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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  Perfect for a small family - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By sh4n - April 1 - 1:16 am

  - This is an amazing car for a family with young children. - Also a comfortable drive for someone over 6ft (I am 62"). - Great on gas, the v4 is peppy, but lacks power when a/c is being used - Interior perfect for kids as it was easy to clean up spills and other messes - Cargo room was very more than ample. Always came in handy for carrying small furniture, large mirrors, tvs etc. - Not a single problem over 4 years of use

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  Really Good - needs a little to be great - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Deanie - March 31 - 9:26 am

  This is a really good car but the build quality is not up to snuff - even though my 05 was the first year of the new model, the build quality was a "B" even though Toyotas typically garner an "A". My passenger front door shouldnt be higher than the rear by 2mm. The rear glass has vertical lines of waviness that are visible even when looking through the rearview mirror. Pushbutton dash panel covers open only after 2nd or 3rd try - it takes 5-10 tries when its over 90 degrees! Needs better choice of exterior paint colors, and definitely needs better choices for the leather upholstery! I guess this is what Toyota does to handicap Avalon so it doesnt embarrass its pricier Lexus siblings.

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  Love Toyotas - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By 1yoda - March 31 - 4:40 am

  I have owned Toyotas for quite a long time. Love them! I do a 40 mile commute to work and it is really good on gas. Just have one problem. The rims look rusty! My dads 87 Toyota pickup has better looking rims them mine. Dont know. Bought it brand new with 11 miles on it. Paying a lot of money and the rims shouldnt look like that!

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  Great Car Except Float Handling - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By rfcn2 - March 30 - 8:44 am

  When I went shopping in 2008 I really wanted a Caddy CTS or an Acura RL. CTS could not be ordered with blue tooth for phone or laser cruise control. CTS by far drove the best. My Dad passed away about this time and left me a 2001 Avalon. It was a basic one but was very comfortable and got great MPG. So as almost an afterthought I went to Toyota dealer. They had the features I wanted and the car was 15 grand less than Acura. I really planned to hate the Toyota. I now think it is one of the best cars I have owned. Still is floaty and poor on curvy roads. Still overpowers the front wheels if too much gas is given. A great value IMHO. Amazing MPG for something this fast.

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  After one year, love it as much as the day I bought it. - 2013 Toyota 4Runner
  By yngturk - March 30 - 3:30 am

  An extremely solid, truck-based SUV. Purchased new in 2013. After 13-months now has 20k miles and its only been to the shop for oil changes. Ride is better than most trucks, but the build is solid and body stiffness is superb. Seats are quite comfortable, as are heater/AC and the overall ride. My wife -- the ultimate judge of comfort, with a bad back -- has no problem taking road trips in this vehicle. I mostly use this as a commuter vehicle, but occasionally haul stuff or go camping off-road. Average 21.3 MPG in combo city/highway. Engine is more than adequate. Its the perfect vehicle for my needs. A well-engineered, reliable ride.

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  1997 Toyota Celica Convertible - 1997 Toyota Celica
  By albo - March 29 - 10:43 am

  I purchased this car for fun and am very much enjoying it. It has only 71k mi. and is very clean. It handles great. I feel 18 again with the top down. I have always liked this model and have not been sorry.

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  So far, so good - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By FunPro - March 28 - 1:26 pm

  I purchased my 2006 SR5 (4dr) in December. It has more than enough power, better than average comfort for a truck, and I like the look. It would be easy to complain about the mileage, but I do not believe anyone ever purchased a full size truck because it got good gas mileage. Therefore, I only have two concerns. When idling down a hill, almost any hill, it often shifts into a lower gear and the RPMs jump up to 3000+! The local dealership admitted to receiving complaints about this, but claimed there is no fix. Also, as others have stated, the turning radius is poor. If you are attempting a u-turn, make sure you have MORE than 2 lanes to your left.

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  New Toyota guy - 2016 Toyota Sienna
  By Steve Machalek - March 27 - 8:30 pm

  Prior to owning a Toyota sienna I owned a Honda Odyssey for 11 years. There was always one thing that bugged me about my 2005 Odyssey. There was a whistling noise that came through the front defroster vents when driving at high speeds. I learned to live with it. Other than that the car was fantastic. I am now the owner of a 2016 Toyota Sienna XLE 8 passenger. The car has been great. I like the look of the vehicle and it is comfortable and handles well. I did notice one thing on this car that bugs me and I guess Im going to have to live with it. Every time I go over a bump there is a squeaking noise that comes from the rear drivers side seat. I assume it happens because the 8th seat is not connected although I havent checked that out yet. 99 percent of the time I will not be using the extra seat. To be honest both the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are about the same. The reason I went with the Toyota Sienna was the outside appearance of the car and the interior layout. Plus I think the idea of putting a vacuum it the Odyssey was a stupid idea. Waste of space. In the Sienna you can store the extra seat in that space so you dont have to bring it in and out of the car when you want to use it. Update to Review: This weekend I put the 8th seat (jump seat) in the car. Squeaking stopped. Im not that happy that Ill have to listen to all that squeaking since I usually do not leave the extra seat in place. Anybody else have the same issue?

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  1999 toyota Sienns Transmission Failure - 1999 Toyota Sienna
  By whatis with toyotas - March 27 - 10:00 am

  This van is unlike toyota reliability with respect to transmission at or around 60K miles. The transmission failure around 60K miles is unaccepted when we pay a premium to own, because of toyota reliability.

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  sorry i bought it - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By cuezze - March 27 - 10:00 am

  I like the styling of both the interior and exterior. I dont like the way the car handles on the hiway. It has pulled to the left from the first day that i bought it. They have aligned the front end 4 times and it still pulls. The car is not good if there is much wind it gets blown all over the road. The 2000 Impala that I traded was in my opinion a better built car.I would never buy a toyota again. I have driven other cars with a list price of the same or less and have decided that I made a big mistake.