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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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Dave - April 2 - 5:20 am

  I waited 5 months for a V6 Limited with factory leather to arrive at my dealer. I was about to give up, ask for my deposit back, and opt for an RDX or an X3. In addition to both vehicles being more expensive than the RAV4, I was concerned about gas mileage on the RDX and repair costs on the X3. The RAV4 was worth the wait. The vehicle is better than I expected. I got 25 mpg on my first tankful with combined city and highway driving, so it should get better from there.

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  5000 miles and very disappointed - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By jbreach - April 2 - 2:51 am

  For starters ... I rushed to upgrade from a 2011 Rav4 model I loved to a 2013 model I dont like very much. After 5000 miles of city and highway, this SUV consistently disappoints. While many overall improvements have been made as listed in great details throughout the other reviews, the fundamental issues are the power/train. combo and also the tire change up in this new model. This is not a fund vehicle to drive (unlike the 2011 model). The car feels sluggish, hesitant and often puzzled as if it doesnt know what gear to go into and when (automatic version and AWD).

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  Fuel efficient automobile - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By gcdyer - April 2 - 1:40 am

  We have been impressed with the mpg from this Toyota. On a 500 mile trip - mostly freeway driving, we achieved 41.5 mpg. City mpg seems to be around 30-32. The car is quiet and responsive. Fit and finish is excellent.

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  TXCamryMan - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By TXCamryMan - April 2 - 1:16 am

  First of all you can rent this car at Hertz for any road trip to get an idea how it feels and performs. Next, find a great dealer which in my case was Classic of Texoma. And finally work with an exceptional salesman who in my case was Mike "Big Mike" Nelson.

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  Awful ride - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By randy - April 1 - 10:30 pm

  I bought this powerful half ton thinking it would run like my 9 year old tacoma. The ride is simply awful. I as well as my passengers are literally bouncing off our seats being held in by our seat belts. I dont dare have my new born in the truck as a passenger. After waiting a year for a promised fix from Toyota for the rough ride I could wait no longer and traded it in for a GMC Sierra. Lost a bit of power but man is the ride better. Problems during my 9 months of ownership: the rubber sealant around the windows were replaced. The drivers side mirror was replaced. The torque convertor was replaced. The transmission was being looked at due to hesitation-vibration.

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  2008 and newer highlander V6 engine issues - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By gobubba - April 1 - 3:07 am

  All V6 2008 and newer highlanders will develop piston slap according to the dealer and factory rep I talked to. It causes the engine to sound like a diesel for the first 10minutes of driving. The dealership could not fix the issue and bought our vehicle back. Im writing this to help educate people about this and hopefully save someone from making the same mistake I did, purchasing a certified highlander....

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  I had to buy it - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By mikel - April 1 - 1:56 am

  I brought 2010 corolla after my wife wrecked her 1997 corolla, so I gave her my 2007 corolla and brought the 2010. I had to buy it even though I like the 2007 corolla. While the corollas are not peppy at all, 2010 has some pep as long as the AC is off. It is a very smooth quiet ride, but you do hear the bumps when you ride over them, unlike the 2007 corolla. I have the LE model and it came nicely loaded with cruise, TRAC control,and power everything. At high speeds it drives really well. It is nice they added MP3 player and a AUX jack. It is a little wider than previous corollas which makes it more comfortable.

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  Awesome Car - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Saysum - March 31 - 3:16 pm

  Real fun to drive. A big head turner no matter where you are. Pristine handling around curves. Good acceleration. Handles VERY well. A real blast to ride with top down. Great lil car to have around.

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  Wow what a van - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By karen - March 31 - 12:16 pm

  A couple of years ago, we had to retire our 88 Camry with 450,000 km on it and the engine was still in OK shape!. We have gone back to more luxurious camping and like our eureka tent and Bring your own bed, we brought a Sienna. I have 50,000 km on it and can you believe it; not one thing has gone wrong; I mean nothing. On a trip through the rockies and on to the west coast, this van not only gave us pretty good mileage but never once experienced any difficulty with climbing those mountains. Driving the double lane Coquihalla, we were able to keep it at 120km per hour without any difficulty.

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  The 2006 RAV4 won over my Outback - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Mary - March 31 - 11:06 am

  I was a solid believer in the Subaru Outback. My husband talked me into trading my Outback in for the new RAV4. I have to say the RAV4 won me over. The side curtain airbags are a definite bonus. Steering and turning are much better than the Outback. And I have to say it gets better gas mileage than my old car. I have the 4 cyl., in my opinion the V6 is too much power for the ride. And the gas mileage is much better with 4 cyl.