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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  Best Car ever! - 2001 Toyota Sienna
  By rippingmk - December 9 - 6:46 am

  Original Owners of this 2001 Toyota sienna got it way back in 2001 and just keeps on chugging along. Only one big big project was done on it and that was transmission replacement because the fluid was getting burnt. 99,741 Im expecting to see 100,000 miles within the next 2 weeks!`

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  Problems - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By Problems!!! - December 9 - 6:20 am

  My truck has been in for service over 15 times. Everything from driveshafts and valve tapping to interior parts falling off.

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  More of a blog - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By John Beven - December 9 - 4:56 am

  I have put 1000 miles on this RAV4 Sport 6. It goes very fast, and has many carelike qualities. A good thing. I cannot understand why Toyota puts that stupid radio antenna, waggling on the right side; especially in light of its excellent build quality. I have the JBL upgrade. So, it is incongruous to see a 1990s whip antenna! It comes with light truck tires. Mine with Yokahama Geolanders. That is nuts. One orders a sport 4 X 2. I will NEVER go off road. The logic is vacuous. Hence, I changed to the new, quiet, stickier MXV 4 S8 from Michelin. What a joy!. Now at 70, it does not sound or feel like a tundra. I have been to LA and back to LV. Excellent. The V6 for trips. The I4 for town.

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  Would give it back in a second - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By meghan - December 8 - 11:10 pm

  If I could exchange my lease, I would do it today! This Camry is so uncomfortable, my back aches. Have had it for a little over 2 weeks and it hasnt gotten any better.

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  pgprius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By PGville - December 8 - 7:46 pm

  This has been a wonderful car have gone 13000 in one year no problems. Mileage averages about 46mpg. Minimal polution

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  I Love My Sexy Yaris!! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By goldieee - December 8 - 8:56 am

  I drive the 3 door hatchback and its the cutest little car ever, cuter than the Volkswagen buggy, Minicooper, etc. People always comment about how adorable my car is. Im always happy at the pump because it only costs me about 30-35 dollars to fill up the tank, and it lasts about 1.5-2 weeks. Its roomy, comfortable, and reliable! :)

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  Great Ride - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By The Barbarian - December 8 - 7:10 am

  I bought the matrix because I needed a utility vehicle that had good gas mileage. The back seats fold perfectly flat, and with the front passenger seat down, I have 8 ft of plastic covered space I can haul lumber and gardening stuff in for home projects.

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  Will NEVER buy a Toyota again - 2007 Toyota Sienna
  By Steve T - December 7 - 6:26 pm

  We bought a 2007 Sienna XLE 4WD. We paid market price for it: no discount. The air sensor on the tires leaks air and we get a flat tire...or two...or three, every couple of months. We missed the lemon law by 5 days...we have fought with Toyota and the dealership for months, but they refuse to fix anything...NEVER AGAIN will I purchase a Toyota...it is the most UNSAFE car I have ever owned. I will teach my kids to avoid Toyota like the plague.

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  Good Overall but Some Quirks - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By wiha - December 7 - 7:20 am

  Ive had Camry Hybrid for about 6 months (6,000 mi). Overall, I am very pleased with the performance of the car. The ride is smooth, the engine works with aplomb, and the brakes are superbly effective. The keyless system is great once you get used to it. In the minus column, my center console constantly squeaks unless riding on a perfectly smooth road. The dealer so far has been unable to fix it. My second gripe is that water collects on the exterior lower door sills (usually dirty road water). This may not seem like a big deal, but sooner or later your pants will brush up against this water (in my case sooner and often). Keep a spare pair in the trunk.

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  Going Downhill! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Sylvester - December 6 - 11:26 pm

  I purchased my SE Camry two months ago and already Im seeing significant issues. First off, this car is slug and sometimes hesitates 1-3 seconds before moving. Second, the cruise control is horrible and virtually unusable due to the constant downshifting if the road is not completely flat. Third, the engine is very noisy and the dealership told me that all 4 cyl. Camrys sound that way. Going in a drive-thru at McDonalds is almost embarrassing with the knocking noise bouncing off the wall. The car has only 3,000 miles on it and it sounds as though Im driving a 10-year old vehicle. Looks are great and interior is comfortable, but itÂ’s not worth buying given the quality issues.