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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  1st SUV - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By Sacuraman - September 12 - 2:00 am

  1st time driving/purchasing an SUV. Major selling point is the 3rd row seats for the kids. Purchased w/ the Tech package which I recommend for comfort and some bells and whistles over the basic w/o options- also the tow package increases towing to a functional 3500 lbs. So far drove about 400 miles- 50% hwy and 50% city- according to the mileage display, averaging ~27 miles/gallon. I4 engine and transmission is geared for surprisingly good acceleration for a 4 cylinder/medium SUV. Only complaint is the speedometer reads about 3 miles greater than my GPS speed.

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  Awesome vehicle - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Jody - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I was so scared to buy a 2007 Camry after reading the reviews. so glad I did. Great car. I had it checked out by a local mechanic we trust, he gave me the thumbs up and Ive been very please. I own a new Honda accord and love them both. I would highly recommend the Camry to anyone interested in a reliable, comfortable, efficient and safe car!

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  Great - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By wu - September 11 - 5:33 pm

  Our Camry is great! It was really comfy but not too quiet but still refine. The DVD player sounds great, but we sometimes complain about the "Welcome to Camry". And most important thing is the engine, even with low hp our Camry is still really fast. So it is great!!!

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  Problems already - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By melanie creadore - September 11 - 11:15 am

  After owning 2 weeks I found that no one can hear me using the phone inside vehicle. There seems to be water intrusion when washing vehicle. Acceleration is poor on highway and left me add what a gas guzzler. I expected more quality coming from Toyota, as I had the Lexus suv. The handling is poor. The technology is llacking, it doesnt understand my voice control at all. Already bringing it in to get fixed. If the alignment isnt off then the car absolutely handles horribly on the roads and highways. I put my hand down to pick up a candy and pulled out a plastic cover.

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  Nearly Perfect - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By MCM - September 11 - 11:03 am

  When released, this minivan was head and shoulders above the rest in every way. However, with Nissan, Honda, and soon Kia coming out with complete redesigns, they have almost matched many of Siennas first place features like 60/40 split 3 row fold in the floor (Kia, Honda, Chrysler) 2nd row power windows (Mazda, Honda, Kia),rear view camera (Honda), front/rear sonar (Mercury, Honda). One of the only features completely unique to Sienna now is Digital Laser Cruise & AWD. However those are two BIG items, especially the AWD. MN has cold, snowy, icy winters, AWD is a must. That and Toyotas better than ANYONE, EVERs reliability made it a clear top choice. Its economical, reliable, and loaded!

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  Great truck for the price - 2008 Toyota Tundra
  By kayleigh - September 11 - 9:43 am

  This truck is amazing for the price! They have all kinds of colors and models. Ive got a Toyota tundra double cab with runners on the side, tundra mat in the bed. I just traded in my 2008 Toyota Tacoma for this truck and the tundra is so much better. Has way more room and is comfortable.

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  Smart - "For Two", Step Aside - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Nihilist - September 11 - 5:26 am

  I had been holding off purchasing a car until the arrival of the Smart, "For Two" into the US. No longer. I ordered my hatchback last month and it showed up yesterday. Fun is the best way to describe it. Clean, simple interior and cute exterior. The hatch is not a family car, but for me and my wife its perfect.

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  6 speed transmission operation is poor - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By FraunkH - September 11 - 4:16 am

  4 cylinder 2010 LE-6 speed auto. Transmission problems are numerous. Mileage at 15,00, issues are increasing. Transmission shifts hard, both up and down. Continually "hunts" for a gear. Down shifts occur during a coasting to a stop making the car lurch. Encountered transmission slip during shifts where revs will increase to 3-3500 with no transmission response. Also had the revs go to 7000 rpm when traveling at 70+mph and activating the cruise. Just like shoving in a clutch. 4 times to the dealer. Dealer says normal, might be a software update? Meanwhile, just a very unpleasant car to drive in the city or suburbs. On the plus side, on the highway at a steady 70+, 32 mph and rides great.

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  Sips gas. - 2011 Toyota Prius
  By Cher - September 10 - 7:09 pm

  This hatch back holds excellent amount of cargo for the size of the car. Excellent mileage and reliability. Fill gas so rarely often forget. Wish it had better visibility, and more drink holders.

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  What was Toyota thinking with the the Suspension on 2013 Avalon? - 2013 Toyota Avalon
  By yardmen - September 10 - 9:39 am

  I am a previous Avalon owner of two Avalons. They were good cars. Now I own a 2013 Avalon. The ride is very harsh with bumps being transmitted into the cabin as noticeable knocks. Road noise is terrible on worn asphalts and concrete roads. The head lights cut off to soon on low beam. The seats are very hard making a long trip unpleasant. I now wish that I had not purchased this car.