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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  Hard to Beat - 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Spyder Man - January 4 - 1:53 pm

  Purchased my green/tan Spyder in Texas when I worked at Texas Tech. Would of course have purchased the Phantom if available (black and red). Learned early on from a friend I could flip the top back without getting out and have it lock in most instances - no apparent damage. This made me want to put the top down whenever possible. Handle - goes where you point it. Great acceleration leaving cars behind at lights without many RPM. Criticized for storage but drove it to Maine with enough clothes packed in to work indefinitely. Really enjoyed running 80 much of the time. OE Bridgestones being replaced at 18k under a warranty that came with the car. Pondering adding sports muffler.

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  So far so good - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By mattyxl - January 4 - 1:46 pm

  Purchased my Corolla S in early June, it came down to the Corolla or the Lancer GTS. It came down to mileage, I drive 80 miles per day so the Toyota was just more sensible. So far I have gotten 37 hwy, awesome. Interior is very comfortable as I am a bigger guy. W/o the spoiler the corollas look is as boring as it gets but with the S add ons it looks pretty cool. The ride is pretty smooth, not too much outside noise. The engine really has no pickup however. There are some odd placements of the cruise and side view mirror controls. Overall I really feel I made the correct purchase.

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  Taco Review - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Harry Nonnemacher - January 4 - 12:43 pm

  Outstanding vehicle, overall good quality, very user friendly. 21 MPG average with a v6 5 speed. Excellent safety features as well. Plenty of power, very responsive acceleration. Overall good price. A good looking "beefy" truck!

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  Horrible mistake - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By aetherial - January 4 - 12:36 pm

  Looking at trading it in after 2000 miles. This is a VERY disappointing car. The seats are horrible even with power adjustments I cannot get comfortable. The gas mileage is nowhere near what was stated. The transmission lag in dropping down is annoying. This is the worst car I have ever owned.

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  Great all around vehicle - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Alan - January 4 - 10:53 am

  Rides just as well as our Camry XLS and has cargo space to boot. Driver position is good, not too low or too high. Good compomise vehiclem with best features of a sedan and a SUV. Good gas mileage for a SUV.

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  Super Vehicle - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By B Whitcomb - January 4 - 9:43 am

  Performed extensive research to find economical vehicle with a 5000 lb towing capability. No competition. Best economy with 5000 lb towing. Excellent economy achieved 24.8 MPG on first 1000 miles round trip to NC mountains, 5000 ft elevation. Exceeded EPA mileage estimates on first tank. Quiet at 60+ stereo super, love auto rear opener. Sport suspension stiffer than base and Limited. I prefer stiffer. Able to select transmission gearing, a plus for towing. Second seats can be moved forward and aft as well as folded flat. Rear auto door is a real plus for convenience.

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  Disappointed - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Denise - January 4 - 12:30 am

  I bought this Camry to replace my 1996 Camry. Im very disappointed with this car. The car squeaks and rattles. I have 21,770 miles on the car and the rubber around the driver window has come loose. The charger outlets have stopped working. I should have kept my 1996 camry. I think Toyota has dropped the ball with this Camry. Im thinking about trading this car in for something else.

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  Happily owned - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By first hybrid - January 3 - 8:30 pm

  Just purchased 200 miles ago. You must drive in eco to receive better fuel economy. Bought it to replace a Odyssey. With our family of 5 the room is good. Cargo space is smaller than van but leg room is equal. Lots of power, options and comfort. We are getting 23 mpg but expect to do better with experience. Good replacement of a bad gas mileage van.

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  2011 Corolla S (New) Solid Car - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By thecandyman - January 3 - 8:15 pm

  2011 Corolla S w/o sunroof Purchased new: $17,500 exclude TTL. (Sticker: $20,120) This is a very smooth riding car for this class and seems very solidly built. This car rides like a Camry on smooth roads but the short wheel base gets a bit unsettled over uneven pavement and it crashes over rough patches and potholes somewhat. The powertrain also runs very smoothly and acceleration is adequate. All in all the best value in the class.

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  Great car! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Roney - January 3 - 7:10 pm

  We have a 2006 HH Limited 4wd-i really fun to drive, handles well, and its a solid ride. Our current mpg is 23.3 (the average increases over time). The interior is very nice, and has great features like a JBL sound system, DVD/navigation system.