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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  Fun - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By paokgrl - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Most people dont think of a Camry as a fun car to drive, the majority of people think of it as a family car. Im a college student and I absolutely love driving my Camry, it is roomy for someone being 6 foot both in the front and back, it fits everything that I need, it is also a good car for being a designated driver cause it holds a lot of people with still having good visibility and handling. Overall it is a good car, with exceptional features.

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  Four-time Toyota Owner - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By SUZW - May 1 - 2:00 am

  I love my 2002 Camry. I have had three Camrys and one Corolla and have enjoyed them all. Next time I will get the V6.

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  Avalon Troubles - 1996 Toyota Avalon
  By hat7e - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I had a few, but significant problems with the avalon. The transmission needed to be replaced after 3 years, 80,000 miles. Which unfortnately came after warranty coverage. The problem has now come back requiring complete replacement again. Otherwise the car has run great, great highway cruising. If you can find one is good shape I would recommend buying one. I think my problem is atypical.

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  Not a Happy Camper - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By disappointed - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I finally broke down and bought a Toyota after hearing the glowing reviews from all the owners. What a mistake. I thought that I was buying a reliable car. However, the day after I bought the car, it wouldnt start. The battery was dead. I checked and couldnt find any electrical item on. The dealer towed it and replaced the battery. They couldnt find anything wrong either. The rest of the problems were minor compared to this, but I expected zero defects from the way everyone rants about Toyota. As soon as I find a gullible buyer, Im unloading this trash.

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  Not a Happy Camper - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By DisAppointed - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I finally broke down and bought a Toyota after hearing the glowing reviews from all the owners. What a mistake. I thought that I was buying a reliable car. However, the day after I bought the car, it wouldnt start. The battery was dead. I checked and couldnt find any electrical item on. The dealer towed it and replaced the battery. They couldnt find anything wrong either. The rest of the problems were minor compared to this, but I expected zero defects from the way everyone rants about Toyota. As soon as I find a gullible buyer, Im unloading this trash.

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  Need Power Increase - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By petarro - April 29 - 10:00 am

  Car is Excelent, now... the Power of the Car is not so good. The Car is not Powerfull

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  Good transportation - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By rdmiami - April 28 - 9:33 am

  The Corolla is a great car to commute. Thats it! it is not a fun car to drive, it is just ok. If youre looking for fun (performance and handling), look somewhere else. Its a great, grandma car!

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  Just what we wanted! - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By Janice Sweetin - April 27 - 4:49 pm

  This is a wonderful car! Easy to drive, comfortable, easy to get in and out of, and has all the goodies. The one thing that does not live up to manufacturer claims is the gas mileage.

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  Overall Love it! - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By ltucker - April 27 - 1:53 am

  This car is great if you are looking for minimal cargo capacity and good gas mileage. Great to get around town, but not off road. It is easy to handle, but is not suited to carry more than 4 people comfortably and have ample storage. If you plan on driving this in snow, this is not the car for you. The 2wd is useless. My wheels spun. So if you get snow on a regular basis, I would recommend the 4wd.

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  Not so reliable - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By tom - April 26 - 2:23 pm

  Owned since new. Many disappointing problems. Very expensive considering the number of amenities. 60k - transmssion leaks. <100k, all steering components had to be replaced. Power steering pump had to be replaced twice. Tire wear is a huge problem! This car wears out tires in 20k miles, even top rated tires.