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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  Excellent Vehicle - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Sam - August 12 - 6:40 pm

  Overall its a good truck, I sacrificed comfort for durability. Driver seat is not comfortable and interior design is not very good but the ride is excellent.

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  Better choice than a Jag - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Aaron - August 11 - 5:16 pm

  We traded in our Jaguar S-Type on the Limited. The Avalon offers just about all of the same goodies and then some as the S-type at about $15000 less. The reliability ratings and customer satisfaction reviews were what convinced me to buy the Avalon. The S-Type had numerous little problems and two big mechanical problems and from what Ive read and heard, the Avalon is much more reliable. The ride is considerably quieter and smoother than the S-Type, although not as responsive and sporty. The gadgets are just as comparable to the Jaguar, auto dimming mirrors are a luxury I cant live without now. The ventilated seats, oooo la la!

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  Fuel Tank Problem - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By ROBERT WILFORD - August 11 - 4:10 pm

  It is almost impossible to fuel the auto due to the collapse of the fuel bladder. I understand this is a problem only in cold weather. Maybe someone will find a solution to this. Would pressurizing this tank with about 5 psi of air pressure prior to refueling expand the bladder to normal size?

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  ALMOST PERFECT FOR THE FIRST 36000 MI - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By ovi - August 10 - 1:33 am

  We purchased the RAV4 in feb 2006 , it works very well in city drive , highway ride is dominated by infernal noise , the design is nice but the quality of this vehicle is nonexistent . After the first car wash i noticed a lot of white paint chips on the front hood then soon after 36000 a two thousand dollars array of repairs started : rear shocks, front brakes , intermediary steering shaft , belt tensioner ,dash glove compartment door . At 74500 miles every time i stop an a traffic light i have to shift in neutral because of very heavy vibration and noise and the CD changer works occasionally . The technicians at the dealership find all this normal , if soo , TOYOTA IS NOT FOR ME.

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  Nice but could be better! - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By Tom - August 9 - 6:50 pm

  An accident forced me to trade in my 2006 Highlander Limited for a 2009 Highlander Limited. I love the new, larger chassis (I really needed the extra headroom and legroom). At 5000 mi, my mileage is still a dismal 21 mpg for commuting to work. The car feels great with a comfortable drivers seat and smooth, well controlled, powerful performance. The drivers side rear view mirror is strangely distorted just enough to be annoying. The center rear view mirror is too small and mounted too low. It obstructs forward vision. The back seats are a disappointment. I bought the cargo net and the upper attachments are incorrectly designed for proper installation. Nice but could be better!

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  RELIABLE BUT BORING - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By Pawleys Island Boy - August 8 - 6:43 am

  I am a 16 year old high school student whose parents bought me this car last year. It is super reliable and I havent had to replace or fix anything. It says it should get around 19-22 mpg, but I only get around 17. It is very weak and there is nothing special about this car to me. I do like the looks of it though. I chose this car because I know that being a Toyota, it will last me forever. I have 133000 miles on it and dont plan on getting another car for a long time.

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  Offlease only - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By T. E - August 7 - 10:02 am

  I came to the office looking to purchase a car. The salesperson, Elvis Camille who greeted was professional, knowledgable, and treated me and my fiancé like VIP customer. Although, we did not purchase the car but I not only referred someone else to Offlease but I have full intention and going back to purchase a vehicle. Love this place--so many cars to choose from at great prices.

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  Very Impressed so far - 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By pjcrage - August 7 - 8:30 am

  This is my second Land Cruiser and I am impressed thus far. My last was a 2006 (last generation) and I was not happy with it trading it in after less than a year. The 2011 has improved in MANY areas. Handling, comfort, conveniences, performance are all significantly upgraded in this generation of the LC.

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  Exactly what I wanted - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Eric - August 7 - 6:33 am

  I really appreciate the maneuverability of this car. (Its great for parking.) Its fun on curves and stable on the highway. I havent had any bad experiences with wind gusts, etc. Its not a sports car, and Im fine with that. The reliability and economic fuel consumption are what I was after. I couldnt be happier.

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  Hard to believe its a compact! - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By John Blueblood - August 7 - 1:40 am

  Purchased a 2009 Magnetic Gray S Corolla. I cant say enough about it, the fuel economy is great, I drive in a lot of stop-and-go traffic and havent been on the hwy but Im getting 26-29 mpg. I love how wide the car is, my wife and I have a 2004 S Corolla and this is a different car all together. I love the steering and the ride but the brakes shouldve been 4-disc versus drum. Anyway, you get a Camry-like ride in a slightly smaller car. You cant go wrong with this car!