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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  fun and practical - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By AJ - December 21 - 9:00 am

  Ive had this car for two years now. im pushing 100,000 miles. my dad bought this car and then i bought it from him. we have never had a single mechanical failure. this car has been in 8 accidents and will refuse to be totaled. the best part is the fuel economy mixed with the fun to drive factor. its low to the ground with stiff independent front and rear suspension. its almost too low though. ive scraped on anything from parking blocks to speed bumps. Very fun to drive and very upgradable. it only has 13hp stock but with a little tuning and performance parts it is now pushing an easy 200hp. not good pickup at low end but it makes up for it on the top of the rpm. perfect for a first car

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  You dont buy this car for fun/looks... - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By patsrule5412 - December 20 - 4:20 pm

  I have had this car for about 2 years now, and overall I think Toyota makes decent cars, but this car is kind of overhyped a bit. It gets great gas mileage and I love it for that, but the seating position is a bit awkward (you get used to it) and it feels like an economy car, nothing more. The looks...well, calling this car even remotely "sporty" does not work. The ride on the highway isnt too bad, but to me its a little too loud, at least louder than I expected, and I can feel some vibration which can get on your nerves. Overall its a decent car, and I dont mean to sound so negative about its looks, but hey, you buy it for reliability and mileage, Im just not flat on the floor impressed.

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  solid little car - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By Martin Hanish - December 20 - 2:26 am

  We bought our Matrix early in January and have already put a few thousand miles on it. the conditions here in Maine have been tough - lots of snow, ice, temperatures down near zero. The Matrix has performed extremely well under all conditions. It is a safe, dependable little car.

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  my gts action package celica - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By BellaBri - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely a beautiful car. The pick up speed on the automatic is quite disappointing though. It is a more "look at me" car than it is a "look at me goooo". I do feel like I was somewhat ripped off on the price because the performance isnt as great as they make it out to be, Toyotas ad is right "Looks Fast" and it does "look" fast, but "drives fast" i would have to disagree.

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  toyota Rav4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By IOwnARav4 - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Overall, the rav4 is priced nicely for what it delivers. Although the engine is not powerful, I took it off-road and it handled well and was very impressed.

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  New Stepside Tundra - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Chris Boling - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This truck is all most people neeeds for hauling, towing and passenger room for your everyday driving. However it is a little short on rear passenger space for anykind of overnight drive. Overall I love this truck. It is has lots of curb appeal, very dependable,nice amenities and great resale value. It also fits where in spaces that its competition can only dream about.

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  Wife"told me " I wanted nother Camry... - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Rayinok - December 20 - 2:00 am

  After owning Caddys,Lincs,300ZXs foryears I wuz dragged(heel marks in dlrs drive)to Toyota.Wife Insistent on Camry.I said sad farewell to Caddy.Must havebeen good move..5th toyo prod since 97. Relative trouble free.no majorprob. Decent fuel mi@ 30mpg @ 75>80.Had 3500$ accrued on master card tward GM prod + 3000$ rebate + 2500 dlr disc on chev Imp.Bot nother Camry w/1000$ rebate. I MUST BE NUTS!! But,THE COOK IS HAPPY!!

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  Definitely NOT the Camrys I have owned previously. - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Dusty Old Man - December 18 - 10:01 pm

  There are a lot of neat bells & whistles that I like, but the overall comfort is not as good as Camrys of a few years ago. The massive front grill is a huge bug catcher that is very hard to clean. The many indentions really trap and hold the bugs! It takes forever to get them out, even with a high pressure wash. I really miss the dual compartment of the center console, and the lower dash storage compartment is not as useable as on the older models. The glove compartment is not as roomy either. The front seat comfort leaves quite a bit to be desired even with all of the adjustments available. The interior door mouldings are a cheap plastic design and the side pockets on the doors are not as roomy as they use to be. I dont know why the Camry designers have seemed to mess up a lot of the quality that was in the older models. I love Toyota s, but I am very disappointed in the new models

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  Great SUV - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By TN Driver - December 17 - 2:00 am

  I just traded my 2006 4Runner that I bought new so I figured I had plenty of experience to leave a useful review having driven it 85,000 miles during that time. It was a great car. I only had to perform routine maintenance during the 5 years which was great. I just felt like we had outgrown this car with 2 small kids so I traded it in on a Buick Enclave. My husband had a 1997 4Runner prior to this one and we traded it in with 200k miles on it and he had no troubles with that one either. You cant go wrong with the 4Runner.

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  A mix of strong and weak points - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By Dave N. - December 16 - 3:46 pm

  My lease on this Highlander runs out soon and I am undecided whether I should buy it, or turn it in. Its been very reliable, with one odd recurring problem: if you dont tighten the gas cap completely, a light comes on to indicate a problem with the emission controls. To get it reset, you have to take the vehicle to a dealer! It is heavy and feels ponderous. Fuel efficiency (19 mpg) is OK for a two-ton vehicle, but acceleration is mediocre even with the V6. The seats are not very comfortable on long trips. The controls on the steering column are confusing at night. The deep, narrow console between the front seats is horrible; stuff at the bottom is impossible to reach!