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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  OK so far - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By scott - December 2 - 2:53 am

  Bought rav4 for the quality and its been great in the snow and it did have 29000 when purchased. Few minor things, air pressure warning problems, some brake issues.

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  Third row rider - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Dave - December 1 - 9:14 am

  Back seat is ok, third row isnt o.k.

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  stout little truck - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By anthony - December 1 - 5:52 am

  i did get 31 mpg on freeway at 65 with tailgate down nothing in bed

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  Count On It! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By wtm - December 1 - 4:16 am

  Purchased new with a 5 speed. Never have had it back to the dealership with any problems. Has enough stuff to get up to freeway speed safely (with some to spare). Road noise noticeable on chip- seal surfaces, but otherwise quite good. Put brakes on @ about 160,000 miles. Have never had to align vehicle and tires still wear evenly. I change oil/filter regularly (about every 5,000 miles) and dont use more than a 1/2 quart between changes. Will pass 200,000 miles this week. My driving is 70/30 freeway/city and I consistently get 35 to 37 mpg. Have gotten as high as 42.5 mpg on long trips. The epitome of function over style. Will buy another one after I have 300,000 miles on this one

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  Toyota Solara - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Tony Br. - December 1 - 2:00 am

  I have noticed an occasional surge in initial acceleration from a stop. The computerized "distance to empty" is 350 miles to empty when in reality, there will be 450 to 500 miles to the tank.Theseproblems are quite annoying - the car has not been returned to the dealer yet. I will address the problems at the first oil change.

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  Good family hauler - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Ray - December 1 - 12:10 am

  I have owned my Sienna for less than a year, yet have already discovered this vans virtues. It is very much the Camry of minivans: it is not a particularly exciting or involving vehicle to drive, but it gets you and 6 friends from point A to point B with little fuss. The drivetrain is refined and ride comfort is very good. All the vehicles controls are simple to operate, and interior space is excellent. So far, Ive averaged 9.5L/100km (25mpg) in mixed city/hwy driving, which is better than some 4cyl cars. I cant really comment on long-term reliability, but I havent encountered any problems yet with the van. Overall, its a very practical vehicle to own, albeit not a very inspiring one.

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  About the V6 SE Coupe - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By steven tarczali - November 30 - 11:13 am

  Nice car good power, not good in snow or ice. Feels sporty, however its a sporty upscale look but handles like the Camry sedan. Make no mistake, its not a sporty handling automobile. May have been better with rear wheel drive for handling. Doors, very big to get in and out of tight spots, however nice roomy interior for the driver and front pax. back seats are good for avg. person but not on long hauls. Good room for kids.

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  Security - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By DELPINE - November 30 - 10:00 am

  WHEN i GET IN MY CAR, i FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL TAKE ME WHERE i WANT WITH LITTLE MAINTENANCE.

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  Watch out for minor annoyances - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By T_Sport - November 30 - 10:00 am

  Problems: The 3-spoke steering wheel doesnt move down nearly enough to get a comfortable grip. If you like to drive, holding one hand or both on the bottom spokes, you will NOT like the Rav4 steering wheel. The other major flaw with the car is the pathetically weak factory stereo. My car had the upgraded stereo which results in two more useless paper tweeter speakers. Unfortunately, at this time, Crutchfield doesnt support the 2002/2001 Rav4, so speaker upgrades are tough. I replaced the factory head unit with a Sony unit which resulted in more power but ZERO bass, and distortion above 30% power. If you love good music, buy a Nissan.

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  Flawless after 4 years - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By gello - November 30 - 10:00 am

  We have now logged 82000 miles on our Camry. It still drives as smooth as the day driven off the dealrship lot ( maybe even better after replacing original tires with Michelins). Still on original set of brakes. This is a great family sedan with plenty of room for 5 adults. Huge trunk! This car is a testament to Toyotas commitment to building quality vehicles that will run forever. Toyota has earned my business for many years to come.