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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  NEW CAR - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By MIKE FITZGERALD - December 23 - 10:00 am

  THE CAR IS WELL BUILT WITH EXCELLENT POWER. IT HAS A VERY SLEEK LOOK AND, SEEMS TO BE BIGGER THAN PREVIOUS MODELS. WE FEEL THAT THIS CAR OFFERS THE FEELING OF DRIVING A EXPENSIVE MODEL CAR WHILE THE PRICING IS STILL AFFORDABLE. WE LOVE THE CAR AND HOPE TO KEEP IT FOR A LONG TIME.

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  Excellent Corolla S - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By stephani - December 23 - 10:00 am

  i love my new car it handles well and it is very fun to drive and even looks nice!!

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  Love it, but a few small quirks... - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Kelly C. - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I went from a Dodge Grand Caravan to my new Sienna! I fell in love with it at first sight, and love driving it. We have had several problems though, and I am not sure if it is as well-made as toyotas usually are.At 100 miles, a tire blew (defect). Then, the back of the drivers seat fell off! The lights stay on indefinitely if a door is left open, the tailgate rattles, and the brakes feel almost spongy. It is now in the shop for the 2nd time. I do love everything else about this van - with the running boards, its as "cool" as a minivan can get!!!

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  Never thought I would buy an Avalon, WOW - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By AL P. - December 23 - 9:43 am

  The WOW is for the car itself. Did my research and found this car worth a look see! lol, wow, what a car! Definitely pure luxury, I think it was better than the Lexus. I figured they know what they are talking about. Not a cheap car either, but well worth it. Got the XLS, completely loaded.

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  Still early, but lovin it! - 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By wvgasguy - December 23 - 2:53 am

  Im at about 1000 miles and still breaking it in. Averaging 24.5 in winter weather so extremely happy with that. Traded a Camry Hybrid in after 63,000 miles so I know how to maximize this from the "get go". Its so much more functional than the Camry, and I wanted an awd for the wife who is now driving daily in all types of weather and needs the space to haul the grandkids around. I am pleasantly surprised at how much more comfortable it is over the TCH. It is extremely versatile yet an economical vehicle to drive. You do have to "baby it" to maximize the mileage, but even my wife is getting around 23.5 and she does nothing special.

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  Blown up rav4 @ 90K - Not recommended - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By nomorerav - December 22 - 11:17 pm

  Just paid off my 2007 rav4 when it blow a motor. The water pump is located in the back and it broke. My wife drove it and blow up the motor. 8 grand for a new one. Even if she did not blow it up, the water pump is on the back of the engine. This requires the motor to be pulled to change it out. A $2000 to $3000 job depending on where you get it done. I had electrical problems. Tire wear issues, brake problems. All the senors would randomly go off on it. The Tire pressure senors where always needing replaced. I ended up junking the car, basically threw 20K down the drain. I know 2 other people that have had issues with water pump or rear main seal. And they all had there engines blown.

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  Practical commuter - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By AJ - December 22 - 9:13 pm

  I traded in a 2007 Acura TSX for the 2010 Prius. Thought I got the base model, it comes with everything I need. The smart key is great and the factory stereo sounds great. The key to getting great fuel economy is to not push down on the gas too much. This car can handle winter just fine. I live in Colorado and 2 days after getting the car, we had a snowstorm. It handled very well. I guess its more about the tires and the driver. Ill probably get snow tires next year but I havent had any issues with all season tires in Colorado so far. The cabin is extremely quiet. Theres hardly any road or wind noise. Its even smoother than the Acura!

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  Big disappointment - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Tokyo Joe - December 22 - 9:00 pm

  Bought my dream truck 3 weeks ago but it has been nothing like a dream but a disappointment. Engine constantly knocks and the knocking stops only when I remove my right foot from the gas pedal or when going downhill. I also hear an unusual noise coming from the engine room during warm-ups and for the first few miles. Its a growling noise and sounds like something loose tapping. A local dealer says its a normal sounding engine without driving it and cars are supposed to emit a lot of noises during its break-in period. My car is only 500 miles old and Im planning to take it back to the dealer if the noises continue when break-in period is over. Toyota is helping to solve the issue.

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  Just for the wife - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By just for the wife - December 22 - 1:26 pm

  Got the car for the wife as a run around town car and I find myself wanting to drive it more than my car. The V6 is outstanding avg 18 city and 28 highway, so not too bad. The interior could use some work to make it not so cheap and plastic looking. Overall a good car, no build quality issues yet.

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  Fun little car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By MarkC - December 22 - 12:30 pm

  Great car. I drive 30,000 or so miles a year, and this car seems ready and eager to handle the task. I went for the impossible to find S with a manual trans, glad I did. Get into 5th gear on the highway, and although the tach shows 3000+ RPMs, its returning 36, 37 m.p.h. Amazing. Good pep, even with the A/C on -- which works great. My family of four took it on a weeks vacation, no problem. The trunks huge for a car this size. I have had no issues with this car wandering on the highways, and its been on the highway a lot already. I traded in a 3/4 ton truck (didnt need it) for this, and of course I miss the stuff my truck could do, but this is so much more practical for my life.