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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  A Reliable, Economical Ride - So Far - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By DrKatz - June 20 - 10:53 pm

  I bought this Corolla a few weeks before X-mas, replacing a 15 year-old Corolla with 331,000 miles on it. The new Corolla is comfortable and fuel-efficient. I didnt have any problems with the steering, which was mentioned by some critics. A period of significant snow and ice tested the new Corollas handling, and I was satisfied with the results. So far I have gotten 34 mpg in combined city and highway driving.

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  Pros and cons of the Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By mark - June 20 - 9:40 pm

  Not too many cons here....I love my Prius. I bought it in DEC 03 and now have 48K miles. MPG --I get 52-53 mpg average. Using no AC and under 68mph on mostly highway, I get 55mph avg. With AC on it avgs 52. WARNING -- for every mph over 65 you start to drop mileage. Over 70 will earn 50mpg or lower. Also, worse mileage with cruise-- burning a couple MPH uphill and then letting it pickup downhill beats the cruise average. Gas mileage drops when its below freezing- 48mpg avg. If I lived in upstate NY or the northern US, the Prius is not a good idea. Bottom line -- this is a great car!! Id buy another. Battery life over the long term is a concern but ill risk it with Toyota.

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  older and wiser - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Les - June 20 - 3:23 pm

  As an older couple, we were not interested in off-road rock-climbing. We just wanted a roomy, reliable, comfortable SUV for travel, that was not so big that it would cause trouble with parking or maneuverability. The Highlander is perfect for those needs. It is easy to get in & out (no high steps, wide door openings, etc.)and has a plush comfortable ride. This is definitely not a truck-based vehicle. Instead, it has the soft, quiet feel of a luxury car. The Toyota reliability is obvious; it never fails to start or perform perfectly. There are none of the annoying myriad of parts breaking down that have plagued so many other cars we have owned.

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  Best in Class - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By kevin - June 20 - 10:13 am

  We have owned this SUV for a little less than a year and it is our first Toyota. We are really impressed with Toyota quality. The interior is not quite as plush and "fancy" as some, but I think it dominates in every other category. We bought this vehicle certified used with a bumper to bumper 7 year 100,000 mile warranty. I doubt we will need it though.

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  Just had it less than a month - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By HybridBuyer - June 20 - 4:40 am

  We replaced a 4Runner with this car. We really like the third row of seats. The car is extremely solid and a pleasure to drive. The seats are very comfortable. It is overall a very well-designed vehicle.

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  My New Old Car - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By ds05121956 - June 19 - 4:56 pm

  As a single, middle aged female, I admit to having taken above average care of this car. But after eight years and 86,000 miles, Ive not been out a penny on it other than routine maint. I still get regular compliments on it and when I say its 8 years old, people say, "I thought it was brand new." Planning to keep it, I just had some surface blemishes repaired and am more thrilled than if it really were brand new, since I dont have a $500/mo. Payment to deal with and its a pleasure to drive still-not fun, but pleasant. Ill have my fun with those $500 on something else.

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  Cadillac to Toyota--Was I nuts? - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By The Godfather - June 19 - 2:36 pm

  This is my first Toyota. I gave considerable thought in the purchase of this vehicle after 20 years as a Cadillac owner. So far my Avalon Limited is 100% perfect. If it meets it reputation as a solid, dependable and fun car it wont be my last, I hope. My wife especially likes the Smart Key and not having to look for the key in her purse. I believe she would rather drive this Toyota than her Corvette-- and that is saying a LOT! The GPS takes a lot of practice and study, but once you figure it out it is very good. It must have been designed by some foreigner. Its the little things that impress me the most like puddle lamps, reclining rear seats & heated and cooled seat

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  Good car with a few flaws - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By stego1 - June 19 - 7:23 am

  We bought this car to be able to take our dogs along with us as they love to go for rides. We also use it for daily transportation to work. The gas mileage has been great averaging between 28 to 29 MPG on winter-blend gas. (I expect the mileage to go up with summer-blend). We drive mostly city and 2 lane highways on our 32 mile round-trip to work. The ride is rough and we can feel every road imperfection and there is excessive tire noise. But, the car drives well with good power and smooth shifts and we are enjoying owning it. Would recommend this car but keep in mind its shortcomings. Even with these imperfections, it is a better car than the others we looked at: Ford Escape, Honda CRV, Kia

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  The Car is Fun! - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By keepinon - June 19 - 6:13 am

  Have driven my 05 Matrix xr for 3 months, and about 3300 miles. I really enjoy it. The wife and I golf quite a bit in the warmer weather. The car converts to a golf club hauler very quickly and easily. It handles very nimbly. On a recent 600 mile trip of some city, mostly highway driving, with quite a load of luggage and clubs, we got 33 mpg. Front seats are very comfortable for two average sized adults. Loading, unloading is easy with access through five doors + glass hatch door. Parking lots are quite easy to handle. The spaces seem to have grown! I will be curious about winter handling.

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  Love it! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Tennessee Girl - June 19 - 2:26 am

  I went from a Ford Expedition to my Camry because I couldnt afford the gas in the Ford anymore. (My gas mileage is wonderful, consistently around 33 mpg.) I have owned the car for 5 months and have only one complaint, the radio doesnt pick up most stations very well. Other than that I love my Camry! I definitely would recommend this car.