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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  Great Car - 2006 Toyota Highlander
  By Matt - August 19 - 12:10 pm

  Smooth ride and surprisingly good acceleration with the 4 cyl. Averaging over 25 mpg in mixed highway / city driving. Very happy so far.

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  Great car - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By allen - August 19 - 7:46 am

  Great little car at a good price. nothing special but great mpg and good ride for the $$$$

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  Not as good as I thought - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By chad_sheph - August 19 - 3:18 am

  Wife pretty much had her hart set on this car so not much I can do. Here is my comment... * front grill - omg so ugly. I would pay to get it modified. * ride is good for driver. but all my friend and kids complain it is very uncomfortable. feel every bump * noise - road noise appear to be loud. wish we had notice it during test drive. * performance - not as peppy as the accord.

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  I must have got the lemon - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By Jason - August 18 - 10:06 pm

  I bought this car because of its reputation with reliability and good fuel economy. I put aside my thirst for a sporty car and decided this car would be more practical. However, this car has had the craziest electrical problems. With only 80,000 miles on the car, while driving on the highway, the speedometer dies and the transmission will not shift out of first gear. It only happens in the summer if it has been sitting in the sun, or if I am driving on the highway in the winter with the heater on, so heat is obviously a factor. No mechanic has been able to fix it and I have spent around 1,000 dollars trying to get this problem fixed.

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  My First Mini Van and I Love It - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By John - August 18 - 9:53 pm

  Great ride and good handling. I have it loaded with all the features and it is Lexus like. It has more features than my 04 BMW 530i.

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  first 4 wheel drive - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By mag red - August 18 - 3:53 pm

  Good solid body. big change from from 2000 Tahoe. Lack of power adjustable passenger seat serious mistake--would not buy another toyota without one. Inconceivable at 40000$ that this item was missing. Some wind noise - removed crossbars on roof rack - only slight reduction in wind noise.

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  first 4 wheel drive - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By mag red - August 18 - 12:33 pm

  Good solid body. Big change from from2000 Tahoe. Lack of power adjustable passenger seat serious mistake--would not buy another toyota without one. Iinconceivable at 40000$ that this item was missing. Some wind noise- removed crossbars on roof rack-had to get factory to pay. Dealer would not. Poor sales experience at dealership. Removing crossbar only slight reduction in wind noise.

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  Sweet! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By dcarrington - August 18 - 7:50 am

  Have had the FJ now almost a month now. While the gas mileage isnt what my 05 Accord was, it isnt too bad for an SUV (at least that is what I am told). So far with under 1K miles on the engine, I am averaging about 19 mpg. The most obvious downer about thie FJ is that the engine requires the use of 91+ octane fuel. The ride is great, smoother than my Accords, and there is much less road/wind noise in the FJ as well. When you are in it, kinda feels like you are in a tank with all the short verticle glass around you.

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  The Good and The Bad - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By BillT - August 18 - 6:56 am

  The car is saving me plenty of money. I am a moderately aggressive driver, but with conscious throttle application, the car has been achieving 36-39mpg over 6000 miles. The car is very spacious and comfortable for 4 people. The car is fully loaded, and as such it has all the amenities that I could want. The navigation is easy to use and follow, although it needs an update. The JBL sound system is truly amazing, although it does cause a few rattles in the car. Bluetooth is great and easy to use. The acceleration is more than adequate, although a little more oomph and less drone from the CVT would be nice. The handling is not sporty AT ALL, but the ride is very smooth and ultra quiet.

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  Best SUV - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By James - August 18 - 12:50 am

  I recently bought my 3rd 4Runner. I absolutely love this vehicle. It handles nicely and has plenty of room inside. I have never had mechanical issues with any of my 4Runners. The reliability is unbeatable. If taken care of property, this vehicle could last for an easy 10 years or more. I cant imagine driving any else!