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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  Bad Purchase - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By ANW - February 2 - 10:00 am

  I spend more than $35K and got a car with no auto head lights, no turning signal on side mirrors. What kind of car is this? Even a low-end Camry comes with auto head lights now. The wood panel is so cheap looking. Anyway, my wife wants it and that is what she get - a lousy van.

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  Excellent - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By XIOMI CARRERA - February 2 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I were very happy and pleased with the performance of the salesman. No pressure was done on his behalf. The driving was excellent, and would recommend to others.

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  Interior problem - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Sandy Rohtstein - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Just bought the 2010 LE corolla, car performance and style looks great. We have a major issue that nobody wants to address. Toyota says you bought it now live with it. Please analyze this problem the interior material on all seats have tons of lint every time somebody sits in it. The material is very poor quality. Does anyone else have this problem? Please do a review on this subject. Defect or not?

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  Echo rocks! - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By compart - February 2 - 7:27 am

  This little car has the room and comfort of my other Toyota...which is a Camry. It is awesome, super reliable and great gas mileage. If you a very comfortable and simple car to get you from point A to point B...this is it!

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  No seat support. View not prcise - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By mermaid - February 2 - 7:20 am

  Owned a 2003 Corolla S for 12 yrs. Had great back/lumbar support, handled well-one with the car) The 2016 has no back support = back stress! Need a rolled towel or pillow to support. NOT safe-after/during rain-the front windshield FOGS up continuous! Have to use wipers all the time...to clear the fog since defroster or change temperature does not clear it. (2003 Corolla never fogged after rain - had 12 yrs..) Car feels more bulky (not tight with road). Bad view/feel of outer car for turning/parking..so got to check how far pulled up, to park. Never had to issue with any other car! Interior looks cheaper than past models. Front outer grill a bit too much. Speakers not as good as my 2003. ECO mode light comes on = good.

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  Great car at this price leverl - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Ishtiaq - February 2 - 6:23 am

  Ride is very smooth and quite. Great safety feature. I got 35 highway mileage with ac on and combined 28/29 mile per gallon with ac on.

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  Power and overall quality - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By BeaverFood - February 1 - 11:56 pm

  I traded my Silverado for the Tundra. I need a reliable and tough pick-up for towing my boat (4,000 lbs) and for plowing my driveway. I expect the Tundra to do well at both. It certainly hauls my boat just fine. I had to haul it 400 miles roundtrip the day after getting the truck. It handled very well, smoother than the Silverado. The 5.7L engine is very nice. And I like the way it downshifts (under cruise control) when going down hill.

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  Well made vehicle - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By Kevin - February 1 - 9:00 pm

  What an improvement over previous model years. The handling is refined like a car with limited body roll but does not sacrifice off-road capabilities. I am 64 and it would be nice if the front seat went back two more notches. The sound system is excellent and the back seats are roomy enough for a large adult to be comfortable. Exterior appearance is similar to the larger brother Sequoia but looks sportier all together. It would be nice if VSC can be disabled when in 2WD. Gas mileage averages 19.5 with combined city highway driving. V6 engine and 5 speed automatic are a perfect combination and provides a good pull through every gear.

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  Great Car!!! - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Rob Powers - February 1 - 5:40 pm

  Overall, an excellent car.First toyotal and we are very pleased.ONE major complaint is that the posterior design creates a huge blind spot for the driver.You better be a driver who uses your mirrors very well otherwise you might have problems.Fuel economy is oustanding,34mgp/highway at 75mph. Blind spot may make us sell car, my wife cant see very well with the blind spots. 4cyl engine gets the car out of its own way very nicely so we decided no need for V6 and save few bucks on gas.

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  THE Hybrid that beats all others - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By jrays - February 1 - 8:56 am

  This car is exactly what it is supposed to be. It is the best hybrid on the market. Toyota built it from the ground up as a hybrid, so it has a distinctive look and great features. IÂ’ve had my Seaside Pearl Prius with Package #6 for 3 months and I love it. All you have to do is get in it and drive. The switching between electric and gas is almost imperceptible. This car has an abundance of amenities that make it fun and interesting. The cabin is very flexible, allowing you to carry passengers and cargo with ease. The acceleration, comfort and ride are great.