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 Car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By dutch4505 - December 14 - 9:43 pm

  Have had the car for 2 weeks. So far it has been good. Also own a Pontiac Vibe which is the same power train. Great gas mileage. Quiet inside. Steering is very touchy. No rubbernecking while driving, or you will find yourself in an other lane or riding on the sidewalk. Constant correction is needed to stay in your lane.

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  Excellent car - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By hbedmunds - December 14 - 8:21 pm

  I was surprised at some of the reviews indicating care was uncomfortable etc. I have never written a car review before, but the 2010 Pirus is such an excellent car, that it deserves a review. I now have 29,000 miles. I track the mileage on most fill-ups, and my average is 48.7mpg over more than 27,000 miles check. Mileage is best in rush hour traffic, worst for short trips of 3 miles or less and when driveing higher than 65 mph. I find the car fun to drive around town and VERY comfortable on long trips, much more so for my back than previous 1990 Maxima and 2001 Avalon. We originally assumed that we would only use it in town, but now use it as exclusive choice for long trips. No issues

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  Could have been great... - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By heymark - December 14 - 5:25 pm

  It’s a good looking car with great trunk space thats wider than many SUVs. The 6 cylinder has great acceleration and is fairly nimble when driving around town. Unfortunately, Toyota cut too many costs with this car. The plastic dash and faux wood inserts look cheap and the leather looks like shiny vinyl. The cabin is very loud at high speeds and the low profile of the 20 inch tires lets you feel every bump. Despite 13 JBL speakers, the sound is average. Nav and backup camera work fine, but the screen resolution is very low. At 30k miles, the steering column had to be replaced and at 36k miles, trans is starting to wine.

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  Some Issues - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By sandi - December 14 - 4:10 pm

  I bought the Yaris mainly for reliability and gas mileage and so far the vehicle has been good for this. BUT there are some issues that I wish I had known about before purchase. They are significant enough that I may have chosen another vehicle. 1. You cannot drive with the windows open because of a strange sound effect that hurts your ears. 2. The sounds system is TERRIBLE. 3.Cup holders in TERRIBLE places. 4. Air smells like dirty feet when you turn it on. On last oil change they found NO cabin air filter. 5. Just plain too small. My teens cannot sit in the back seat so we have to take TWO cars on trips. There goes mileage savings.

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  First time Tacoma Owner - Love it - 2017 Toyota Tacoma
  By Maypearl - December 14 - 9:58 am

  I love this truck. Gas mileage is OK, but its a truck so I didnt expect to get super mileage. My only complaint it there is not trim package that has a power seat or a manual way to raise and lower it. After 4000 miles, Im used to it. I considered a Ford and Chevrolet that are bigger, but went with the Tacoma because of the styling, resale value, and I dont need a full size. If you are very tall, this might not be the truck for you. Or any mid-sized truck.

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  SUV Heaven - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Cindy - December 14 - 5:16 am

  Ive wanted an SUV for a few years, but I didnt know if I could handle an SUV, being only a little over five feet tall and driving only small cars. The Toyota Rav4 is the one I settled on once it was time for the big purchase. Driving a Rav4 is like driving on a cloud. It handles smoothly, maneuvers effortlessly and is a joy to drive. I would recommend the RAV4 to anyone contemplating that first time SUV purchase.

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  Im not keeping it... - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By Termitesforhire - December 14 - 4:00 am

  About a month ago I started shopping for a more comfortable car for my 36 mile commute to work. In an ironic twist of fate, I wound up with a 2012 Camry SE. The car rides well and handles alright for such a large sedan, but the front seat is a deal breaker. Six hundred miles in and I know for sure Im not keeping it. Ive sporadically driven it the past two weeks and its killed my back. I looked long and hard for a comfortable car and got stuck with this. Ive already spoken to my dealer, who is more than willing to try to get me into something comfortable. If that doesnt work, I will be switching back to my old car, which has fortunately not sold yet. If you are at all a tall person, examine this car carefully to make sure that you can get comfortable in it. Im 6 (not freakishly tall) and apparently the Camry is horrible on taller drivers. Google it. Its a shame because its an otherwise great car. After having this purchase go so poorly Im afraid to buy any car now.

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  Really like this truck - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Ronald Wilfong - December 14 - 12:40 am

  This is my 4th Toyota truck and 2nd 4WD. I traded a 1993 SR5 manual trans in for the 2008 Tacoma with 5 speed auto transmission, due to knee surgery. I had a frontend alignment problem that was finally corrected by the dealership after I complained to Toyota, but they did fix it, under warranty. I have had to haul several loads so far and love the design of the composite bed and the fact I dont need a bed liner. I got the radiant red which is very sharp, the overall truck design is superior to anything else I have seen or checked out. The interior is very roomy and comfortable. I bought new off road floor mats and vent visors and put a bug shield on too. Plan to keep it along time.

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  Should have got the Fusion - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Me - December 13 - 3:46 pm

  Regret buying the car. Wish I would have gone with the car I really liked, the Ford fusion, because the Camry is not as good as they are made out to be. Not a cool car at all and not really reliable.

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  Efficient yet sporty - 2005 Toyota Echo
  By Jeremy - December 13 - 11:26 am

  The Toyota Echo is the value for your dollar car next to the Honda Civic. If you are looking to give your new high school graduate a new car, A Honda Civic or Toyota Echo is the car. Although 2005 is the last production year for the Echo, look in 2007 for the Toyota Yaris to be the next best thing. Japanese producted Yaris is the exact same frame and structure as the Echo, but you now have a 3rd or 5th door (hatchback).