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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  nice little car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By bigdave - July 13 - 4:50 am

  had this car about a 1.5yr. low milage for time. great gas milage !! no problems. nice solid feel. quiet. nice detailed interior and design. sharp looking exterior with nice ground effects. really not that quick. expected that with auto and small 1.8. developing a small rattle sound from back right rear door area at times. yeah and i still cannot get comfortable in drivers seat. this was noted in a major consumers mag. other than this and the rattle, excellent car.

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  PAINT CHIPS AND RUST AFTER 4 MONTHS - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By tanya1130 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought my corolla in Nov 2002 and after 4 months i have noticed about a hundred paint chips all over my hood and along the sides of my car... This is my second toyota to date and i have never in my life seen such a disaster.. The dealer says it is normal wear and tear... Is anyone else having this problem??? Oh ya, and now i am noticing rusting spots... Tanya -MA

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  Disappointed with Camry L MPG - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By tlaloc100 - July 12 - 1:13 am

  I bought my new Camry L 2014 a month ago. I was going to get a Corolla, but the dealer had a 20% discount on all Camrys for that weekend, and I decided to go for it. I would be VERY happy with my new car except for its very poor MGP fuel performance. Driving with the ECO on all the time, I am hardly getting 20.5 miles per gallon in city! How can this be? How can Toyota get away underrepresenting Camry MPG for almost 20%? I have read other owner comments on this issue at this site and I am shocked to learn that some Camrys are making 26 mpg in city. Is my car an anomaly? Is there anything I can claim to my dealer about this? What can I do? Suggestions welcome.

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  ridin squeaky - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By matt pohle - July 11 - 7:40 am

  Have had for 3500 miles now. Super smooth ride for off-road suspension, great looks, comfortable interior, ample get up & go V-8. Poor MPG for small 4.7 liter V-8 (avg. 13-14 mpg). Recurring problem w/ VERY noisy serpentine belt. Have had back at dealer 2 times now in less than a month, have 3rd appt. scheduled for same problem. Dealer says its either faulty belt or belt tensioner (both have been replaced). Either way, didnt expect to have such a problem w/ a "reliable" Toyota that cost me over $30k.

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  Mr. Toyota Man - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By Craig Snyder - July 10 - 5:30 am

  Bought this car brand new. Now after 40,000 miles it still looks new and drives great. So far only regular maintenance. Love the xm radio and bluetooth. The original goodyear tires were crap and replaced them with a set of Toyo tires at 13,000 miles. This car looks sporty with the S package and in Barcelona red. Its not a sporty driver though, but does great on gas. I average 32 mpg in mixed driving.32

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  AWD Matrix aka "Snowball" - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Tom - July 8 - 10:56 pm

  We bought this car for my wife to use, since it was Super White, my daughter called it "Snowball". Its been fun to own and we realy like how functional it is. It parks and has the fuel economoy of a small sedan, (we get about 31 mpg on the highway a little less in the city), the capacity of a wagon and the AWD of a SUV. While the engine could use additional hp, I am willing to accept it for better fuel economy. While I wasnt too happy with the looks of the car, it does grow on you. After all, its kinda hard to go wrong with a Toyota!

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  OK Car - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By AlC - July 8 - 6:36 am

  This SUV is just OK. It really gets about 22 mpg. Its nothing special and really overpriced. I may be a bit prejudiced because I also have a 2004 Prius and was expecting much better gas mileage.

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  Start with the Backseat - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By leebabysimms - July 5 - 5:50 pm

  At 41.4 inches, the Toyota Corolla has more backseat legroom than almost any vehicle on the road — not compared to just compact cars, but even large luxury cars, mini-vans, and SUVs. Sit in the backseat of the Corolla, then sit in the backseat of any other car in its price range. If youre a tall person — or ever intent to transport tall people — other backseats feel like a penalty box. We first discovered the 11th generation Corolla sitting in the backseat, as we were passengers in an Uber taxi. In a moment, an auto mark I ignore (Corolla) climbed to the top of my list. The handsome looks, historic reliability, insane value, and 38+ MPG on the highway are all bonus. So happy.

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  2006 Convert. - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Barry - July 5 - 4:36 am

  This is my 3rd convertible in 8 years and without a doubt the best. I went from a Chrysler Sebring to a SAAB 9-7. More room inside, better looking on the outside. Very quiet with top up, you forget that you are driving a convertible.

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  Best car for my money - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Corolla00 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Had a 2000 Toyota Corolla 5 speed. I dont drive it any more as I got onto a 3-series BIMR. I like the 5 speed transmission. Can do burnouts easily though the front wheel dr. is little annoying. Not fancy, but reliable. I wouldnt had gone for a Corolla if it was not a 5-speed. Poor handling. Be careful when you drive it in corners. Not really safe.