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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  Totally Uninjured Personally When Car Was Totaled - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By Tom Harney - November 16 - 6:09 am

  I was driving at highway speed when a car ran a stop sign and stopped right in front of me. The anti-locked brakes worked perfectly, allowing a great reduction in speed before impact. The collapsible front end did what it was supposed to do. The air bag deployed with no problem. Car is totaled but Im untouched. I loved the car: it had great pickup, was comfortable and roomy and drove well. I have replaced it with a 2016 RAV4 Hybrid.

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  The Lexus of Minivans - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By kellnron - November 15 - 1:33 pm

  Weve had our Sienna for about a month now. We really love everything about it. Fit and finish on this vehicle are what you would expect from Toyota. Its very comfortable to ride and has a very smooth engine and transmission combo. It also should be as safe as anything on the road with all the safety features it has. We also got a very fair deal from our dealer on the Vehicle ~$36500 versus a sticker of right around $40000. We did also opt for the dealer applied underbody sound deadening which helps with road noise.

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  Disappointed in fuel economy - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By reid - November 15 - 12:33 pm

  I had a 2007 Prius which got 47 to 53 mpg. This car was totaled and I was so happy with the car itself and then definitely the safety features. I purchased a 2008 Prius and now only get 36 to 43 mpg. I have been to a local dealer to no avail and I am heading to the dealership where I bought the car today. Leaving on big road trip in September, I hope they can do something!!

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  First Class - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By thomas thole - November 15 - 8:06 am

  This is no doubt the finest all around car I have ever owned. I just sold my Cadillac 2001 DTS and am buying my 2nd Avalon Limited. My 1st one was delivered 4/18.

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  09 Yaris review - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Hoody - November 14 - 10:40 pm

  Picked this little thing up on a Sat night Dec 27th after testing it a couple days. I found it to be fun to drive and has a peepy little 1.5, it did 70 on the interstate with no sweat. I bought it mainly for the wife for a local run about, replacing the 92 Chrysler T&C which was getting to be a pain. I like pretty much everything about it right now, it has all the stuff it needs.

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  TYPE S AND LOVING IT. - 2012 Toyota Corolla
  By Roger Bear - November 14 - 3:05 pm

  This is my fourth Toyota product and I love it. My fuel economy, sleek design , and spoiler , and blutooth tech are amazing. Funny story my girlfriend also has a type s a year newer than mine and she also loves it. We live in the city a mile apart from each other and we both love the car. We both plan on keep our type Ss for a long time. You cant go wrong with a car like this.

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  Love my Corolla S! So Cute and Fuel Efficient! - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By kharris1981 - November 14 - 2:32 pm

  This car has been one of the most reliable fuel efficient cars I have owned in a while. I have had it since 2011 and it now has 30k on it and runs perfect. I only have to fill up the tank once every week and a half. Fantastic car with cute sporty look!~

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  To the Moon with my Prius C - 2014 Toyota Prius c
  By matt_adams - November 14 - 11:01 am

  First a disclaimer, this is my first hybrid and my fourth Toyota. Secondly, this is a sub-compact, economy, hybrid. So comments about lack of room and poor acceleration are a little silly. If you want a luxury or sports car, buy a luxury or sports car! I absolutely love this car. I considered the Prius lift back, but am so glad I got the Prius C Three. The cargo storage is limited, but with the fold down seat its adequate for my needs. The interior is not plush, but its very nice and comfortable. I love the look of it all! The Prius C is extremely easy to park. The turning radius is super short. The radio and navigation system are awesome. I average 55+ MPG!

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  Its a Prius! What do you think?? - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Simon - November 14 - 10:30 am

  We fell in love with this car since we got one as a loaner when I took my brothers Scion in for service. This car is simply awesome! Im getting 49 mpg mostly city driving. Its quiet and comfortable and it has lots of gadgets to play with. We went with a package 5 which has everything but leather seats. Wed have gotten the leather if its heated. It has bluetooth, backup camera, a super clear touchscreen (best ive seen), JBL stereo, HID headlight, smart key, navigation, etc. Its not that expensive either, considering it has so much to offer.

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  40 MPG and Fun to Drive! - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Sparky1954 - November 14 - 4:23 am

  Weve had this car close to 30 months now and it has been great. The smaller engine is offset by the 5-spd manual and decent handling for the price. Not a single problem yet. But to top it off the mileage is great! We just completed a round trip between San Jose, CA to Vancouver, WA and put over 1500 miles on the car. I tracked the mileage very close and we got 40.2 mpg for the whole trip! Now I need to say we dont speed but drive the posted speed limit (55, 65, 70). We used A/C for a 85% and this total included climbing hill, mountains and around town drives. So obey the posted limits, set the cruise control and enjoy the money you save!