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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  Thirsty clumsy clunker - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By toyotauser - April 30 - 4:53 am

  Proof Toyota can badge and sell any clunker. 13.6 mpg in Boston, 25 mpg on hilly I-90. I am not a heavy foot. I use premium & Mobil-1 5W30. The seats jiggle over bumps. The back doors need to be rehung. Accelerating and maneuvering make dangerous torque steer, I like the 3/4 large size and big interior space, but seats not comfortable on a long drive, even for driver, in spite of adj lumbar. Ive had a lot of great cars recently, everything from an 06 Evo IX SE to a Camry Hybrid. I like big cushy cars. An old chassis and should be retired. Paint scratches if you frown at it. There are lots of goods cars out there, this is not one.

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  Nice, reliable car - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By lynn321 - April 30 - 12:56 am

  I have owned this car for 9 years and did not have ANY problems with it until it was 12 years old. The car has been extremely reliable and I would recommend it to anyone without hesitation. The only things that has gone wrong with this car during the 9 years that I have owned it was a power steering leak, a problem with the air conditioning and 2 broken rear seat belts. The car drives like it did when new even though it is now 13 years old.

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  Very Reliable - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By Len - April 29 - 9:40 pm

  I have had my 1999 RAV4 5 speed for 5 years and I would buy another in a heartbeat. This has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. I bought it with 41,000 miles on it and have added about 100,000. I transferred to a new job last year and now commute about 130 miles per day. I never worry about whether my car will start or not (unless I run the battery down by leaving the lights on). I had some major maintenance work done this year (tune-up, timing belt, etc.), but other than regular maintenance work, I have had no other work done on my car. It runs great, has the Toyota reliability, and I fully expect it to keep going for another 200,000 miles. My gas mileage is about 33.

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  Fun Yaris - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Sharon - April 29 - 8:16 pm

  I have had my Yaris for 10mns and I love it. It is the most fun car to drive and you can make a lot of U turns. The gas mileage is wonderful, I get 33-35 except when running the A/C then it drops to around 25. There is more power than you would expect from this little 4cyl. My 64" friend has plenty of head room. I cant say anything bad because as far as Im concerned its the perfect car!

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  Cant get anything better - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By Psynopsis - April 29 - 6:50 pm

  My parents purchased our Camry used in 1997 and it has endured years of use. It never has failed me. I came into ownership of it in early 2007 and Ill admit I have abused it yet this amazing car keeps going and going! Its gone through 6 ft of water, taken off road, even slid off a road a few times during a snow storm yet it still runs strong. Currently has over 242,000 miles on it and shows little signs of aging. Quiet, efficient, and forever reliable. If you want something that will last you forever, get a Camry. P.S. I dont abuse the car anymore. :]

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  Bought new - 1999 Toyota 4Runner
  By Jim Z - April 29 - 1:10 pm

  Ive owned this vehicle for nine years and 165,000 miles so far. The only habitual problem with this truck are its front disks - they warp much too quickly (on third set). I, also, get around 18 mpg in mixed driving (20 on highway trips), but this vehicle is made for off-roading so its suspension and drive train are beefy. Handles snow great (4WD), but squirrelly in rain (2WD). Very tough truck. My wife was in an accident, ended up going down an embankment, hitting a tree and bending the frame. Not hurt. Through it into 4WD, drove back up the hill and drove home. You can add a lot of gear in back without throwing off its handling. Very comfortable on trips. Well designed dash and console.

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  1998 COROLLA LE, black - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By guitartec - April 29 - 10:56 am

  1998 COROLLA LE AUTOMATIC. I bought it in Sept 2012 with a confirmed 98K on the odometer with the intent of keeping it for MANY years to come. I drive 100 miles per day, so I want the ride quality top notch (well balanced). Due to this, I personally installed a new Bilstein suspension, including new "normal ride height" springs, all greasable good quality fittings, super heavy-duty inner tie rods and polyurethane bushings. I did this because the orig. suspension was sagging a bit making it tough to get over the bump at the foot of my driveway.

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  AWESOME - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Brown - April 29 - 9:46 am

  I sold my 2003 Ford Supercrew for my 2005 Tacoma. I have not looked back once. It is a pleasure to own and drive. It is great for Houston, TX traffic.

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  Good at First - Not happy now - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Bill - April 29 - 4:20 am

  The car was great for a year, then the heat mixer dial broke, dealer fixed, then I push the 4 way button and it falls into the dash, ok, dealer fixed, lately the car has a bad idle vibration and engine stumbles at stops, dealer said this is how this engine runs, paint scratches easy and its starting to rattle in thedash, I dont think toyota quality is all that great. Dont go with this one, wont buy toyota again, Ill trade it for a Mazda. Oh the door under the stick keeps popping open like a jack in the box. Dont think this car will last.

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  Love My Matrix! - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Lynne Richards - April 28 - 7:23 pm

  I just traded in my 04 Mustang for an 06 Matrix. This is my first Toyota and I absolutely love my Matrix! The gas mileage is fantastic. I love everything about it. The only small and I do mean small complaint is the engine bogging down when the air conditioning is on and slows the acceleration rate. Other than that absolutely no complaints whatsoever!