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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  Double Pleasure - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Carol - October 17 - 4:30 am

  At 54 yrs of age and the owner of many cars this hybrid car is the best car I EVER owned. It is fun to drive, excellent gas mileage plenty of power and I definitely am doing my part for the environment. Over the past few years it has improved on the looks too. It is truly amazing how much power this little car has. The display on the dash shows in detail how the energy/gas consumption is being used. Its almost a year I owned this car with no problems. The only time it was at the dealership was for an oil change. To fill the tank it cost me about $24. It can get 61 mpg on the highway and 53 mpg in the city. When youre at a stop light or in slower traffic that is when the electric motor runs!

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  Almost Perfect Handling - 2005 Toyota Celica
  By tt7ven - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Best thing about my Celica is the Handling. I owned a 2003 Celica Manual and because of the morning drive to school I traded my car for a 2004 Celica Automatic GT! Acceleration is good but only with 2 people in the car. Breaking is also good, even at hight speeds. Driving it around town, in and out of bumps, is not what this car is made for. When you get it up to the speed, the handling will shock you. It can quickly switch lanes while going through a long turn at 75MPH. It sticks to the ground as you gain speed and take exits and ramps without unwanted noises from the tires.

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  Toyota Tacoma 4wd, V-6 - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jefft - October 16 - 10:00 am

  The truck seems highly reliable. I miss some of the creature comforts that my wifes Bonneville SSEI has. But overall, a very solid, dependable truck.

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  A surprise - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By sandrag - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I was reluctant to give up my 6 yr. old Honda Accord 4 cyl which I loved. Im surprised how much I enjoy driving this, sitting up high. I am getting surprisingly good gas mileage (22- 24comb.) I think my husband likes it better than me. It has tremendous power and quick handling. I dont know how much the Lexus costs, but Im pretty sure it was more than a few thousand more. And insurance was cheaper than a new Honda would have been. Good choice!

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  Thorough review after 6 months - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By 4bras - October 15 - 5:55 pm

  Overall a very good SUV. Its a Toyota, so their quality is good. I found the transmission very responsive depending on the mode you select. Its 6 cylinder will of course shift gears more often than say a 4 cylinder. But we also enjoy 27-29 mpg in mixed city/hwy driving.

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  Do Your Research! - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By 08CamryXLE - October 15 - 5:16 pm

  After 1 month and 1,000 miles I would have reservations about recommending this car. It looks great, and is overall fun to drive. The navigation, sound, and bluetooth operations make the car easy to drive. The interior is roomy and looks great. When merging into traffic on the second day of owning the car, I almost totalled the vehicle as there was NO response from the engine after pressing the accelerator. This happens constantly. Check nhtsa.gov for current reports. The dealer doublespeaks the issue. I also had defects in the paint that resulted in a repainted bumper. A taillight also didnt fit and required body shop work to fix.

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  March 2009 Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By weasel - October 14 - 9:26 am

  Bought the car in March, it has been well worth it. The car looks great, is roomy and comfortable and very responsive in traffic. Traded in a 1998 Camry and the new styling and design is definitely an upgrade at a very reasonable price. Took it on a 6 hour drive to Blacksburg VA, the wife enjoyed the driving and wasnt intimidated by the size of the vehicle.

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  Corolla Sport 2009 - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Corolla Sport - October 13 - 10:13 am

  I had the car for 20 months, it is very reliable but build quality is on the poor side, had to go back to the dealer for windshield clippings/noise work. Few rattles here and there but other than that, the car is fine.

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  Great car for the money. - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By WRXwanter2 - October 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used from a Ford Dealer and it has given me no problems as of yet. The build quality and reliability are amazing, Being young I have rode in many other smaller cars and this car just feels like it has been put together well. The 1.8L VVT- i engine is on par with its competetors. It has far more torque than a civic, and the power comes on down low. Lets not be mistaken this car is no rocket, but if driven right its no slouch. I have the 4 speed auto and it shifts smoothly. To sum up this car in one word it would be smooth. I recomend this car to anyone who needs a good reliable car at an extremely afordable price.

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  Everyday driver and fun when you want. - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Alexander - October 12 - 9:56 pm

  Its a Camry with balls. Push the button that disengages the TCS, and drive (safely), feel the oversteer. I absolutely love the fact that at 70 MPH, up a steep grade of 7%, I can put the pedal to the floor, drop to a lower gear, and accelerate to 80, and pass safely. This car is most certainly "quick" when you need it to be. It feels like it predicts what you need in the moment and responds appropriately. The fun part is, this car is also "fast". I have gone from a dead stop to the floor in this car multiple times, and every single one was different (which is why I wish it had a sport mode, and possible launch mode in sport {hint hint, Toyota!}). This car actively adapts to recent driving patterns, which I think is amazing. This is my daily driver. Tech is there, fuel economy is there, space is there. I know I should drive a Mazda for my driving experience, but there is no comparable model made by Mazda that satisfies all of my needs at the same time like this vehicle. I intend to own it for a very long time. (P.S. Toyota, when you allow this car to function in a "Sport Mode", tone back the power steering, and let the driver feel the road a little bit more :)!