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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  impressions after 2k miles - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Don Kleyer - April 12 - 6:50 pm

  Pros: Good fuel economy though very speed, acceleration and wind sensitive. Features and reliability reputation are great for the price. Seat height adjustment very useful for short/tall driver transition. Cons: LED headlights on low beam are cut off by "eyelids" which can limit how far they illuminate ahead in hilly terrain. Steering requires frequent tweaks with stiff crosswind. Entune system setup/use with iPhone not as obvious as it should be.

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  I like it - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By brian - April 12 - 3:20 pm

  I traded in my 2005 Scion tC for this car and feel much safer in the snowy conditions. I drove my Rav in 7 inches of snow the other night and it handled beautifully. All of the traction control and saftey feature are a definite plus. The auto LSD works like a charm. As I pulled into my drive way through the huge snow drift the front wheels slide to the right. I put on the auto LSD and drove straight up the driveway.

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  Love this SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By shelhed217 - April 12 - 9:56 am

  I traded in my 05 dodge grand caravan after the transmission failed (6000 miles out of warranty). I was pretty upset about having to go into the next loan upside down, but having talked to several RAV owners they think I should be even in 3-4 years. It is so much more comfortable even without 8 way adjustable seats, holds everything I need it to, handling is fantastic. But the best part is 26 mpg compared to 18 in the caravan. I couldnt be happier.

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  2008 Solara Sport Convertible - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Steve in Rockville - April 12 - 9:46 am

  I did quite a bit of research and drove a number of convertibles before buying the Solara. All convertibles have "blind spots"... It is the nature of the car. I selected the Solara Sport convertible based on expected dependability (as per Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and Kelly Blue Book). I am not a "leather interior fan" and I liked the look/feel of the sport package fabric. The car has decent pick-up and provides acceptable MPG (I am getting about 24 combined so far, but I have less than 1,000 miles on the car, so I am hoping/expecting some improvement).

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  Love it! - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
  By mister_chunko - April 12 - 7:33 am

  Have owned for one month. Love the car. There are blind spots, however. The interior is luxurious and spacious. The trunk is huge!! The layout of the interior is very nice and easy to use. I love the bluetooth and the built in garage opener. The car is sporty and fun to drive. Ive had many compliments on it.

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  Like it so far - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Dave Gogebic - April 12 - 6:30 am

  Just purchased it. Fit and finish is excellent - but did have a cowling rattle that needed to be fixed. Really fun to drive and very quiet. I have the 5 speed which matches up great with the spunky engine. Handling is awesome! Interior room is great and loads of head room. It drives like a sports car but has an incredible amount of interior room for such a small vehicle.

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  2005 prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By jeff winter - April 11 - 10:30 pm

  lots of power, good acceleration, better performance than expected. Braking is good, but could be better. Incredible mileage, when observing the speed limit, I have gotten outstanding fuel economy. 56 mpg highway. It is comfortable, enjoyable, and well thought out, great cargo and passenger space.

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  Toyota Tundra Double Cab - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By MAB - April 11 - 2:43 pm

  Just purchased a new Double Cab Tundra. The truck is amazing and best riding truck I have owned. I traded in a 99 Chevy Z71, which was a good truck, but the Tundra drives much nicer than the Chevy. I find the truck has plenty of power, despite other complaints on lack of horse power. I also test drove the Tocoma, but highly recommend the Tundra over the Tocoma. You can get a lot more options with the Tundra and only pay $1000.00 more.

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  Great Value - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By Charles - April 11 - 11:53 am

  This is the second Highlander we have own. This car has a very smooth ride and is very quite. The engine is strong and the transmission is very smooth shifting. The interior and exterior fit and finish is excellent. The nag system is a good feature, although it requires some work to understand its operation.

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  My third Toyota is the best ever! - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Elizabeth - April 11 - 8:16 am

  Love this car! Beautiful to the eye, inside and out and smooth ride. Easy handling. Nicely appointed interior. I enjoy all the extras as I spend alot of time on the road. One negative is a blind spot to cars approaching from the rear.All in all this is a Great Car!