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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  New Avalon is Outstanding! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Karen - May 1 - 10:46 am

  The new Avalon is outstanding! Its our 2nd in a row, third Toyota & its over the top! It rides like butter on a hot roll. The new look is so elegant, new safety feature in brakes just adds to it being a car we have always felt extremely safe in. It is roomier inside, back seats recline, the dash is all push button, hidden controls & the new colors are beautiful with the leather seats. It has awesome acceleration & smoothest ride. Our last Avalon of 6 yrs was still like brand new, other than basic maintenance, oil changes, new battery & tires, we never had it in the shop. Toyotas are outstanding cars, & get great gas milage. Well always have an Avalon, we come from an all Toyota family.

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  Incredible beautiful quality technical car - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By stealth64b - May 1 - 4:24 am

  We have the 2012 Toyota Camry XLE with everything package. We also have the 2012 Lexus H200 with everything package. The Camry handles very well, and is so quiet running that we do not use the stereo above level 5. They carpeted the roof, walls, floor of the trunk, carpeted the wheel wells to reduce noise, recessed the wind shield to reduce air noise, and even with out the stereo on, it is a pure pleasure to drive. The Camry handles easily, parks very easily, turns very nicely. It feels SOLID when you drive it, ROOMY with large trunk, wide seats, and extended wheel base. We are up to 44 MPG now and still going up. The detail and workmanship make this car a MUST BUY if you are comparing.

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  Great Car - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Larry - April 30 - 9:20 pm

  Ive had my Avalon Limited for two weeks and so far it’s the best car I’ve ever had. Comfort, amenities and enough power to handle freeway driving. I like the overall look especially the cabin. It came with DVD NAV, VSC and Laser Link Cruise Control. I was pleasantly surprised at the way it handled on moutain roads. I guess the VSC paid off. I am still learning the NAV system and the Laser Link Cruise takes some getting used to, especially if someone cuts you off. A satellite radio was installed. The dealer used a third party to install it. The antenna is on the vehicle centerline half an inch above the rear window. Looks a lot better than it would have on the trunk lid.

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  Nice family van! - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Mark - April 30 - 7:36 pm

  I drove the Toyota Sienna everywhere! Its a wonderful minivan for errands, trips, hauling people and passengers. The seats are extremely comfortable. I really like the quad to bench seat style, I think thats pretty cool but you have to unhook the seat and haul it over to the next jack. Honda and Mazda make it easier, you just slide them back and forth. The power stowing 60/40 split bench is awesome and helpful. The power sliding doors open pretty fast. Also the power liftgate is pretty cool and helpful. The van is great for everyday needs. It climbs up hills pretty well. There is a lot of little storage areas but theyre pretty small. I also like the built in pull up window shades.

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  Excellent buy - 2007 Toyota Matrix
  By sealey757 - April 30 - 6:53 pm

  Ive owned my Matrix for about 13 months now. I have to say that I’m constantly reminded of how good of a decision it was to buy this car! I traded down from a 4runner, and I have to say that I dont miss the cargo space. The cargo space provided in this matrix is unreal. The driving performance is good, the interior is good, and the fuel economy is good. Lets be honest if youre looking at this car it’s to be economical, and you cant expect top of the line performance for the price. But for versatility, there arent many out there that cant beat this. I definitely recommend this for anyone trading down from a SUV. Handling is firm and responsive, and fun to drive.

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  Big improvement over older Prius - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By prius_driver - April 30 - 5:43 am

  Bought this car in July 2009 and then drove it on a 2,040 mile round trip with three people and two dogs, plus luggage. Got 51 mpg westbound, and 54.2 mpg for the 1,020 mile eastbound journey. Much better than the 2004 Prius which got 46 mpg for the same trip. 2010 is much better in the snow, Bridgestone Ecopia tires handle the wet roads and some snow where the 2004 had the Goodyear Integrity which is only good for dry pavement. Current mileage is 57 mpg in mixed highway and 30 to 40 mph driving. I would like to see the drivers information display centered where the driver sits and of course be sure to turn off the annoying back up beeper- dealer can do this in 10 minutes.

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  Practical, comfortable, and capable - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Bill - April 30 - 3:50 am

  Traded in a 2003 Highlander for the 2008 Sport. We have only been driving it for two weeks and we love it. It is a great car for the price, practical, quiet, looks great in and out. Nice upgrades compared to the 2003 for few dollars more. Accessibilty is great w/ large doors, rear window can be lifed. The ergonomic is great, buttons and controls are w/n easy reach where they should be. I highly recommend it for young families in need of a practical yet comfortable SUV. The rear is spacious for cargos w/ 2nd and 3rd row folded.

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  Awesome little car! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Jen - April 29 - 3:20 pm

  I bought this car when ending my senior year in high school. I was looking to get a fuel-friendly affordable car and I got just that! I recently brought the car to NH and I was averaging 45 mpg on the highway. The car is big enough inside where I dont feel cramped and it is usually the car my friends and I take to the beach because its great on gas and the trunk is huge. (My cousin and I can both fit in the trunk together!) The car can definitely hold its own on the highway and definitely makes for a comfortable ride. I would highly recommend this car! I love my Betty Boop =)

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  Excellent value for money and dependable - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Venkatesh Sridharan - April 29 - 6:10 am

  After a quite a bit of research and test driving five vehicles in this class, I choose to buy the fully loaded four cylinder RAV4 Ltd. After driving almost two years and 28,000 miles, I am glad that I bought this vehicle. RAV4 is smooth driving, very responsive, fuel efficient (28 mpg) and almost comfortable. Four cylinder engine is sufficient for highway driving and it feels powerful enough to pass other vehicles. I miss V6 only in cities at stop signal. I4 is bit sluggish in initial pickup. Exterior design is stylish and trendy. But, interior feels cheap. There is no hand-rest and seats are not comfortable for long distance drive. Road noise is annoying while driving on bridges.

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  New RAV-4 - Good Investment - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By mike butche - April 28 - 4:47 pm

  Love the car; ride and transmission are very smooth. Great appearance, nice styling lines. Everything works! Looking forward to many years of driving pleasure. One complaint: The front seat belts are almost impossible to connect. They are so far back into the seat, they have proved to be out of reach. Ive had a RAV-4 in the past, know the comfort belt extenders can provide, need to get some next trip to dealer locale. One concern: The car is endowed with many intimidating electronic options. It will take some time to learn how to use and live easily with them all.