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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  Disappointing - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Georgesparks - May 7 - 8:50 pm

  Smooth ride but headrest is so uncomfortable I had to reverse it. Dash control background is black - looks like a black hole in many situations. Somehow, I can never get the seat position perfect to be comfortable. I wish speedometer was labeled in 10 mph increments, its very easy to go faster than you thought and get a ticket. A pain to reach for seat belt - it manages to get stuck behind door frame somehow. 5 speed is a dream to drive, shifts perfectly. Great car with minor but continual small irritations.

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  One of the best truck ever made - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By bad ass truck - May 7 - 8:50 pm

  Its a sportcar in a truck body. Gas mileage is good considering the power it has ,comparing other truck same gas mileage . Would recomend to anyone, great breaking and turning radius

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  Great Ride - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By MomandPopCar - May 7 - 6:36 pm

  We did a lot of research on the Venza before buying it. The Pros far out weigh the Cons. We have owned a Ford Edge, which drives like a truck. The Venza drives like a luxury car. We drove both the 4 cyl and the 6 cyl Venza. The 6 cyl has better performance and had a better response time. The engine on the 6 cy is a lot quieter than the 4 cyl. We ordered our Aloe Green model with leather and without the Nav. Our Garman does the trick, we can take it with us when leave the car, and we can update the GPS on our computer.

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  worth the wait - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By D Goren - May 7 - 2:40 pm

  Before considering the TCH, I read every review on this site, as well as comments in the forums. The overwhelming positive responsive combined with my initial test drive sold me. Ive only had the car for 2 weeks, but absolutely love it. It has plenty of power, is extremely quiet (even running on gasoline), and has lots of cool features (nav, JBL stereo, iPod connection, etc.). So far Im getting about 38 MPG without even trying.

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  2007 Toyota 4Runner Limited - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By MR. CLEAN - May 7 - 10:40 am

  Had this suv for a week now, tows a 3000 lb trailer very easily. Went with the v-8 for this purpose. Ride is good for this type of SUV. Cant wait to drive it in the snow! Wife likes the dual climate control. Auto-dim rearview mirror is nice.

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  Lowered Expectations - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Kirk Ryerson - May 6 - 7:10 pm

  I researched about 15 cars in this segment. The only thing that motivated me to purchase the Yaris was the promise of no scheduled maintenance for the first 120,000 miles. That was the deciding factor. EPA ratings are off, I average low 30s in town and mid 30s on the highway. The brakes are terrible. It struggles to take turns. The electric steering (at highway speeds) is frightening. My S didnt even come with a remote key fob. Be careful driving the S on a windy day.

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  Weekends with the boys - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By JayhawkGrl - May 6 - 4:23 pm

  Im a designer and I love this true-to-form vehicle for all it allows me to do -granted its not ideal for parents or carpoolers. I like that the utilitarian design isnt disguised by pricey leather and superfluous features. An avid mountain biker, dog owner, hiker, camper, fisherwoman this SUV does all I need it to with plenty of space and comfort. I do a lot of city driving during the week and Ive gotten impressive gas mileage. Its perfect for weekend trips and vacations. What I appreciate most is the customization and easy pricing. If you want to add components you can wrap in what you need without getting sucked into manufacturers packages. I love my FJ- spring for the woofer!

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  Awesome - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By abcde - May 6 - 3:33 pm

  I bought the car new in 2002 and now have 98,000 miles on it. It required front brake pads due to squealing brakes at 25,000 miles and was done free. Have performed routine maintenance - battery 60,000 miles, tires 60,000 miles, brakes 85,000 miles. After the brakes at 85,000 there was a persistent squeal and the car needed 2 more trips back to the dealer. Was given a free loaner car for the 2 returns and it was handled very professionally. Other than that I routinely get 34-35 mpg with about 65% highway driving. The car is actually fun to drive and I am always the first "out of the blocks". Minimal road noise at cruising speed and very smooth highway manners.

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  Awesome 2007 Camry SE V6! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By lovesucker - May 6 - 10:50 am

  After looking at many competitors, I made a final decision that Im very excited about. The Toyota SE V6 is one incredible car. The power that comes with the V6 is such a great asset to have. While cruising at 80 MPH on the freeway, you cant even tell how fast youre going and if you need to gas it, boy, this car has some major power! Its clean and luxurious and the rear seats for the kids are very roomy. The Nav with bluetooth is something you just have to have. The bluetooth is so convenient and easy to use. I used to always want to hang up while driving on my cell but now Ill talk all day. I LOVE MY CAR!

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2002 Toyota Avalon
  By Fulf - May 6 - 10:00 am

  The first 9 months I owned this car I put on 23,000 miles driving 100 miles roundtrip to work each day. The time flew by due in part to the comfort of the ride, quietness, and ease of handling. It handled extremely well in the WI winter weather of snow and ice. Im ready to buy a 2004!