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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  Solid truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By dave - July 6 - 7:53 pm

  Its a good, solid compact truck. The clock is poorly located, the truck "thumps" when stopping and starting and feels like its almost airborne on the freeway. With the TRD package, the ride is harsh. Beyond that whining, the truck handles well, has good headroom, and all the power I need (I did improve its breathing by adding an additional port on the filter box to allow more air in. Its been reliable, with no problems other than what I noted above, except the dash rattles against the windshield, which was fixed by installing weather stripping to muffle this sound. My only regret was not getting a 4x4 since its of little use in snow (the rear locker doesnt really help).

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  Death of the American Sedan - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Ed - July 6 - 6:26 pm

  I was a loyal Ford/Mercury sedan buyer, until I walked into the Toyota dealership. Ive always heard about the quality of the Camrys, but once I test drove the car, I was hooked. The ride far surpassed anything I had been previously driving. Surprisingly, the 4-cylinder engine is peppy and I dont miss the 6-cylinder Sable that I had. The fit and finish is also exceptional. Id like to believe that American sedans will improve to the level of Toyota and Honda, but after driving my new Camry, it seems like the U.S. is light years behind. The new styling is great as well and you sit higher, with a more commanding view of the road. A great car for a reasonable price, well worth the investment.

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  After One Year I Still Really Like This Truck - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Earl - July 6 - 2:56 pm

  It handles well on mountain roads. The stereo has decent sound/speakers. It is comfortable for long trips with my family (front and back seats are comfortable). It has worked great for towing my camping trailer.

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  Corolla S - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By superjohn123 - July 6 - 2:33 pm

  With 27k miles its been flawless. I avg 30mpg city and up to 41mpg hwy. I have the JBL sound upgrade its nice. The VSC traction is really a must and I love that option. I like knowing I have the side air curtains. It handles great in the snow with the stock tires. Overall its a good looking quiet riding car.

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  I Love This Car! - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Jeanette Gatson - July 6 - 9:06 am

  This vehicle had everything I wanted and more. I love the way it drives on the highway. I like the way it accelerates. I like the smart start feature. It has so many features that are standard that you cant remember them all when you are showing friend and family. This car is a looker!!!! The back reclining seats are a big hit with everyone. I like everything about this car.

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  Zippy and reliable - 2001 Toyota Echo
  By Bladw - July 6 - 8:46 am

  Roomy as can be. You have to see how much interior room there really is. 40-46 MPG all the time. No A/C from the factory is bad, but is tolerable while driving. $1300 to install air is too expensive after the fact. Top reliable car rating. Lower the rear 1" and add a strut tower brace and the handling improves dramatically. Parts might be expensive because its an import, but this car will probably never need any. No service needed until 250,000 miles for the timing chain replacement! Outstanding. If it had A/C i would enjoy it better. These cars are hard to find because everyone keeps theirs. 40+ MPG is addictive .

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  Follow up after 25k miles - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By John74 - July 6 - 6:33 am

  After 1 yr and 25k miles later we still love our Camry. Avg. City/Hwy fuel efficiency is a solid 32mpg and no problems to speak off. Tire wear is normal (rotated twice), the leather seats are showing no wear at all, the paint is still factory glossy. A seatbelt mechanism recall was taken care by the dealership within 1 hour.

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  Noise - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bloomer - July 6 - 5:06 am

  I like the concept of the 4 doors. I expected alot more quality in design. I am extremely disappointed in the noise factor of this truck. They needed to put alot more time in the design of it, to take away the wind noise.

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  So nice, and so fun! - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Christina - July 6 - 2:00 am

  I owned a 2007 Toyota Corolla LE and I was very impressed with it; however, my grandparents needed a vehicle, and it was easier for me to get a car. So I "upgraded" to the Camry. It sits a little lower to the ground, but the ride is smoother and theres so much room! The power driver seat is nice, audio controls on the steering wheel are convenient. I dont mind the plastic dash, but some dont like it. Ive read some criticism of the look of the 07 and 08 Camry, but I think the "bulbous" nose is actually cute.

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  Smooth and Quiet - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By jim - July 6 - 1:46 am

  I have about 2700 miles so far and love it. Initially I had a little buyers remorse since I had to pay top dollar to get the car, but in the end feel it was worth it. It is the quietest, smoothest vehicle I have ever owned. Unlike many other reviews, we seem to be getting the advertised mileage (assuming the computer is accurate). In city driving we get 32- 33 and just completed a 2000 mile road trip were we averaged 27.6. This seemed pretty good since much of the driving was at 70+ mph. The vehicle has plenty of power. It easily pulled up mountain grades at 70mph and had more power to go.