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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  Toyota - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By olsenmd - May 28 - 12:20 am

  We were disappointed that it didnt have keyless entry but other than that it is a very good car. Car seats fit pretty well in it also. I dont see the point of the text display option because it hasnt worked for any of our CDs or even with an auxiliary iPod.

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  Awesome Truck - 2001 Toyota Tundra
  By dukeno1 - May 25 - 10:52 pm

  I bought this truck new in May 2001. I now have 227,000 miles on it. The only work I have done on it in that time is a timing belt (due for another), all 4 o2 sensors, and at least 4-5 brake jobs on the front. That is my only complaint with the truck. The brakes are woefully undersized and I have trouble with warped rotors. I tow a boat in the summer and I believe that exacerbates the issue. I have gotten proficient at changing the pads and rotors so not that big of a deal. I have ran Mobil 1 synthetic since the second oil change and swear by the stuff. The engine on this truck has been amazing.....quiet, powerful and refined. Everything is still tight and rattle free! Love it!

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  A great second car. - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Joe Z - May 25 - 1:43 am

  I turn on the ignation and it starts at once,never a failure so far.Great gas milage.Installed new tires at 43000 miles. Not so good features: A hard ride and could be less noisy.Over all, a great value.

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  2014 Avalon Hybrid - Caveat Emptor - 2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By avalon_owner - May 24 - 7:40 pm

  Theres a lot to like about this car, but dont buy one. I test drove it, and thought the ride was a little stiff, but acceptable. Ive been driving it for a month now, and each day the harshness of the ride becomes more annoying. Every rut, crack and bump on the road is telegraphed through the chassis. Youll hear every road imperfection and feel it in your feet on the floor and through the seat. On a rough road, youll be thrown around like a rag doll. The longer you ride in it, the more horrible it becomes. Toyota at least owes us an apology for the terrible suspension. But they really owe us a recall and repair of this abomination.

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  Works for me... - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Deborah2742 - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Toyotas engines win hands down when it comes to miles. No American made economy car can compare. I researched well before I bought, because Im a single woman who hates car problems. I wanted something I could trust.

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  Very Satisfied - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By j david a - May 24 - 2:00 am

  We bought it used from a reputable dealer. My wife has put about 55,000 miles on it and she has done nothing but have the oil changed. I believe it has the same engine as the Lexus. We wouldnt get rid of it but we need to get another pickup to haul hay for the horses. Now that Ive said all these good things, it probably wont start in the morning.

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  Would Buy Again - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By ToyoOwner - May 24 - 2:00 am

  Great Truck. Mileage is not a good as we like (~16 to 17) but as big as the vehicle is, reasonable. Has plenty of power and features. Blind spot is large, suggest adding supplemental mirror to both sides. Interior tends to scratch easily. Leather captain chairs are very comfortable. Handles well with good forward visibility. Ride can be stiff on bumpy roads (again this is a truck)

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  Former Celica owner buys Camry - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By lscott - May 23 - 10:16 pm

  I miss the style of my pre 1995 Celicas and the way they hold the road. But, the new Camry is quiet, powerful, has all the bells and whistles (a bit too many of them...so security conscious it is too easy to lock oneself out!). The styling is dull, the colors available are boring but we expect the usual Toyota reliability and quality of our previous 5 cars. Only have 1200 miles on it so far; time will tell, but very very pleased so far.

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  Overall good choice for mid sized sedan - 2013 Toyota Camry
  By mossimo142 - May 23 - 3:07 am

  I was deciding between the Camry and Chevy Malibu. I went with the Camry due to the rear leg room and resale value. I dont necessarily agree with Toyota having a higher resale value because the Malibu felt like it was built better. The dash on the Camry seems cheap and the parts dont fit perfectly causing wiggle room when pressed against. The seats are also not comfortable for trips longer than 30 minutes. They feel like generic foam, offering little support even with lumbar. The MPG calculator consistently registers 1-2 MPGs higher than what the car actually gets. This is somewhat disappointing, but I still average around 31 with 75% highway driving.

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  Prius V inferior to Prius - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By edickinson - May 22 - 3:50 pm

  I continue to be very disappointed in the 2012 Toyota Prius V. I purchased a 2012 Prius V and Prius in October of 2012. I find many issues that make the Prius V an aggravation, dangerous and displeasure especially when compared to the Prius model. These are the reasons: 1. The divers seat’s manual adjustments are terrible and can create dangerous situation to adjust while moving, 2. The engine is not adequate for the weight of the vehicle, 3. The electronics and comfort are inferior to the Prius, 4. Wind noise, 5. Gas mileage is not meet expectations and not as good as Prius, 6. The radio has interference with even local stations. I would not recommend this model and will trade it.