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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  Best Car Ever - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By Janet Paulk - April 17 - 11:23 pm

  I cant believe the quality of this car, but then it IS a Toyota. The ride is quiet and sound. The engine and drive-train perform flawlessly. Its tough to remark on how positive this car is as its tough to find any deficiencies. The only trouble we have it that it does so much. We are always going to the manual to find out "How do I ...". But this is something most modern cars and owners face. This is the best car weve ever owned and actually, ridden in.

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  Great Trade - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By checkfirst - April 17 - 8:15 pm

  I traded my 2011 Dodge (Lemon) Journey with 7 months remaining on that lease for this SUV. Leased this RAV4 for 36 months and so far I couldnt be happier. I was concerned this SUV might be under powered with the 4 cyl especially after having 6 cyl for my last few vehicles. That concern was removed as my wife and I have just returned from driving 4750 mile vacation and the 4cyl was unbelievably great. Not only did I have enough power for cruising the interstates I was able to pass vehicles on two lane roads with no problem at all. Gas mileage was always between 28 & 32 MPG depending on conditions.

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  Keeping it forever - 2000 Toyota Echo
  By jgc - April 17 - 1:53 pm

  I bought this car 10 years ago. On my first long drive to Northern California , on HWY 5, I looked down at the speedometer and I was driving 105 mph. Honest officer, It felt like I was only going 60. No quivering, no shaking, no instability. Just a very smooth and confident ride at pretty high speed for this little coupe. When we first drove it home the neighbors with the big trucks laughed at the car, but when the gas shortages happened I was the one laughing . Its extremely reliable. No major repairs at all. Even though Im shopping for a new car I wont get rid of My Echo. I just gave it a major tune up, oil change, brakejob, and changed a belt. Probably good for another 100,000 miles

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  Piece of Toyota Junk - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By J - April 17 - 8:30 am

  This car is the worst piece of junk Ive ever owned...and I had an 87 Ford Escort. The check engine light is on every other week, the car began burning oil at 40K miles (after regularly changing the oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles). The car has also had a leftward pull while driving since day one. The Toyota dealers I contacted all state that this is normal! Check the internet and youll see numerous complaints about the same leftward pull. Add to this the fact that the car is severely underpowered and handles like a go cart. What a waste. To call it a piece of junk assumes that the car has a purpose and is an insult to junk everywhere!

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  IM AT IT AGAIN! - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Agnes Gibbs - April 17 - 5:56 am

  This is my (6) sixth Toyota Corollas and I bought 4 brand new ones from the same dealership. I dont know what dealership you bought yours from, but Lipton Toyota in Fort Lauderdale, FL has the best team pre-sale,and post-sale.

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  Cut Corners - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Don B - April 17 - 4:50 am

  Doors close very tinny - hood very flimsy at highway speeds - very underpowered with V6 - constant shifting with cruise - transmission whinny at low speed. Does not compare to my 2003. Gas mileage is no better than my 2003 V8. Toyota seriously cut corners on this machine. Not recommended -- mine is for sale.

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  Works for me - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By flyguy - April 16 - 6:40 pm

  Great mileage without sacrificing ride, handling or sound proofing. 70 mph over the mountains on the freeway with no straining or screaming engine. Solid build quality with no rattles or squeaks. Hybrid system does its thing very unobtrusively - At 70 mph downhill on the freeway you glance at the display and see the gas engine is off, instantaneous mpg meter showing 100+ mpg. Base model well equipped. Didnt need the extra bells and whistles and you still get cruise control, alloy wheels (under the plastic covers), cd, aux audio input and more. Carries a lot of stuff with hatchback flexibility.

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  A Winner - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By rhscarlet - April 16 - 5:56 pm

  Went from a Camry to Avalon. I loved the Camry but wont go back now. Very happy. Avalon is so much bigger, drives like a dream. A real luxury car.

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  New 4Runner Fan - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By New 4Runner Fan - April 16 - 3:00 pm

  Ive had my new (and first) 4Runner for two months and just finished two long road trips in it. The first was to Idaho (1500 miles round trip) and the second was to Yosemite (700 miles round trip). What a great truck! Ive previously taken my Highlander and Camry on these trips, but the 4Runner is by far the most comfortable way to go. It has a great ride, plenty of room, and averaged between 20 and 26 mpg, depending upon the terrain I was driving in (Ive got the 6 cylinder). Ran the air the whole time since it was middle of summer, and no problems. I read all of the reviews here before I bought, and they were right-on with pros and cons, as Ill detail in the two sections below. Im a fan!

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  380 miles on 1st tank (~9.5 gal) - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Eric - April 16 - 6:50 am

  I got 43 mpg on my first tank - I use the car to commute 8+ miles (each way) to work - 3/4 of the daily trip is local, and ~4 miles are highway. The handling is great - the weight of the car is nicely distributed and you can really tell the difference when making tight turns. The start from traffic light is much faster because of the electric motor assist. Overall its much more responsive than a normal gas engine car, and I can really tell the difference when I switch to drive my wifes regular car.