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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  Duck! - 2015 Toyota Avalon
  By Tom Dunn - December 18 - 9:57 pm

  The ride is sporty. . .not luxury. Stiffer ride with 17" wheels. Getting into the drivers seat requires you to be a contortionist. Once inside. . .its great. Comfortable seats. . .responsive, easy steering. . .good acceleration. My wife likes the car. . .I cant deal with the contortion required to get into the drivers seat. There is also some wind noise that is greater than it should be. I would prefer wheels that provide more of a cushion. My reason to trade is the issue with getting into the vehicle. I cant do that day after day.

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  Tires Revisited - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Joe - December 16 - 8:56 am

  As noted in my January review, I replaced the snow-scary Toyo Open Country A20 tires with Yokohama 235- 55x19 Parada Spec X tires. Had to go marginally smaller than factory 245- 55x19s in order to avoid either Toyo or Bridgestone (equally bad in snow). These two are currently ONLY 245-55x19 sizes on the market. Yokos transformed winter traction from truly scary to truly amazing. Smooth, quiet, handle better too. Perhaps not as well balanced...I will have balance rechecked soon. Tread wear an unknown at this point, but I would have traded vehicle if snow traction had not improved. Cant believe Toyota still specs these tires in 10, but maybe other recalls have occupied all of their time!

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  15.5 mpg - 2016 Toyota Sienna
  By Ernie Lopez - December 14 - 6:19 am

  You will get 15.5 mpg if u drive all streets and that would be fine if you could tow more than 3500 pounds . My 2010 tundra has a 5.7 v8 and gets same mpg . Sad

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  Love This Car! - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By markusknight - December 14 - 2:06 am

  I got my 2001 Toyota Celica from my uncle with 180,000 miles on it. It now has 2,000 more miles since, and still runs the same as when I bought it, aside from a slight leak that started in one tire. Theres a slight delay in the accelerator, the check engine light is always on, and the left door doesnt lock automatically. Despite this, it starts perfectly in -15 F weather and has not had any engine problems since I got it. I love this car and, with a little TLC, it will continue to be reliable for years to come.

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  Its how I imagine driving a school bus - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Pietro R - December 13 - 9:43 pm

  The whole car feels leaden and heavy. The seats are a monstrosity. It handles like a truck, and rides about the same. I only hope that it lives up to its reputation of quality, for that will be its only redeeming virtue. I have no idea why I bought it, as I was never impressed. Each passing day, I am less so. Unless one drives like an old geezer, the MPG never comes up to the EPA estimate. By old geezer, I dont just mean obeying the speed limit, its a given that one obeys the law. I mean coasting up to stop signs to save gas, as well as trying to time the lights in order to avoid applying the brakes at anything over 25 MPH. It shifts like a bucking horse....As an aside, for the first six years that I owned my Altima, I loved it. I will never love this car. Ever. Its a mode of transportation, with seats designed by Stalin. It takes a while to notice, but the lump hits the drivers left hip and creates lingering pain. Save yourself, look into a Honda.

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  Good car - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By leanerneaner - December 13 - 2:16 pm

  I have NEVER had any mechanical problems with this car. Ive never had to worry about it. Acceleration is pretty bad though. Its always stressful to merge onto a freeway. Otherwise, great!

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  I LOVE my 4Runner! - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By tuandala - December 13 - 10:00 am

  My 4Runner is the best car Ive owned. Fun, too! It kicks butt in 4WD. It has plenty of power & tows an open trailer very well. Sorry to see that they changed the body style in 03.

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  Good SUV - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Gygax - December 13 - 1:53 am

  Solid vehicle that has been a driven daily since purchase (along with yearly road trips from Midwest to Coastal states). Several minor issues have arisen since purchase that have been handled under warranty.

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  Improvements and towing - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Gene - December 11 - 10:00 am

  I tried to find a backup camera with no results, If toyota would retrofit the 2007 for a reasonable cost it would be great. They need to do something about the noise when you open the rear windows, the vehicle make a noise that is extremely hard on the ears.

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  Worth it. - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Elaine - December 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car brand new and I must say I have not been disappointed. For $13,500 there is no way I could have gotten a better new car than this. It is fun to drive (had a 00 Volvo before this) and you get great gas mileage. Makes great U-turns and I can actually parallel park with this car. As far as built quality, well that is where it really could do better. Too much cheap plastic and the inside cloth on the drivers door is fading for some reason. As far as reliability goes, I see it lasting forever. Ive put 17K miles on it and have done only the oil changes.