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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  My Favorite New Car - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Mikiejon - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Great suv/car. lots of room between back and front seat. The Highlander looks good especially in the Limited model. Gets up to speed on the freeways very quickly. Love the automatic climate control..just set the temp and forget about it!Lots of storage space all over the Highlander. Its just a great family ride!

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  the best choice you can make - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By loyal - December 22 - 10:00 am

  I was very careful in making this purchase and thank god edmunds was there to help. I owned a ford (fixed or repaired daily) 00 focus before this and it is a motorcycle compared to this car. The dealer was fair in the price and what can i say, when you shut the door, its a quiet, comfortable ride with a zoom zoom that beat out the noisy mazdas i test drove. And on top of that it also beats the small honda civic by far for its class. Buy it, the money is well worth it and the car will give you the peace of mind your looking for. Well built, nice body style with the ground effects and fog lights, and you get what you pay for.

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  Its Toyota - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By ertuzi - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Very nice van with a lot of features. But a Toyota is always Toyota. It feel a bit numb and its not very car like.

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  Not impressed anymore - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By K. Baker - December 22 - 7:23 am

  Dont like the car at all anymore. Hate the braking system. Funky surge after applying brakes, making you feel like you didnt apply them enough. Locked them up twice because of this. Problems with gears not shifting correctly. Dealer said it was a computer problem and they fixed it - NOT. Still having problems. Press the gas, RPMs go way up, hesitates shifting to the next gear, finally jerks into gear. Headrests are too far forward. Seat belt shoulder harness not low enough (even on lowest setting); cuts across my neck. Console lights dim at night, bright in the day. Passenger side carpet loose. Will be my first and last Toyota.

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  Great Van - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Ed - December 22 - 1:13 am

  This is the fourth mini van I have had.It is the best. My previous van was a 2005 Dodge. I got rid of it after 7000 miles. The toyota is great. My wife complains about the passenger seat comfort on long trips. The drivers seat is good.The fit and finish is excellent.

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  Best mpg EVER!!!!! - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Ken - December 21 - 3:50 pm

  Went with the Eco to get the extra mile or two. So far I have 4k miles and have just finished a 250mi road trip avg 62mpg.... mostly highway. I commute 100mi a day and usually get around 55-56 doing 70-75. Anything over that kills the mpg. From 45 to 60 is the sweet spot. Im starting to like construction zones on the highways due to the slow down;). Still has enough get up on the highway if you need to move. insurance is crazy cheap. my 08 Hummer cost an extra $100 every 6months.

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  Avalon 06 Limited in Blizzard White - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By mls4deals - December 21 - 3:50 pm

  This vehicle is the ONLY way to travel. It has been hard to get but worth the wait. This is the best vehicle I have ever driven in any class or price arena. It offers the most for the least and is very unique creating much attention wherever I go. Love the power, style, comfort and economy. Do NOT HESTATE. :)

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  End of Domestic Trucks - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By John - December 21 - 10:26 am

  The new Tundra I just purchased has every option available. It beats the GM and Ford products hands down in every area accept towing capacity. After 30 years of GM and Fords I have had to change. This is just a better vehicle.

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  Awesome Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Maria Kenez - December 21 - 5:26 am

  This is my second Prius, first was a 2002, also awesome. I was told that highway mi/gal will be lower, but I find that not to be true. I can get as good as 50 mi/gal on long interstate trips. In the city I get somewhat less. There are also some driving habits you can pick up to increase performance. You get ques from the "energy" display. Very clever engineering.

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  Forget fuel economy, think fun driving! - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By LAHYBRID - December 21 - 12:33 am

  OK, the number crunchers figured out you couldnt save the planet and money, so the fuel economy wont justify the purchase price; but what if you factor in the fun of having that extra horsepower and sedan-like fuel usage, man what a rush. When you gun the car, passengers yell in glee as the performance is really breathtaking. The controls are expertly placed, the cruise controls, rear seat/storage space, the sound system etc. all make the added cost worth every penny. Even if there were a glut of gas and prices plummeted, the ride would sill be comfortable, luxurious and fun! And dont we deserve, nay demand fun in these times.