluggish 4-cyl engine, I sold the car and bought a Nissan Altima Hybrid.