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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  review of my Solara - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
  By jmeitzen - April 19 - 10:00 am

  Very pleased. The 5th Toyota Ive owned has the most power AND gets the best gas mileage of them all, plus is safer, smoother, and roomier. Wish I got a sunroof though. The back seat is a little hard to get into from drivers side, but roomy for a 2-door, but a little short on head room. Needs option for a graphic EQ & a deck that plays a CD w/MP3s but sound system is still above avg. I prefer rear wheel drive. Torque steer not bad; level largely determined by tires. Turning circle not as tight as a 96 Camrys. Anyway, Im not selling the car anytime soon. Excellent value for quality, comfort, and power for the price.

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  My 2006 Solara - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By J.J. Hemingway - April 18 - 1:56 pm

  Great car. After driving a Mazda Miata for a number of years I graduated to a car with a trunk & back seat. Steering and handling not as tight at the Miata. But overall a great car. Great pick-up, and people swear it is a Lexus - almost but half the price of the Lexus convertible. Always gets lots of nice looks and comments. I love cars that have that effect on people!!

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  Fun to drive - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Allison - April 18 - 1:43 pm

  I just purchased this vehicle last month, and so far Im really enjoying it. I previously had a Honda CR-V, but was unable to buy another one because we are stationed in Germany, and they dont get CR-Vs at the American dealerships here. I settled for the RAV4, but so far I like it a lot. Its a little bit bigger than my CR-V, but not so big that I have trouble parking it or navigating down narrow streets. We got the third-row seat option, which I think will come in handy when we start a family or have guests! Not too noisy when driving 80+ mph down the Autobahn! One thing I dont like is a very large blind spot on driver side between windshield and driver door.

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  Great xcountry ride - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By mk - April 16 - 10:10 pm

  After 30k miles,I have a good feel for this van. Even with a bad back, I can drive 2400 miles in 5 days with absolute comfort. The nav system did give wrong info on 2 occasions. Hesitation, down shifting on the slightest grade (poor power), and poor city mileage (13-14 mpg) existed right from the beginning. I feel these problems are from the AWD powertrain requirements. Highway mpg=23-24mpg. Locally, overall mpg=16-17. The runflat tires lasted 20k and were almost bald. Avoid the AWD and you will be much happier.

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  Dream Truck - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By Man-Child - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Bought the truck this weekend with 67,000 miles on it and absoutely love it, Ive owned a Chevy S10 and a Nissan Hardbody and so far this is what Ive been searching for. A small truck with lots of power with high ground clearance and good looks.

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  Good, but expected more. - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By soldoncars - April 16 - 10:00 am

  With the need to carry eight people, and not wanting a gas guzzling SUV, the Sienna was one of two choices. Great vehicle, tons of space, tons of power, and EXCELLENT fuel economy (25 MPG @ 80MPH), and tight turning radius. The versitility is unbelievable. The build quality of our vehicle is questionable. The dash is misaligned, as is the rear bumper. The van has also went into the dealer at least six times in the first year, for minor problems. Versions currently on dealer lots should be fine, but check carefully. FInally, WATCH THE SALESMAN AT THE DEALER!!! We were riped off.

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  A quick review - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By We - April 16 - 1:46 am

  A nice little car. The angle from the seat to the gas pedal seems a bit awkward and has a tendency to hurt my right knee after driving for more than 30 minutes or so. I may just be used to sitting higher in pickup trucks. The car has plenty of power and rides nicely.

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  Toyota has a fix for 4 cyl. transmission - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Tom Whitt - April 15 - 1:20 pm

  Toyota now has a fix for the accelerator hesitation and transmission problem! They even had their dealers pull all the Camrys off the lot and update the engine control SW. We are now content with this vehicle that we once hated. Also, be sure to use 0W-20 oil. With the SW fix and using the 0W-20 oil our gas mileage has improved from 26 to 32 mpg (1/2 city, 1/2 hwy). The repairs noted on the receipt were: EG7031 recalibrate ECM (PCM) engine and transmission 9159 Bulletin #EG036-07 .9 OP code EG7031 T1-04 T2-99 recalibrated ECM to improve shifting performance.

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  Excellent Build Quality/Great Fuel Econ - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Jogia - April 15 - 10:40 am

  Just picked it up today. Traded in my previous gen Camry. Needed a better gas mileage car for 100 mile daily commute. I owned a 94 corolla in college and this model is many leaps ahead. Firstly the cabin is almost as quiet as that of a camry, even at high speeds. Build quality is amazing, very solid. Got 30 mpg in my first 150 miles.

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  4 out of 5 - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By john - April 13 - 4:36 pm

  Overall the car is great but the seats are the most uncomfortable Ive ever had in a car and after getting home suffering through just a 1 hour drive I am determined to never buy a Toyota again. Its got a lot going for it but hurting me is not what I paid for. Now I shoud say if you have padding it might not bother you.