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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  03 Avalon XLS - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By RCH - September 27 - 10:00 am

  After 3 Maxima SEs, we decided to go with a little more comfort & luxury, and have not been disappointed. Very smooth and comfortable transportation. A great highway cruiser with pretty good gas mileage (28+ w/only 1,500 miles). It handles the beat up Chicago-area roads very well.

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  You wont win a race in this vehicle. - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Susy G. - September 27 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a 2000 sports car for the Rav 4 because my previous Toyotas (3 of them) held up very well and kept their value (the sports car was already having engine problems and depreciated almost 50%!). The car/truck handles very well (tight turns), but I found the Ravs 4 cylinder engine a bit sluggish. Not very fun to drive on the highway when youre trying to change lanes or get on. However, city driving is a bit more fun.

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  Toyota Highlander - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Bill Noble - September 26 - 4:10 pm

  My Toyota Highlander is probably the best ride Ive ever owned, including 2 Camrys Ive owned. It holds the road almost by itself and practically floats. Im not as impressed with its interior design, or that most options cost more than with other makes. The 3 year warranty is adequate, because Ive only had one problems with any Toyota Ive had, which was the fuel pump on a Camry. Thanks for asking!

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  sweet - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By Alex - September 26 - 6:36 am

  nice design, wish it had a little more power. a little tight in the back seat, but expected on a coupe. good trunk space. abs should be standard. daytime running lights are the best thing ever! overall, great car. 94000 miles and counting...

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  2012 camry Se 2.5 4 cylinder - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By subvet654 - September 24 - 7:48 pm

  I just traded in a 2008 Corolla S on a 2012 Se Camry. I did not go to purchase a Camry, I was looking for another Corolla S. When I got to the dealer there were no Corolla Ss to be found. So I looked at the row of Camrys and was very surprized to find out they were having a end of the month May sale. Low & behold the prices of the SE Camrys were not all that much more than the Corollas. After a test drive I was blown away at the ride, room, comfort, electronics and the 10 air bags that came with this car. I was even more impressed of the quiet ride and smooth shifting of the 6 speed tranny.

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  Transmission problem with only 5000 miles - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Michael Shamsa - September 24 - 8:42 am

  I bought this car 5 months ago. It has a major transmission problem. Dealer could not fix it and offered to replace the transmission with a rebuilt transmission. I did not like that and called the Toyota and they escalated it to the manger to look into it but they will not put in a new transmission in my car. The case worker at Toyota is very polite but very bossy and keep saying I am sorry but that is your only option. I am currently looking for a lawyer to sue Toyota.

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  My First Toyota is Great - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By M Gamble - September 23 - 12:13 pm

  38.9 MPG. Do I need to say anything else? I travel 30,000 highway miles annually and since purchasing the 2009 in July of 2008, the LE is providing great fuel economy, reliability, technology and above average comfort. The only design flaw is the lack of proper location of arm rests for the drivers seat. This really comes in play on the highway; not as much in the city. Suggestion: If you log the high miles, purchase the bumper-to-bumper package. For the additional $700.00 it will pay itself off in the off-chance this Toyota has a major mechanical failure. Signed Satisfied Toyota Owner

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  My 2006 Toyota Corolla CE w/ Man. Trans. - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Dean - September 23 - 10:30 am

  This is a very nice compact car. It is small, but rides nice. Its easy to park in tight places and will fit in any garage. It is easy to drive. For a small engine, it does have some pep. I would recommend this car as excellent transportation for those who are not large people, want the best car for the money, and those who want a car that will last them for many years without trouble.

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  Good but not Great - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By TampaFlorida - September 23 - 10:00 am

  Overall, its a good car. It seems to appeal to the older crowd from what I noticed. Not very exciting to drive and it doesnt turn heads. TV tends to make it look more exciting than it really is. Gets pricey when fully loaded. None the less, its a good car. One major problem on my car. The sunroof binds and makes horrible noises. This is not at all what youd expect from a Toyota! Ive made 4 visits (going on 5)to the Dealership over the last 6 months to have this problem fixed. The frequent visits are mostly due to an incompetent dealership. Very dissapointing. Ive gotten to know the Courtesy Driver very well. That cant be a good thing?

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  toyota - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By debdep - September 23 - 10:00 am

  Wish it came in manual transmission Dont like automatic transmission