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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  Company Car - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By Businessman - July 28 - 5:53 am

  I recently picked up a 2011 Avalon as my new company car. Before getting company cars I have owned both the Lexus ES and GS models. While the Avalon is not a Lexus, its total package could be classified between the ES and GS. Ride and handling soft, but everything is a trade off.

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  So far so good! - 2013 Toyota Corolla
  By jasonmontreal - July 27 - 11:38 pm

  I recently replaced a Nissan Versa with the Toyota Corolla. So far, it has been an excellent decision! As the badging of this car is a little different in Canada, the model I bought is the base CE with the available moonroof convenience package. I saw no reason to spend more for the S, as my car has all options I could ever want. It seems that most user reviews mention lack of styling and boring driving experience. I will admit that this is not a sporty car and it does not offer the driving feel of a Mazda 3. However, I dont think the Corolla has ever tried to do anything other than what it does best - being a reliable, safe, comfortable, fuel-efficient and practical way to get around.

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  Fuel mileage not so great - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Glen - July 27 - 10:20 pm

  The car does good on fuel until you take it out on the highway, anything above 60 and the fuel mileage drops like a rock. I get about 37 for mixed driving but when I take it out on the open road... 25 to 28

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  Great Hybrid! - 2012 Toyota Prius
  By Xou Yang - July 27 - 5:46 am

  Great car for the money. Traded my 2013 Scion FRS in for Prius II. Looks great, decent interior, a lot of interior space, GREAT MPG, and thus far maintenance-free. Acceleration is decent. I mean, its no sports car! I spend between $22-40 on gas every month. It saves me a ton of $$$$$! I have no regrets at all and totally recommend it.

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  Great Van! - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By oscano - July 26 - 2:00 am

  I bought my van from a local dealer at about 1700 less than MSRP. No hassles at all. The only problem Ive had was the alignment was slightly off, but the dealership fixed it right away and gave me a rental while it was in the shop. Otherwise the van is great. This is my first experience with a mini-van and so far I am very satisfied. I especially love the 60/40 third row seat and all the room behind it when it is up and in use. The engine is quiet and smooth. It has a little more road noise than I expected but it isnt that bad. The drivers seat has a manual height adjustment, which is great.

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  Great little SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Cary Washburn - July 25 - 2:33 pm

  I got one of the first cars off the boat the end of December and have now had the car for a month. So far I am getting about 26 MPG for highway driving during rush hour. It is comfortable to drive and having been a previous Toyota owner it is very see or access gages and systems. LOVE IT! Lots of room and easy to drive.

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  Steering not impressive, but decent car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Cassie - July 25 - 1:03 pm

  Ive always been fond of Corollas and have driven them in the past. I was disappointed to find, after purchasing this one that these new models dont have the same great handling and steering that Ive experienced in the older models. I find, especially when driving on the freeway that the car wanders and I dont feel likr I have a lot of control. I have to grip the steering wheel more intensely, which doesnt bode well for me since I had hoped to be able to use this car for road trips. Aside from steering, the car has met all of my other expectations. Its highly fuel efficient, has a great new look and size and the interior features are easy to manage.

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  Smaller cargo - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Serge - July 25 - 7:20 am

  Good car, its my third Camry. But back seat is not folding anymore and trunk is smaller.

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  Better Than I Thought - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Art - July 25 - 6:03 am

  Got this to replace my Mazda3 that was wrecked in, of all places, a funeral procession. Was suspicious when the dealer dropped the price from $17K to $14.5K without even me trying. After trade I walked out paying less than $5K. Has all the goodies, including alloys, alarm, upgrade tires and interior, power pack, etc. Runs smoothly and accelerates just as fast as the Mazda3 although it does lose mid range steam. Originally thought the gas gauge was broken but it seems Im getting about 33 mpg in the city! No problems as of yet and I hope it stays that way.

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  I loved my car - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Rozbud - July 24 - 10:00 am

  This was a great little fun car. Unfortunately I recently was T-boned at over 60mph and it is now totalled. The good news is that I only suffered bruises as a result of how sturdy the car was built. The handling is excellent. Very responsive to the road and never had mechanical problems. Not recommended for people with kids due to very little storage.