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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  Love my long trip cruiser - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Hank - October 4 - 2:53 pm

  I wanted a big comfortable car for long trips, 2000 miles plus, I have an Infiniti G-35 coupe (supercharged). The coupe is a great fun driving car but no boulevard cruiser for long trips. The Avalon totally fit the bill. I have taken three 12 hour trips all through the mountains, and the car handled beautifully. I do all of the driving and I did not feel beaten up when I got to the destinations. If I get tired, I pull over and stretch out on the back seat - its flat and level. I had an Infiniti I30; the Avalon is a better long trip road car.

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  Impressed - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By atomicalex7 - October 4 - 11:09 am

  I recently drove my grandmothers camry on a 800 mile round trip road trip with 4 adults and a trunk full of stuff. At first, I was worried about the power because we were going to be going up and down mountains all day, but there were no problems. Even up the steepest grades, no power was lost and it even stayed in overdrive. A majority of the time the car was pushing 80, and the ride was very relaxing with no road noise and responsive steering. It was a very comfortable car to ride in and the trip average was 30mpg both ways. The car has 68,000 miles and the only thing that was ever replaced were tires, brakes (65,000 miles) and a steering bushing.

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  Go Hybrids! Camry efficiency excels again! - 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By J. DeVries - October 4 - 10:34 am

  Yes, the trunk is smaller because its a hybrid

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  Some Job !!!!!! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By matt noce - October 4 - 9:36 am

  I had the 2001 Camry, which was great & still is. (sold it to my neighbor). When I drove the 2007, v6 Camry, I laughed my you know what off. Theres nothing to say except, Toyota has done some job. I cant believe the way this machine rides.

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  This is a great car to drive! - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By Great car - October 3 - 9:43 pm

  After purchasing this car, and knowing how Toyota builds their cars, I found that this Corolla had what it for me to drive. Handles very well on dry or wet roads. In city, mileage is good but on the highway, I was able to get about 35 mpg; combined about 31 mpg. Interior is very comfortable and those in the back seat are very pleased with comfort. The blind spots that everyone is concerned with is not really there; one has to still move their head to look around. Getting in and out of the car is a breeze and easy. All controls are where you would want them. Great car as far as Im concerned.

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  Sweet, Fun, Great Value! - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By mrutz2 - October 3 - 8:08 pm

  I bought this car about a week ago after selling my 96 Cobra because I was tired of paying for 14mpg on premium fuel. I must say that even though it doesnt have the power that Im used to its still a blast to drive, and you can push this thing hard through corners. When it finally does break loose, which is usually slight understeer surprisingly since it is rear wheel drive, it is easy to regain control. I average about 30mpg even with pushing the MR2 pretty hard a lot of the time. I expected it to get a little bit more attention than it has but owell.. If theres anything this car could use it would be a little more power. But it is still a really fun car to drive!

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  Sequoia success - 2016 Toyota Sequoia
  By Waleska Maxwell - October 3 - 6:51 pm

  I owned my previous Sequoia for 10yrs with 150,000 miles on it and didnt really need another but I wanted the new technology with Bluetooth and all the new whistles so I traded it in. This new 2016 is outstanding. There is more room inside, the ride is smooth and the availability of apps and Bluetooth capability is cool. I used the Edmunds price tool and I wouldnt purchase another vehicle any other way. It was so easy and effortless. I will stick with Sequoia (platinum) as long as they are around. They hold their value, last forever, and run great with little to no maintenance. Thats my Sequoia success story.

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  Hybrid convert - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By markusmann - October 3 - 4:10 pm

  So after gas guzzling in sport cars and SUVs we purchased our first hybrid almost a month ago here in Southern California. The black 2007 Prius #5 (navigation, bluetooth and leather) is truely awesome. I am not comparing the driving experience with my previous sports coupe, its a different type of car. But this nimble little thing does the job so well. I am averaging 48 mpg and I spend about 50% on highway and 50% in city stop and go. We are converts. So much that we are looking at a SUV hybrid as well. Go hybrids!

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  ITS WONDERFUL. - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By PAM RAV4 - October 3 - 2:06 pm

  This SUV has everything I need. Its nimble and good for small ladies (Im 52). It is good for small parking lots, too.

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  Satisfied Customer - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Howard Bell - October 3 - 12:30 pm

  I have had the car for almost 5 months and have driven it in both urban and rural settings. Both performance and comfort of ride have been quite good. Mileage has been somewhat under the EPA estimate ( about 2 mpg) but is quite good. The primary accessories (heater, air conditioner, stereo) have all performed quite well. I have been quite pleased with the acceleration while cruising at 55-60 mpg on rural highways. This greatly facilitates passing slower vehicles without requiring inordinate clear straightaways. The car could be a little quieter when accelerating from a stop sign.