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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  Nervous Handler - 1996 Toyota Corolla
  By dxxb2000 - April 25 - 10:00 am

  It has been reliable for the most part-some strange electrical issues. The handling and braking have been dangerously sub-par, requiring that I upgrade tires and brakes. Ive driven many cars and although its been a great econo daily driver, I have been disappointed with its driveability.

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  1996 TOYOTA CAMRY - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By petch22 - April 25 - 10:00 am

  VERY RELIABLE AND WORTH EVERY PENNY !!!!

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  2 Sets of Brakes - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By HBR - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Overall pleased with the vehicle after one year, but have been through one set of brakes and routers and are having problems again. A friend of mine is having the same problem with his LandCruiser. This was not covered by warranty as it was deemed "normal wear and tear" despite the fact that the car only had 15,000 miles. Dealer said they had them in at 9,000 miles before. Otherwise very pleased with vehicle.

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  worth and reliable car - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By rax11 - April 23 - 9:14 pm

  I have RAV 4, and my previous car was corrolla. My wife needed another car, Initially I thought I will buy different make, I researched its competitors, CIVIC 2012, Hyundai elelantra, sentra, mazda 3, subaru impreza. I test drove back to back all of them. I felt driving on highways is smoother than sentra, mazda 3, elantra, almost equal to civic, impreza. Interior definitely some of its competitors are better like elantra, mazda 3 and civic. Exterior its not eye catching but it is stylish. We got corrolla LE apprx 2000$ less compared to its competitors price with same features We drove around 5000 miles so far, it is giving 37 mpg, in the city it drops to 36.5. very happy with this car.

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  You can depend on this one. - 2004 Toyota Highlander
  By ED - April 22 - 7:36 am

  I always buy Toyota because of the reliability and quality. This is no exception. Yes the ride is a little uncomfortable, and the tranny does feel awkward in certain situations, but so far this car has not given me any problems not one, it had a minor recall issue but Toyota took care of it at no charge; some sensor needed to be replaced. I would recommend this SUV to anyone who needs security to move around on a day to day basis.

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  Great Electric Car - 2013 Toyota RAV4 EV
  By kesscalade - April 22 - 3:05 am

  Ive owned the Rav4EV for about 5 months now and I love it! I did a lot of EV car research and in summary this car is as good as it gets without shelling out another $20,000 minimum to get a Tesla, which are phenomenal cars. Really fun to drive. Since the car is a Tesla/Toyota venture you feel the power and fun driving experience of the Tesla to some degree but still have the size and space of an SUV. For someone who dislikes small cars this car was a perfect choice for me. Cant beat the silent drive and zero gas stops. Great interior look and feel as well!

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  Perfect balance between car and SUV - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By Mike - April 21 - 4:03 am

  The Matrix is a great car. Its comfortable, roomy, and stylish. Folding down the rear seats creates a very roomy cargo space. The rear window opens upward, allowing long items to easily extend out the back. The seats are comfortable, the dashboard is futuristic. My passengers report plenty of legroom. Lots of little features like a flat-folding passenger seat and an ordinary AC outlet add up. I like it so much that when my 03 Matrix was totalled in an accident, I went out and bought an 06.

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  Over a thousand and still running. - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By barry morgan - April 20 - 4:16 pm

  I bought my tundra used with 78,000 miles. It was like I was in a new truck, and was very pleased. Until I started having problems with the oxygen sensors going bad. I rated the reliability low because I think Toyota has dropped the ball with the experiences that I have had with the oxygen sensors.

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  a lot for the money - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By shawn in georgia - April 20 - 12:26 pm

  Have had my limited for 3 weeks and put 1800 miles on it (combination of city and highway). Overall very good. Quiet, comfortable smooth ride for all occupants. Surprising acceleration. Exceptional fit and finish and quality materials. The laser cruise control is fantastic, will never be able to own another car without it. Navigation system is as bad as everyone else says it is (my primary complaint). My wife has a 2007 Yukon Denali XL and the navigation ease of use on it makes the Avalon look literally silly. No mute button on the radio is a real pain. Trunk has to be slammed very hard to close it (needs automatic tensioner). Have not experienced jerky shifts at low speeds as some have.

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  Great Little SUV- Except Mileage - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By diepie - April 19 - 11:46 am

  Okay, so its quite early to give a full review on our new car, since we bought it new just a couple of weeks ago. I had done extensive online comparisons between the 3 of the contenders in this vehicle category: the Rav4, Honda CRV, and the Nissan Rogue. We test drove all 3, as well as a Jeep Patriot, and considered but didnt drive a Hyundai Tucson. Toyota won out on a number of counts, not the least of which was the fact that we have been Yota owners for a long time, and have had great success. Toyota was also offering some screaming incentives which tipped the scales. So far of course, so good, but the gas mileage to date has been a bit disappointing.