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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  Spacious and functional - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By 808blue - April 13 - 9:00 am

  Lets face it, the Camry is not a Ferrari. Its a reliable, functional sedan. I bought this car with 118k miles, now passing 122K and overall Im happy. I can fit a 9 foot long board in the back with the seats down, and tote my 3 dogs around in it everywhere. Its pretty vanilla, I definitely dont turn any heads driving it, but 5 people can fit in there comfortably. I currently have a catalytic systems issue which has a check engine light on, and causes the car to lose some power. Otherwise its very reliable.

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  Great minivan for all family needs. - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Marat - April 12 - 12:33 pm

  This is our first Toyota minivan. We just got back from 3000 mile trip to southern Texas, and Sienna performed very well. I was actually impressed with the gas mileage: on interstate we got consistently 25-26 mpg using medium fuel grade. In town driving something like 17-18 mpg. It is very spacious minivan, and I really like its looks. Our kids just love it!

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  Not perfect but a still great car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Alex - April 12 - 8:16 am

  I picked the 09 Corolla LE after test driving the 2009 Civic, Mazda 3 & Elantra models. The engine is lively for a 1.8, and it delivers the high mileage as advertised. It costs me (at current fuel cost), $50.00 to fill up and I get about 400 miles per tank.It was the least noisy and fastest of the sub compacts I test drove. Its lightweight so keep both hands on the wheel if its windy on the freeway. Responsive steering and fun to drive.

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  Comfortable and reliable - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Dean - April 12 - 3:33 am

  My 2004 model is 4 cyl. but perfectly adequate for driving in the hilly country we live in and good in the snow. It is very comfortable with solid construction that feels much less tinny than our (previous) Honda CRV and more comfortable and quieter than our Subarus. It is easy to drive, handles well, has decent gas mileage for an SUV. We have had it almost a year and have about 10,000 miles on it and have had no problems at all, also unlike the Honda which had a series of small problems and malfunctions (like key chimes which were fixed over and over again). We would rate it a perfect 10 except for one thing: the body seems pretty easily dented and scratched.

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  Very Satisfied Customer - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By BNL15 - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I was stuck trying to justify the high price of the Sequoia compared to its American counterparts. In the end the resale value and reliabilty overcame the others. I have been very happy with my Sequioa, and feel more at ease with having to outlay that much money. The quality and workmanship is leaps and bounds above any others I have seen. I put in a Gibson Cat-Back exhaust & a Volant cold air intake. I get close to 18.5 miles to the gallon and much quicker 0-60 times, The set up cost me $600 but well worth it. In a nut shell, I am a very saitsfied Toyota owner. There is a reason that Toyota does not have to offer huge rebates to sell there products.

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  I wanted a 1998 TT Supra but no luck - 2003 Toyota Celica
  By babyblue0844 - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I like my car just that i think a supra is the way to go. Especially since they are coming out in 2004 i am going to be first in line to get one .. Man I cant wait to buy one.

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  Meets Expectations - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By marcus aurelius - April 12 - 2:00 am

  Well built, reliable vehicle that meets expectations. Not exciting, and definitely not a style trend setter, but does a lot of things well and provides great value. Never had a single problem in three years of ownership, with lots of family and pets hauling along the way.

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  Surprised at 70k miles - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By dworth - April 10 - 7:34 am

  Weve had our Avalon for about a year and a half now and have been satisfied. Weve had Toyotas since 1989. At 65k, front brake rotors warped & pads needed replacing - at 68k, the rear rotors & pads got replaced. At 70k, inner tie rods got loose and got replaced. Were holding our breath and wondering whats going to be next. Of course, this is the first Toyota that weve kept beyond the 36k mark, so perhaps this brand isnt as reliable as weve always thought? Although wed hesitate to say this Avalon is a lemon, weve planned on its lasting 10 years...wish us luck.

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  Amazing gas mileage - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By panpan - April 9 - 6:30 pm

  I purchased my RAV4 Limited 4 cyl 4x4 3 days ago, and drove it Saturday and Sunday to Bear Mountain State Park NY. It was of course full tank of gas. After driving 180 miles over the weekend, and I refuel on Sunday night, it pumps only 5.6 gallons of gas. It turns out to be 32 miles / gallon. Unbelievable. It gives my family very smooth ride, reasonable wind noise and road noise. Interior room is spacious, near mid- side SUV interior space, with compact SUV price. It is fun to drive, good handling. Overall, great value for that kind of price.

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  Better than expected - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By mjwilli1 - April 9 - 3:14 am

  Purchased new in 2009, I have a 4 cyl, with the towing package. That was the best investment I made. I have moved three times and can tow any trailer form Uhaul. No maintenance issue to date, but have replaced the tires once. They are expensive. The gas is not that great (Ave 25 MPG) especially when you tow (average MPG) but it runs great. 61,000 miles as of 12/2014. A/C is OK, not great. No complaints from passengers. Plenty of room in the back even for tall people. Back seats come down so I can haul almost anything a typical homeowner needs. Overall - Excellent!