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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  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.

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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.

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  Good car... but not great - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By randycareagain - April 12 - 10:53 pm

  My mom bought this car brand new and I bought it off of her in 2010. I got it from her with around 70k miles on it. The 4 cylinder is a good, gas-sipping engine but a bit underpowered. This showed when driving on hilly interstates and with the cruise control on. The sport shift was also useless with very slow response. The only real issue I had with the car is the long, heavy doors. After a while, the driver side door started to sag causing the windows not to seal all the way. Heavy rain or even a car wash would allow a bit of water to leak into the car. Those issues aside, I was very happy with the car and just traded it in recently with around 132k miles on it.

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  2007 Toyota Camry LE - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Nick Patel - April 12 - 5:33 am

  I have a high opinion about Toyota because I have seeen many toyota cars running flawlesly even after 150,000 miles. I own this vehicle for more than 6 months and have driven it for 4500 miles. I love its Avalon like roomy interior and great looks. Bought it when got carried away by its looks but ultimately find it to be a poor investment. This car does not drive well in cruise control at all (eng revs up & dn). Also, seals around doors are poor, you will surely get water leaks even when you wash the car. I get 18 MPG in city and 27 on freeway. Not impressed with MPG! Telescopic steering is not great either.

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  Higly recomended car when you have small kids - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By smoramx - April 10 - 10:03 am

  I took the decision to buy an FJ because is very practical when you have kids; every time the kids spill water or any other liquid its really easy to clean up. Kids cant open the back door or roll down the rear windows. The privacy glass prevents the sun in kids face. I buy the 2x4 version which I first regretted, but living in LA and with small kids its a little difficult to go off road anyway. I took it to a Baja trip for a total 3,000 miles (very little off road) and its very comfortable and smooth.

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  WILL BUY AGAIN - 1999 Toyota Tacoma
  By JDR1999 - April 10 - 10:00 am

  GREAT TRUCK FOR WORK AND TRAVEL. NO PROBLEMS WITH HEAVY PAYLOADS GOING UPHILL.

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  Practical car for the dollar - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By David Barr - April 10 - 10:00 am

  After researching many small cars (Civics, Aveo) I found the Corolla. First Toyota Ive owned. Great on gas mileage. Car is suppose to last as long as a Honda. The only complaint I have is the steering wheel is too far away. I have to keep the seat up close to reach the wheel. And Im only 59". Otherwise a good, practical car. Be cautious of Toyota dealers. They have a way of getting you a loan with a higher interest rate. Ask first what thier best offer is. A good dependable car is good, but if the financing is not, youll loose a lot of money over the long haul of a 5 year loan.

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  Very nice truck, but not perfect. - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By PB65stang - April 10 - 2:16 am

  Bought the truck used with 6k on it with the TRD Sport and tow packages. The truck is great looking, and seems to have good build quality and reliability. However, at only 15k it does have a couple rattles and my radio has already gone out once (replaced by dealer). Fuel economy at first was not great, but I actually get better MPG at 75 mph than at 65, probably averaging 18 mpg total. The back seat in the Double Cab is tight for adults as it is - forget about it in the Access Cab. Four adults drove from KS to CO, and the people in the back were slightly cramped (both below 510"). The V6 is plenty powerful, and ride comfort is good for a truck (I drive 25k a year too).

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  Not a performer - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By Chicago - April 9 - 6:50 pm

  Had it for 2 years. Compare to the same year civic, civic is much better performer: transmision + handling is way better then toyotas. Well corolla is not a performer, but it gets you from point a to b.

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  What 2 Do - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By clc - April 8 - 6:50 pm

  Juzt bought a used rav4 2007 @ 37,000 paying about 18,000 for it and at 4th day literally it did not want to start for me as I left my night job. Did the same thing in the morning and Im not sure what to do. Love the look and the way it drives but Im not a hard core driver and do not travel anywhere far. Did I get jipped and bought a lemon or should I continue to give this car a try.