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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  Now a classic?! - 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Tom Boyd - September 29 - 1:26 am

  The car is wonderful to drive. It is a weekend car due to small storage space but go baby go.

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  147,000 miles so far, zero problem - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By jimmybirdie - September 29 - 1:26 am

  I am an extreme commuter and I would not have been able to do this without my beloved Prius. After 4 years I have about 147,000 miles on the car and have had zero problem so far. I average about 47 - 54 mpg depending on how fast I drive. If I drive 75 mph I will get about 45-47 mpg. If I drive 65 mph I would get around 52 mpg. I still have the original brakes and my mechanic told me that it still has 75% of life left. This is due to regenerating braking and my most highway driving. The OEM tires lasted 60k miles. I replaced them with the Michelin HydroEdge tires and after 87k they are still good for another 20k miles according to my mechanic.

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  Wonderful Car - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Mike - September 28 - 9:13 pm

  Really an excellent car. Very quiet, very comfortable interior, good exterior lines and a pleasure to drive around town or on the highway.

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  Be A Happy Prius Owner - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By Dale - September 28 - 7:56 pm

  Ive got 23K miles on my 07 Prius now & love it. For those who say the MPG isnt as good as expected let me tell you that if you live in a cold climate that the winter MPG will drop nearly 10MPG. Your dealer will tell you that if you question your cold climate MPG. Reason is the gas motor needs to run more in cold weather to keep the batteries charged. I can tell you though that in normal warm weather (above 40 degress) that I get 48-50 MPG easily. Admittedly I drive for gas mileage---at the speed limit & no lead foot. After all thats why I bought the Prius, for optimum gas mileage. I love it & have put a deposit on a new 2010 model, which is newly designed bigger motor & even better MPG

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  Reliable appliance - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Doug - September 28 - 7:33 pm

  My 3rd Toyota. 84 Celica, 89 Celica. Car has been excellent in terms of reliability. Some quality issues with fit and finish. Dash has squeaked annoyingly almost from day 1. Had problems with upgraded JBL radio. Replaced with Pioneer. V6 is great. Wish the rear seats in the SE went down. Very happy with car after 52,000 miles.

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  Nice Little SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By JPM - September 28 - 6:13 pm

  Worth the wait, which was quite long to get the combination I was looking for. Its a very practical and useful vehicle.

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  Great in town rental. Not a hwy cruiser - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By HWYMiler - September 28 - 4:57 pm

  Very easy to drive. Brakes are decent, acceleration is adequate although the engine does buzz to get there. Not a huge fan of the CVT but seems like it needs that to get the most out of the engine. visibility is very good. It was the low end model but the stereo was fine. Biggest gripes: At highway speed the engine could use another gear. Turning around 3K @ 70mph => 34-35 mpg. Car would be much improved w/ small engine + turbo. Very little steering feedback and car tends to drift a bit on the hwy. Cruise control is typical Toyota in that it surged a few too many miles above the set speed as you hit rollers. LED headlights are way too hot which is a shame. I like the beam pattern of the LEDs but the temp does not create enough contrast and its compounded by not being strong enough. Drove this as well as the Ford Focus and VW Jetta 1.4 all in the same month. Each for almost a week. Granted Im not focused on long term ownership costs but the Jetta was hands down my favorite.

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  247,000 and still going - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By donk - September 28 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely best car ever owned. Bought used in 1994 with 44,000 miles on it. My four cylinder now has 247,000 miles and is still going. Still have original exhaust! No major repairs whatsoever. The body looks like new - no rust. The four cylinder is peppy. Great gas mileage and large gas tank.

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  Hard to beat for a full size pickup - 2003 Toyota Tundra
  By GV - September 28 - 2:00 am

  First non-US pickup I have purchase but got tired of rattles in GM and Fords so decided to go with a Tundra. Cant believe a pick-up can run so quitetly, have so much power, and go over some wash boards without a rattle or vibration. Cant wait to see if it holds up but can recommend it to someone who doesnt like to have buttons fall off in the interior and gaps in moldings that I know I have found on US trucks.

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  I love my new Highlander! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Andrew 0801 - September 28 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely love the new Highlander. As for reviewers who complain of wind noise on the freeway or cheap feeling materials, I have no idea what theyre talking about or what type of car they are used to driving. The car is quiet, well constructed, feels very solid, thoughtfully designed, and handles well. I know of several people who own the RX-300, and this car feels just as good for a lot less money. The sales/support from the dealership has been excellent, and they made purchasing the car a pleasant experience. We also looked at buying the MDX, but overall found the Highlander to be a better value and have absolutely no regrets.