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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  YEE HA - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Old Bimmers - December 14 - 6:36 pm

  Driving this car while naked is the only way to improve the experience. Bought used from meticulous owner (96k miles). Drove back from TN to waves, smiles and honks with the top down of course; got about 33 mpg @ 75-80 mph. Came back with a framed picture, a lamp w/shade, a wheeled suitcase, beach bag and a pink flamingo. Who said theres no storage? (Just delete any passenger.) Theres storage behind the seats and you can sneak a few small items in the spare tire well. This car sits lower than a Mini Cooper. A Honda Fit looks like an SUV when you pull alongside. Keep lights on when driving to improve visibility by others. Buy one and look for the winding roads! YEE HA!

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  Love this CUV - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By ttboy - December 14 - 4:13 pm

  This is a cross between a car & suv, and gives great mileage. This is my 3rd Toyota and Im LOVIN IT!

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  2001 SR5 to a 2007 LTD - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By dude13 - December 14 - 11:10 am

  I traded a 2001 4Runner SR5 for this 07 LTD. I loved the the 01, but the 07 is in a whole other class! Drives great, plenty of power, and the newer styling really looks outstanding! The only problem I had on the 01 was a broken antenna chain. The 07 doesnt have the external antenna so I expect the 07 will never have a problem!

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  I love my Avalon - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By RichG - December 14 - 10:53 am

  Best car Ive ever owned (and first non-USA model, although was mfd in KY). Brakes are fantastic, economy much better than anticipated (usually >30 on hwy if driven around speed limit). I dont agree with the raps on the seat comfort: Im pretty big and its fine. Handles great. Have had many of the minor problems reported by others: Tranny shifting improved by TSB re-calib. Just encountered famous windshield washer hose problem. Paint issues like everyone else. Lack of fold-in mirrors inexplicable. Strongly recommend dealer installed side molding. But I still love this car.

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  Best buy! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Toyota driver - December 14 - 7:03 am

  I purchased my used 2003 Toyota Avalon several months ago. My family and I took a road trip from San Diego, California to New York City. Before purchase, I tested several other competing vehicles. The Avalon was the best car in terms of comfort and reliability. I am thrilled with the vehicle. I am thrilled with my new Avalon.

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  Perfect vehicle - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Barb Lewis - December 14 - 2:20 am

  Weve had our Rav for 2 months and absolutely love it! My teenagers love how the backseats recline and certainly appreciate all the leg room in the back. The gas mileage is wonderful. It has an unbelievable amount of power for 4 cyl. Lots of storage room.

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  Jerky disappointment - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By phoward47 - December 13 - 7:20 pm

  The transmission shifts jerky at low speed. Slow down to 8-10 mph (like at a yield) and press the gas normal and the car will jerk hard as it downshifts from second to first. Think of a young kid learning to drive a clutch. That is the best way to describe this. The bigger problem comes when passing on the freeway. You see a gap and floor it but nothing happens for 3-5 seconds. I think this is because there is no longer a cable from the gas pedal to the engine... its all done by computer now. My 99 Camry with 160,000 miles had better throttle response and shifted smoother than this car does!

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  Burns Oil - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By bst - December 13 - 5:40 pm

  This was my second Corolla and I was quite disappointed with this. My 1988 was great, had it for 243,000 miles, very few problems apart from just taking care of an older car. This one was a different story. First, made a mistake by getting the CE, things like the backseat not folding down made this a car that was of little use for things like biking, hauling, etc. But mostly, around mileage 30,000 the car has been burning oil quickly, requiring 2-3 qts of oil to be put in on any long road trip, sometimes more than once. Now, the engine has sludge in it that is not covered by the extended warranty, making this car a lemon while still under warranty. Disappointed in the car and company.

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  Go figure, it figures. - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By PulseNGlide - December 13 - 5:10 pm

  Well, its all true...great room, great comfort, and yes... great mileage. Roomy inside, with side airbags for safety. The hybrid system has performed flawlessly. I have been averaging about 52 MPG thus far. I will be using the new, tried and true, Pulse and Glide technique used by other Prius customers to get very high MPG in the city. The 06 has a revised dash, headlights and taillights, as well as better seats. I did not wait one day to own this car. The tax credit, and free HOV lane use, are just icing on the cake for this San Diego, CA owner.

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  1999 ToyTacomaReview by PJM - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By taco1999 - December 13 - 2:28 pm

  I bought my Tacoma used nine years ago, and I have done all of the required maintenance. The only thing that has ever required replacing due to failure was the mass air flow sensor. It went out about a year after I bought the Tacoma. The engine still worked with the blown mass air flow sensor; it just would not accelerate smoothly. These 3.4 Liter V6 engines are great motors as far as power and reliability, but they do not get good gas mileage. Mine gets anywhere between 17-19 miles per gallon depending on where and how I am driving it. Anybody who says they are getting above 20 miles per gallon is driving down hill with their ignition off or dropping it out of an airplane.