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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  Just a great truck - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Richard - March 26 - 2:03 am

  I was happy with my 2002 Tundra, but it was an access cab and I needed the D-cap easier access. The 2004 I have is a TRD and the handling difference between that and my 2002 SR5 is remarkably better. Cabin ride is very quiet and comfort is quite nice on long trips. The only problem I had was a bad battery which the dealer quickly replaced free. Had the same problem twice with my 2002. Im nearing 50K and have had perfect service and dependibility. Until 1988, I never drove a Toyota. Since then, its nothing but Toyotas for our family. Cant wait for the 2007! Hope its not too big!

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  Great Value - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Mrstacy - March 26 - 12:26 am

  Features like Keyless Go, Bluetooth (Stereo and Hands-Free Cellular), Automatic Tailgate, Remote Folding Seat Lever, 20 in wheels, and rear-view camera make this a great value. The ride is nice and sedan-like. The wide stance makes it very stable. The stated fuel economy puts it among the best in its class. The fit and finish is like a Lexus. Weve owned BMW, Landrover and this meets or exceeds them both. The legroom could be better in the back, but it is OK. You could spend 60k for all of this and not get as refined a package. The resale should be OK too. This is our first Toyota, so we will see about that.

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  Workhorse after 4 years - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Mr. Tae - March 25 - 6:36 am

  I needed a car to haul ~ 1000 lbs of equipment daily and the Matrix doesnt disappoint. Mileage ave 33 +/- 5 mpg, troublefree at 4 years old. Interiors are Ikea appearance and quality, soft plastic easily damaged otherwise looks durable. Chrome trim is paint on plastic. Gauges hard to see in bright sunlight. Perfect student, starter, delivery, taxi fleet car. Nimble, easy to drive. Blind spots on rear fixable via adjusting side mirrors. Comfortable enough for 1000 mi one way drives. Adequately powered, can be floored to leap from entrance ramps, shut aircon for best torque. Poor traction from stock tires on bad roads.

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  Love My Avalon - 2009 Toyota Avalon
  By ceejay921 - March 25 - 3:46 am

  I purchased an Avalon XL last year as a Christmas gift for me but unfortunately totaled it in an accident. My husband and I were so impressed with how well the inside cabin kept us safe, that we had to buy another one. I purchased the Limited model last month and I am loving this car and all of the perks that come along with it! This model rides even smoother than my first one and can fit the entire family with ease. I recommend the Avalon to anyone looking for a comfortable ride at a great price.

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  Almost awesome - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Richard Moller - March 24 - 11:55 pm

  Japanese car makers understand that a person will drive their car, and they usually engineer their cars to make all controls easily accessible. Sit in an American car, and you have to reach for often used controls--like radio knobs. (I recently rented an American car and I had to stop the car to find the headlight switch--it was hidden by the steering wheel and could not be seen while driving!) The 2016 Camry I just purchased is mostly driver friendly, but I am not happy to report that I must reach for the radio tuning button. (There may be a seek button on the graphics display which I will eventually find, but I prefer to use the manual knob and keep my eyes on the road when I am on a long trip and need to find for a new station when the previous station begins to fade out of range.) I am also disappointed that the 2016 models all have black as their primary interior color. I live in Houston, where black is a terrible car interior color during most of the year. (Mine has a partial ash-grey interior color, and I must say--is a GREAT two-tone look. But I really wish they offered a tan interior, with comparable exterior color, as a color option.) One last note, and this may apply to all new cars, since they use computers to regulate gas combustion: it can take quite a while before you see true MPG readings after purchasing a new car. It takes a combination of city and highway driving before the computer has enough info to regulate the engine properly. In my case, it was about at the 450-mile mark, almost one month after I bought the car. Before that, I was seeing 18-19 MPG highway or city. I am now approaching 24 MPG and expect it to get a little better the more I drive the car. So far, I am very happy with my purchase. But between the lack of color choices and having to reach for controls, I am worried that Toyota is getting sloppy with their car design.

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  Very Happy - 2004 Toyota Tundra
  By Fatcat300 - March 24 - 11:03 pm

  I am very happy with my 04 tundra. It has great reliability, fun to drive. I was disappointed with the horsepower on the 04s but it still gets up and goes. I was happy to see that they ramped up the HP on the 05s. I am extremely happy with the redesigned cargo space in the bed and that is has a deeper design. I also enjoy the back window that rolls all the way down. All in all I have no complaints about this truck and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a well built, reliable, and economical truck.

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  Former Lexus Driver - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By jblakely - March 24 - 10:26 am

  I own a 2005 and 2006 Prius. The Prius has excellent interior room. Both of my Prius cars get between 40-45 MPG in a combination of city and freeway driving. The car has good acceleration, and acceptable interior noise. Its fun to drive and quite comfortable to operate.

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  Great Truck - 1998 Toyota T100
  By dt - March 24 - 9:53 am

  Ive owned this truck going on 4 years now and it has been reliable and is a smooth ride. I have towed a 17 bass boat and also loaded a 10 row boat in the bed. It drives well and actually seems to drive better with a load in the bed. I have 105000 miles on it and was thinking of trading up, but Im not sure if I would get a better truck even if it were a newer model. Its 12 years old and I have owned it for 4 years and only had to replace the front brake pads and a muffler and have a bolt re-threaded on the oxygen sensor. the muffler and brakes were both done in the past year. So basically 3 years with only oil changes on a 12 yr old truck.

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  Well built - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By chris - March 23 - 10:43 pm

  Compared with Nissan Armada and Honda Pilot. Bought Sequoia to replace our aging minivan. Love the car; well designed and built. Reliable and durable....cant wait for a long trip.

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  Excellent SUV for non-off-roaders - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Aka - March 23 - 10:33 pm

  Very smooth, quiet, comfortable ride. Excellent acceleration. Well-appointed interior. Third-row seats are cramped and its use makes second row also cramped, but useable for short trips. Fuel consumption fell short of EPA- reported averages in my hands. I could get only 26 MPG in town and 23 MPG on highway.