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 Smart Decision - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By Nick - November 22 - 7:50 am

  I just purchased the 08 Corolla; traded in an 07 Mustang GT. I couldnt be happier with this decision. The Corolla is peppy, smooth, and handles well. Plenty of horsepower for commuting to and from work in a combination of city/highway driving. When you shut the doors, it sounds as solid as my wifes Volvo. No chance to check on fuel economy, so my rating there is based upon what Ive read; I hope to get in the mid to high 30s, however. The halogen headlights are very bright. The four speaker, base stereo sounds fine. I love the simplicity of the design. This car just makes good sense. The more gas prices rise, the more money I save.

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  Not for everyone - 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By MABNY - November 21 - 11:53 pm

  Lets be realistic for a moment; this is a vehicle designed with a specific type of person in mind. This person will probably fold the back seats down and never unfold them again (or just remove them completely). The FJ Cruiser is a sport utility vehicle, as SUVs were intended to be, designed to access a favorite fishing hole, cart a deer carcass home for dressing, or carry a roof-top-tent to the top of a mountain. It is not the over-grown station wagon that the modern SUV has come to be. The FJ Cruiser has a cult following of outdoor enthusiasts, eccentrics and adventurers whos definition of practicality doesnt involve DVD players, electric folding third rows, and "a car-like ride".

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  Excellent - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Kathy - November 21 - 8:20 pm

  My Camry SE is fantastic. No problems what so ever. People notice this car and it is a pleasure to drive. Great gas mileage and comfortable on long trips. This is my 5th Toyota and I am pleased.

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  A Blast - 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Hawk - November 21 - 5:00 pm

  This SUV is a blast to drive with an ample amount of power, great handling that is almost sports car like and pretty good gas mileage in the 2010. The dreaded "blind spot" is virtually nonexistent with the mirrors. I have more fun driving this vehicle than any vehicle that I have ever owned.

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  Reliable, but very boring - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Henry - November 21 - 12:10 pm

  My parents bought my Camry new in 1995 and I recently inherited it. It now has 180,000 miles and is showing few signs of its age. Although it has certainly been a reliable car, the Camrys performance is barely adequate. The lack of power becomes a big issue when merging onto highways at high speeds. The car accelerates very slowly and theres lots of body roll on turns unless you take them very slowly. This might be acceptable for the average driver, but if you prefer an engaging driving experience, the Camry is not for you. Ill be selling mine soon.

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  Love my Truck! - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By ABerge - November 21 - 6:10 am

  I bought this vehicle a few months ago. Although it had high mileage, I have had few problems with her. She is reliable and dependable! I have a job that takes me out dirt roads, long interstate commutes, and she buzzes along like its nothing. Very tough, and very cute!

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  Love my RAV4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Caligirl - November 21 - 3:06 am

  Bought my car 2 weeks ago and I couldnt be more happy. It is fun to drive, has great visability, smooth, smooth brakes, unbelievable pickup with the V-6, and great looks too! I also test drove the Honda CR-V and while it has nice looks this year it doesnt offer a V-6 or bluetooth which I have found to be a must buy if you can afford them. I look forward to many fun years of driving this great car.

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  Better than I expected - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Brad - November 20 - 5:06 pm

  I decided to go "green," but was not all that excited about the Prius. But Ive been more than pleasantly surprised. The leather seating is a nice touch and the interior is very spacious and comfortable. The electronic controls (radio, climate, etc.) are outstanding, much better than those offered by the German automakers. And performance-wise, the car has some kick. No, its not a BMW but its not slow and I really enjoy driving it. The only negative I can think of is that the car is so light that when its very windy and youre on the highway, you can really feel it.

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  Got just what we wanted - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Robert Greenstreet - November 20 - 9:41 am

  We wanted the Toyota Safety Sense features, but not the moonroof--so we didnt want to buy the technology package. We also wanted a spare tire rather than a repair kit. The Prius Three Touring gave us just what we were looking for, and we are thoroughly enjoying those safety features. It is a Toyota, so everything works as promised, and we get two years of free maintenance. The biggest problem with this car is that we want to take it everywhere--so were racking up the miles. The claimed mileage range is not correct--so far were averaging close to 60 mpg (rather than the 52 combined EPA figure.) Of course, we accelerate slowly and use the available feedback to stay in the ECO zone....

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  toy car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Jan - November 20 - 5:06 am

  I have several smaller quality issues with this car. Door not sealing correctly/wind noise/radio-control knobs sticking/carpeting not secured in place/truck not staying closed/consol compartment not staying closed/etc. With the reputation of Toyota, I am disappointed.