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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  Sienna Purchase Number Three - 2017 Toyota Sienna
  By Greg - July 3 - 6:52 pm

  Toyota has a better repair record than other minivans.

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  best car ever made - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By datadee94 - July 3 - 1:11 pm

  the 1992 toyota camry is one of the best cars i have owned. this car has bin giving me about 30 miles per gallon hw and about 25-26 city. out of all my cars it has lasted the longest with 250,000 miles with no parts changed ever on the car just regular oil changes and rides like a lexus with the LE model it has eveyrthing u could need.

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  Avoid all wheel drive - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By cdrake - July 3 - 7:26 am

  Avoid all wheel drive; heres why; the run flat tires. These tires will only last you about 10-20k miles. They are very costly (2 replaced last week cost me 600). They also are not easily replaced by tire dealerships. So, lets say you are on a vacation, the light comes on, you have 50 miles to drive before the tire shreds, and no available place to fix the tire within 100 miles. Get the picture? The AWD additional mechanisms take up the room in which the spare tire would be located, so run flats were the solution. This van also averages only 17 miles per gallon. In summary, well built, poor gas mileage, and costly, hard to replace, and quick to wear out, tires, even with 3k rotations.

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  Best Car in History - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By huaiti323 - July 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car for $4000 almost 3 years ago. have changed only tires, filters and the serpentine. The a/c is amazing, the MPG are great. The only problems are cosmetic like the center drawer door broke and the interior roof covering is peeling off. I bought it in Florida and recently shipped it to Puerto Rico and it is still unstoppable with 168,000 miles and counting!

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  Love the 2011 Highlander - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By Tom Mims - July 3 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car for my wife, both of us love it. It is responsive, low road noise, fun to drive and feels like a quality vehicle. With no problems noted in first 500 miles, not really sure about how to rate reliability other than my research on past model highlanders so I gave it a 9. This crossover SUV has just about every comfort feature one could want and its interior design is well thought out. We RV/ camp a lot, I pull the camper with my truck and my wife pulls my boat, so the ability to occasionally tow up to 5000 lbs with tow pkg prep and accessory options was part of purchase decision. Safety features and rating were also a consideration in our decision to purchase the Highlander.

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  Winter experience - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By Dmitry - July 3 - 2:00 am

  The first winter blast has changed my excitement to disappointment. Heating system is a crap. There are buttons, knobs and noise but no hot airflow, especially to foot area. At -18 C (0 F) it is never warm up to comfortable temperature inside. At -30 C (-22 F) it is a disaster up to safety issue. You are thinking how to survive and not how to drive. Is it safe to steer by fists? Somebody can advice to install cardboard in font of radiator. Ok, but no room, remove grill first. I still do not know is windshield defroster installed or not on my vehicle, Toyota ca says Yes, wiper blades say No. Otherwise I like this van.

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  Fits the bill. - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Old Grump - July 3 - 1:46 am

  I wanted a vehicle with a proven track record, more cargo area than a small sedan, decent power and fuel economy. The RAV4 fits the bill perfectly. The V6 is stout without totally compromising fuel economy. The ride is firm but comfortable. Handling is agile and predictable. Interior/exterior is stylish and driver-friendly. Avg 23 mpg commuting which is a mix of expressway and stop-go traffic. Trips? 27.5 mpg averaging 70-80 mph. For myself, its practical yet still fun to drive.

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  Incredible Car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Jay - July 3 - 12:06 am

  In one word, AWESOME! This car is amazing, and can really move. I had the previous model with the V6 engine and loved the way it moved and shifted gears without struggeling. The new camry blows that one away. The ride is quieter, the car faster, the exterior and interior looks better. For all interested in getting a car that performs better than some BMWs, this is it. It is faster from 0-60 than the BMW 330i and has a higher top speed than the 530xi. Congrats to all that own it, I know Im happy with it.

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  Solid since New - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Bill - July 2 - 4:30 am

  I purchased my tundra new in 2005. It has been regularly serviced and to date I have had no issues outside of regular maintenance. Currently I have 69,000 miles and still have the original Dunlop OEM tires. It is about time to replace, but not bad for a truck. The interior is "ok", but the drivetrain is as smooth as silk. Mileage could be better, but it is a truck. Love the Limited slip diff, as well as the roll down rear window.

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  Up and coming - 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By music man - July 2 - 12:56 am

  Although I have only about 400 miles I am extremely pleased with my purchase so far. Traded a Lexus and this vehicle is far more comfortable and roomy.