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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  MPG Drops a lot in Winter - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By AB01002 - March 8 - 7:33 am

  This is a great car, but I live in New England. We were getting 35-38 MPG before winter. Now we are getting around 25 mpg. (Our Suburban gets 16 mpg!) I love our Camry but wonder if I would have bought it knowing the winter mileage is so much lower. We have a long winter and I wish I had known about the drop in MPG in the cold weather. By the way, I researched this and it is a normal characteristic of all hybrids.

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  Why did they stop making this? - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By achfc - March 8 - 12:33 am

  This has been the best car I owned. I have 160,000 miles and have NEVER had a single problem. I did not need brakes until 135,000. There is no rust anywhere, and Id drive it anywhere! This car has better leg and head room than most any other car Ive sat in. Fun to drive and great mileage (>40 hwy). Great stereo too! Why did they stop making this?

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  Great fuel saver - 2003 Toyota Prius
  By DMcGee - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle, would never give it up. Going to buy the Toyota hybrid SUV once it is avalible.

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  Please dont. - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By argggg - March 7 - 10:00 am

  This car has been a nighmare. I have made good friends since i bought this car; the mechanics at toyota, i am there often. I cant belevie how unreliable this car is. The build quality is lower than that in my sisters kia.

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  BE CAREFUL IN HEAVEY TRAFFIC - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Rick in Atlanta - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I have had the car fo a year. Good looking car and happy with the build quality. Interior comfort is great and has a lot of storage. Had the car back to the dealer 4 times for the brakes with no resolution. They are soft and undersized for the car. Mileage is not near what they claim.

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  My Corolla - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By Vetdoc - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used with 54000 miles on it and It has had no problems. I love the compact, but still spacious on the inside. I was driving and I was rear ended by an SUV HARD!!! I got it repared and it is still like new now. Just showes the reliability and duribility.

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  my next car will be a toyota - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By p.p. - March 7 - 10:00 am

  1 battery 1 set of new tires ,new front disc pads. of course new wiper blades & filters. other than that im very happy! I now compare all others to toyota quality.

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  This new truck is garbage - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By David A - March 7 - 9:57 am

  I have a 2016 TRD 4x4 off road, bought it with (7) miles on it about 2k it started shaking when driving on the highway I thought it was a balance issue, nope, its been 10k miles, replaced tires, replaced wheels, balance done 8 times.....the steering wheel shakes the whole truck shakes, everything in the truck shakes its comical, "not when its yours" anybody who goes for a ride mentions it, it feels like a salvage truck, the dealership tells me "oh its a truck" BS My last truck was a 2013 Tacoma it was totaled hit a center divide, the frame shifted, I fixed it that truck felt better then this "clean title" 25k update Transmission feels like it has sticky gears, down shifts are very hash, dealer did a ecu reset, which went back to same feeling in couple days Engine to me feels like it lost power, feels very sluggish Oil changes never gets above 5.5k Engine feels very outdated, my wife drives and tells me "this truck is hella slow, everybody passes me up" 36k miles now transmission feels to be getting worse, dealership is terrible does not acknowledge it, when I bring it in its like I did something wrong and get nasty attitudes from the service advisors. Brakes The rotors get warped way to fast, I already changed the front rotors and the second set is already terribly warped the truck even when driving in the city the brakes pump very noticeably and to top it off the the 2nd to 1st down shift pushes the whole truck forward with a bang, Im very very disappointed in this truck.

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  More than I expected - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By nigthhawk779 - March 7 - 4:32 am

  Well I wrote a review after 15000 miles and nothing has changed. Same car tires etc., excellent 33000 miles the tires. I read reviews about tire wearing our at 5000 miles . I now wonder what that diver did to make them wear out. Like I stated in the initial review great pick-up styling and love all of the extras. The only think is that I got a couple of rock chips in the windshield and it is 700+ to replace because of the heated base for the wipersse of heated base for the wipers

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  TRUE 4-WHEELER - 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By CLAYTON - March 7 - 2:00 am

  bEST 4 WHEELER ON THE PLANET.