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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  Comfort and ride - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By gail roe - June 10 - 4:23 am

  Very comfortable ride. The suspension system is great. You pick up very little outside noise. We also own a Honda and it cant compare to our Camry for handling and comfort. Our Camry is a much softer ride.

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  Auto transmission defect - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By JKT - June 9 - 5:06 pm

  129,000 care-free miles and THEN transmission failure with an incredible lack of consideration by Toyota. ECU/ECM (computer module of automatic transmission) failure leading to destruction of tranny. Will cost $4- 5000 and Toyota has been aware of this via TSB (technical service bulletin) since 2006. Affecting years 2001-2003 with automatic. If your get a RAV-4 make sure its got STICK!

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  Great Milage Vehicle - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Tommy - June 8 - 4:00 pm

  I have been driving my 2007 Yaris for 2 years. I bought the vehicle for mileage and I get 38 to 40 MPG without an exception. I drive 50 miles round trip daily. I will soon be driving 90 miles a day round trip and look forward to the gas mileage and savings. I have actually gotten 42 MPG on road trips. I bought this vehicle after my stepson purchased his Yaris. I was told it would take 4 weeks to get the vehicle, but the dealer had one in 3 days. I think this is a great car for commuting, but I will take my F250 truck when I am going on a long trip.

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  I like this truck so far 2008 tundra - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By Leon Garray - June 8 - 2:03 pm

  I traded in my 2006 silverado for a 2008 tundra, one of the best thing I did. I feel Im driving a real truck the comfort is great, the power is there when you need it V8, I get 300 miles on a full tank using premium fuel. The only negative feed back I have is theres a few blind spot other wise its a good truck. Ive owned this truck for one month...

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  most uncomfortable car ever - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Raul Ruler - June 7 - 11:50 pm

  If you really want a Camry I would suggest renting one for a weekend or longer. A 15 minute test drive is not enough to fully understand how uncomfortable this car really is. The drivers seat is enough to make you never look at a Toyota again. I have owned 9 Toyotas and this will be my last. You know how they say "This is not your fathers car" well its true. Older Camrys were well built and reliable to a fault. Not so the 2015. I believe that the multi adjusting drivers seat has far less foam because of the mechanics they needed to squeeze in below. The car is a bear to get in to and I am only 5"10". Added to this is the glare from the dash. I thought highway safety had already solved this issue, guess not. Youll also find the floor mats are some cheap thin material made to look good. The dealer was all to ready to let me trade for another car (on my dime of course.) Toyota headquarters had me take a survey to find out if I was happy with the person I complained to. So here I am stuck with a car that gives me a back ache. Do yourself a huge favor and check out the others, do a long test drive, and take my advise .Dont buy the 2015 Camry.

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  Love the V8 - 2008 Toyota 4Runner
  By T4R2008 - June 7 - 2:03 pm

  Ive been driving for more than 20 years now and this is my first vehicle with automatic transmission. I always had sports sedans before. I love this SUV. I tested the V6 but found it too buzzy and underpowered (my last car was a Subaru Legacy GT though which was very fast). The V8 is buttery smooth. The ride on the highway is almost as smooth as my wifes Lexus GX470. Great size (not too big, not too small). Trip computer is a bit optimistic. I average about only 17mpg doing mostly highway driving at 70-75 mph. Hopefully fuel stays cheap!

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  Do not buy the inline 4 cylinder - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Chris - June 7 - 12:33 pm

  The I4 has no power and drives like a typical 4 cylinder. The ride is loud and not comfortable. This was my first Camry and will be my last as I do not feel a 6 cylinder will improve the ride. It is very stylish inside and out, especially with the new design. I drive 2 hours to work each day and it is just not comfortable to me.

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  review - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By big curt dog - June 7 - 10:00 am

  good car has good power but has problems with the transmision on the v-6 model.

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  dependablity - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By ocoee - June 7 - 10:00 am

  great value for your money and a great transportaion.

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  HIGHLANDER - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By akapb - June 7 - 10:00 am

  A truly outstanding value. Very pleasant to drive and very ergonomic for driver and passengers. This car has drawn many compliments...it really is a car shaped like a SUV.