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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  satisfied, but would consider others, too - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By SS - July 24 - 10:16 pm

  I got what I expected, reliability. I do not think the brakes are as good as my 1992 Camry. Front seats are not deep enough. Head rests do not fit a short person! Some plastic interior pieces are cheap. I like not having to have headlights on.

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  2005 Corolla - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Barry Q - July 24 - 8:50 am

  I traded in a 2004 Camry SE V6 for this car. The Camry needed Premium and never got better than 24 MPG even on long highway trips. First, I can say I like getting 37-38 MPG. But when I have to fill up, it take a few extra minutes. If I just fill till it clicks, and hit a few more times, it is still not full. I slowly put usually another 2 gallons or so in it. The stereo even with 6 speakers is pretty weak. I like changing gears. I have had this car 6 months and have about 23,000 miles on it. I just can NOT find a good driving position. I avg about 1000 miles a week. My back kills me some days. It has very little Lumbar support. It is sporty to look at and 2 real adults can fit in the back.

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  I like my RAV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By beverly - July 24 - 3:30 am

  I do love my RAV, but there are things that are disappointing since it is a Toyota. The ride could be smoother and I do not get the gas mileage reported on the sticker, my 6 disk indash CD player display also messes up a lot. I love the look, design on the inside and the room that it offers for a small SUV.

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  Front seat issue - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By BB - July 23 - 1:23 pm

  The front seats are very poorly constructed. There is not enough cushion on the seat and it becomes very uncomfortable to ride after just a short drive. You feel like you are riding on a board!

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  Computer problems - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Geode - July 22 - 3:33 pm

  The Prius was a dream to drive from the time I bought it 3/04 until 9/04 when a dead cell in the aux battery killed the main computer. I was getting 48mpg city/53 mpg freeway. Now with the new computer, the motor runs more and I can rarely get about 10mph before the motor kicks in. Fuel economy has dropped. I now get 42mpg city/49mpg freeway. I have asked a number of times for Toyota to fix it and they say the computer is not putting out any error codes. Its frustrating. One other note. If the aux battery fails, you cant put the car in neutral, it has to be dragged up on the wrecker.

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  Couldnt Have Done Better - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Kate McIntosh - July 22 - 8:46 am

  This car is fabulous. If you ever want to know what kind of car to buy, all you have to do is ask a car salesman. Well, I sell cars and this is my car. Its comfortable, the gas mileage is incredible and I know that I wont have any major problem because its a Toyota.

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  Couldnt Have Done Better - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Kate McIntosh - July 22 - 7:23 am

  This car is fabulous. If you ever want to know what kind of car to buy, all you have to do is ask a car salesman. Well, I sell cars and this is my car. Its comfortable, the gas mileage is incredible and I know that I wont have any major problem because its a Toyota.

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  2004 prius sct10 - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Steve10 - July 22 - 7:13 am

  This has been a great car so far. We average about 51 mpg even though we live on the side of a mountain and to a lot of mountain driving. I have not experienced a single problem with the Prius. My wife drives it most of the time and really loves it.

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  For a little truck, I love it. - 1996 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bob - July 21 - 11:43 am

  This truck has been great. The truck was bought with 40k miles,and now has 267k. The only problem has been the catalytic converter, I am now on my 3rd. Beyond that, everything has been great, just regular maintenance. I am starting to feel a slight slip in the transmission when I shift from reverse to drive. The ride is not the most comfortable, ever since I bought the truck, I have felt every bump and crack in the road. I love this truck and feel it has gone well above and beyond what was expected of it.

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  2004 Toyota Camry LE - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Ron Donahoe - July 21 - 8:03 am

  Overall, Ive been very pleased with my Camry. Weve driven it under a great variety of circumstances, from urban Los Angeles to barren West Texas. Trip fuel milage has averages about 31 MPG which is appreciated with the current price of fuel. The Camry is comfortable on trips, although the seats are a little firm and could benefit from some more prominent side bolsters. Mechanically, it has been absolutely reliable. My only real complaint is some vibration noise in the dashboard/instrument panel, which can be annoying at times. As a family sedan, the Camry should definitely be on your short list for consideration.