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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  Best Ever - 2004 Toyota 4Runner
  By big kahuna - November 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my third 4runner and it is the best all around performer. Love to outrun and infinity.

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  Best Minivan Going - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By JVP06 - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Will never buy an american minivan again.

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  Good torque; Sluggish 5-spd auto trans - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By ohluckyou - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Every thing about this car is excellent - good torque, super quiet ride, powerful V6 3.3L engine (very responsive), and the immobilizer (anti- theft). The styling is very nice 100% nicer than the last generation Camry. One major problem is the new sluggish 5-speed auto transmission with super ECT-i. Toyota claims the new 5-speed transmission will provide smooth ride. This is only true when I am driving at above 45 mph. I can feel the transmission is hesitating from 2nd to the 3rd gear - totally unsmooth. To be safe, stick with 4-speed auto transmission.

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  What more can you say about the toyota avalon???? - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Michael A Beard - November 7 - 6:30 pm

  We just have not had any complaints. It runs and looks great. If it had AWD we would not consider another car.

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  Best hybrid out there! - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Sandy - November 7 - 5:15 pm

  A few months ago I was in the market for a hybrid, so I test drove a Prius 2, Prius 4, Prius V, Honda Civic hybrid, and a Ford Fusion hybrid. In the end I went with the Prius 4 and I absolutely love it! I’m amazed by the fuel efficiency and the luxurious feel of the car. Here are some of my impressions, which I hope are helpful to anyone considering this car: 1. The fuel efficiency is unbeatable! I have a long commute with stop and go traffic, and on average I get 65 MPG per trip, but I’ve gotten as high as 69 MPG. The car goes 700 miles on a single tank of gas! Even with gas prices being low right now, I’m saving a lot of money and I’m saving time by not having to make weekly trips to the gas station. I have over 2,000 miles on the odometer and I’ve only refilled the tank twice! (It came with a full tank when I bought it.) There is an “Eco” mode you can put the car in to make it even more efficient, but I haven’t experimented with that yet. 2. It handles the best of all the hybrids I tried. It has great maneuverability and the acceleration is surprisingly good for a hybrid. It was noticeably better than the Prius V, and better than the Honda Civic hybrid. The acceleration in the Ford Fusion was equivalent but the Fusion didn’t feel as nimble. The Prius also has a “power” mode to boost acceleration when you need it. 3. The Prius 4 has so, so many nice features on the interior! The Softtek material has the look and feel of leather, but it doesn’t get as intensely hot in the sun as leather. I got the all-black interior and it’s really sharp looking. The navigator and Bluetooth work well and the interior is quiet enough for phone calls even at high speeds. There are many nice features on the dashboard for anyone who likes data-driven information – ranging from real-time fuel efficiency to what the current road’s speed limit is. Compare that to the Ford Fusion hybrid, which has a picture on the dashboard of leaves growing to indicate how efficient the car is at any given time. 4. Plenty of room for kids. I have two kids and two kids’ car seats, and there is plenty of room for them and their seats. The latches that you attach the seats to are very easy to access. The backs of the kids’ car seats do limit visibility out the rear window somewhat, but between the reverse camera and the blind spot monitors, I find that it really doesn’t matter. 5. The 2016 model is a big improvement over the older Prius models. We had a 2005 Prius in our family for 10 years, and while we loved the reliability, we hated the brakes and the visibility. The 2016 Prius brakes are much smoother, and the visibility out the rear is good, plus it comes with blind spot monitors which I’m crazy about – they make changing lanes so much safer and easier! By comparison, I thought the visibility out of the rear window of the Ford Fusion hybrid was poor and it had a much smaller (4”) screen on the dashboard, so the reverse camera wasn’t very helpful. The Prius has a large screen with a high resolution picture. Also, compared to our 2005 Prius, this one seems more steady on a windy day – you don’t get the feeling that you’re being blown around because you’re in a light car. 6. I love that the Prius has been around for a long time and has history, which makes me less worried about repairs and resale in the future. At the time I was car shopping (spring 2016), Honda had pulled all its hybrids from the market and the only thing I could test drive was a 2015 Civic hybrid, and it was literally the last one available in my area. It drove OK but I would’ve had to buy it “as is,” which made me nervous, knowing it was already a year old and there were no others being manufactured. Also, since the Prius has always been a Prius, there are no weird compromises – for example, the Ford Fusion hybrid has a split-level trunk because Ford had to retrofit the back of the car to accommodate the hybrid battery. There are a few quirks about the Prius, but for me they weren’t deal-breakers: 1. The entire dashboard is centered, meaning that even the speedometer and gas meter are slightly to the right instead of directly behind the steering wheel. When I test drove the car I thought that might bother me, but I quickly got used to it and now I don’t think about it anymore. 2. I’m a petite person with small feet, and ergonomically the driver’s side feels a tad large for me. I’ve adjusted the driver’s seat up high so I’m comfortable, but the petals are slightly higher than I wish they were. They’re manageable, I just wish they were a little more centered under my foot. A tall person will be totally comfortable in this car. 3. By default, the Prius beeps steadily while you have it in reverse. It’s considered a safety feature. I didn’t like the beep though, so I had my dealer turn it off and now the car just beeps once when it’s put in reverse. Overall I give this car five stars, easily! To me, it drives like a luxury car and the gas efficiency is truly astounding!

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  2002 Toyo 4Runner SR5 - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Zizi - November 7 - 10:00 am

  This is the third Toyota we have owned and we cant say enough good things about them. Our new 4Runner is a good mix of rugged practicality and luxury (sunroof, CD, air conditioner...). We recently drove 5000 miles across the country in it and found it to be very comfortable on the long haul. It has plenty of room for all of our stuff and handles a trailer pretty well (a little more oomph wouldnt hurt on the hills). The gas mileage has been better than expected, we are now getting 20-22 mpg with it. I am looking forward to a long and happy relationship with this car.

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  Fun to Drive - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By spyderowner - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Yet another reviewer who says that this car is fun to drive, but it really is. Sticks to the road, hugs the curves, thanks to the mid-engine design, with plenty of pep to zip in and out of hwy traffic. I absolutely love this car, lack of cargo space notwithstanding--just make sure you have some other transportation for the groceries. The roar of the engine is pretty fun to listen to, and the seats are quite comfy as well.

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  Great SUV. Why Edmund uses "Wagon"? - 2001 Toyota Highlander
  By NWong - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Great SUV. Ride like a car. Smooth, powerful. Better my BMWs.

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  Excellent for Trailer boaters. - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Boater - November 7 - 10:00 am

  We pull about 4700 lb. boat/trailer and have used the Sequoia on some very steep/wet ramps. 4wd high works great and 4-low with loc-up will pull you out of anything. With 3, preteen boys, we enjoy the extra room and look forward to using this vehicle for many years to come.

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  Bigger and Better - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By Jette - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I admit, I am a Toyota fan. This is my forth Toyota. We had a Rav4 and wanted something bigger. We loved the feel of an SUV, but needed more room. We test drove it after trying out a 4Runner and there is no comparison. More room, more power and great handling.