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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  Camry - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By Trick6960 - March 22 - 10:00 am

  My girlfriend and I have had our Camry v6 XLE for almost two years and all we have had to do is change the oil and the driver side cv axel. It drives great, handles great, has enough power to keep up with everybody, and its just fun.

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  The new stepside - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By DonK - March 22 - 10:00 am

  This truck is my first new vehicle and I looked at everything first. After a test drive, I was hooked on the tundra. It performed well, looked great, was very comfy, and had all the options I wanted with nothing I didnt. I couldnt get that in a Ford (I couldnt even get the off road package in green on a Ford).

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  The Best Full Size Car For The Money - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By Robert Dye - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Moving form a performance oriented BMW to the more serene Avalon took a little bit of an adjustment. But I needed room to carry three adults and one child. The Toyota Avalon more than fills that need and does it in a level of comfort never expereinced with the Beemer. All the bells and wistles, and a powerplant that is Lexus quality. This car is hard to beat.

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  Best everyday car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By DTM - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Its comfy and has low fuel requirement. Its cheap and yet reliable. Its also beautiful! What is strange though is that it feels like youre driving a bigger car while in it. I dont need more when I go to work or need to go from point A to point B. The 2003 Corolla also has this "solid" feel to it. The dashboard is very well laid out and easy to use! Friends compliment me on how much space and comfort they have while sitting in the rear seats. Great value overall! Great to go to work and great to go golfing on weekends!

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  Dollar for Dollar - Worlds Best! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Kevin Demeter - March 22 - 7:30 am

  You want speed? The car will do 130 mph all day, all night guaranteed by Toyota. You want quiet? Be careful because you might turn the ignition key while the engine is running because you CANT hear it. You want value? Just talk to any Toyota Camry owner. The reason it is so hard to find used Camrys is because nobody will trade it in for any reason. You want comfort? My own son parked cars for summers at a hotel and said: "They took the Lexus design and no car matches the Camry for interior comfort. Not at that price, anyway." I could rave all day but I asked a mechanic - "Which is better, Lexus 300 or Camry?" "Theyre the same car - I cant tell, the Camry is so good."

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  The Best Camry of them All. The 2014 SE - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By abeman - March 22 - 4:57 am

  This is my third Camry, 2014, 2001 and 1995. And without question the Best Camry of them all. This car has Speed, Comfort and Supreme handling. The three major components as well as interior and exterior styling. The car is fast for a 4 cylinder and provides great mileage. Its comfortable with its basic seats. The handling is superb in the corners and at high speed. The gauges are large and easy to see. The bluetooth and the rear view camera are the best features I have seen in a car and they all came standard. I chose no options and this car has more than enough features. The Michelins tires are a bit noisy on the highway and I think the Bridgestone will be a better replacement.

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  2015 toyota camry le - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By captaint91 - March 22 - 4:17 am

  purchased new in December 2015. Car is the base model LE in attitude black with the Black tinted windows. Car is roomy and super comfy. The ride is very smooth and quiet. The 2.5 liter is strong but certainly not fast. It is quiet and we have averaged about 29 mpg. The base entune audio is more than adequate but do miss the low end sound only a sub can reproduce. Wind noise at hiway speeds on drivers side was unexpected but it is apparent. Thats my only complaint thus far.

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  Uglee tires - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By grumpy guy - March 22 - 1:06 am

  This vehicle justified our reasons for purchasing. It performs decently in off road situations, has good clearance, mileage has been 22 city, 27 highway, exceeding expectations. Did not expect the rattles from Toyota. Did not expect the tires to be bald at 30,000 miles. Discovered Yokohama tires are crap. Am surprised Toyotas famed quality experts chose this particular tire. We knew we were sacrificing a soft ride to get limited off road capabilities. We like the spare tire where it is. Like the rear side opening door. Anybody who thinks differently should buy a danged van.

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  2010 Camry SE - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Maz - March 21 - 9:33 pm

  Toyota has been known to make great cars. It drives like a dream... handling is amazing. Great on fuel, steering is responsive to any other car that I test drove... (including 2009 Altima, 2009 Mazda6) but it lacks only one thing: the interior is old and outdated... kinda feels like my grandfathers car on the inside. But its still a reliable and sturdy car!

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  Love the car - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By jhswartz - March 21 - 12:50 pm

  I have no complaints at all. Car is quiet, comfortable, and has tons of power.