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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  highlander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By hippie60 - February 17 - 10:00 am

  so far so good

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  So far, so good - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By ToxicMold - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Stylist, comfortable, and solid. My Camry appears to be a few steps ahead in regards to comfort, design and features in comparison to the 03 Accord. The red (salsa) is HOT, looks "sweet" on the road and in my driveway. I have about 4K miles on the car, no problems, so far so good! A little difficult backing up in the dark, so make sure your area is well- lite. Just "buy" it!

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  car review - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By car dude - February 17 - 10:00 am

  It is a spacious,realiable vehicle, with good power.

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  Better than expected - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Rick Evans - February 16 - 5:33 pm

  Im pleasantly surprised at the excellent performance, handling and relative quietness of the Corolla. I came to this car after running a 1990 Ford Probe 5 speed GL into the ground. The Probe would easily beat the Corolla off the line but highway performance and handing on curvy roads are the same. Corolla stick shifting is smoother. Tire noise is quieter than Probe but still noticeable. Engine is quieter and smoother. Fuel economy is currently running 37 mpg highway and suburban driving. Over the first winter 34 mpg was typical. I only hope Corolla reliability lives up to the reputation.

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  Poor gas mileage climbing hills - 2006 Toyota Tundra
  By Mountain Top Tundra - February 16 - 8:23 am

  Ive had my 06 Tundra for 5 weeks now, 500 miles. I drive 2.8 miles round trip to work and back. I coast to work, because it is all downhill. I climb a steep mountain going home. Only getting 10 mpg. Going to put Nitrogen in tires and replace air filter with a K & N air filter, hope mileage improve. This is the only complaint I have on this vehicle, otherwise it is great.

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  A truly unique vehicle!!! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By victor - February 15 - 8:46 am

  Why did I purchase this vehicle?? SIZE SIZE SIZE. With all the SUV makers trying make their SUVs larger and larger, the RAV4 is a truly refreshing choice in a dying breed. Its ultra- compact exterior size enables me to park in the TINIEST of places. Its unbelievably fabulous turning radius makes U-turns a breeze, and its teeny exterior dimensions make driving on the super-crowded streets of LA a virtually stress-free experience. Its got decent power, is pretty comfy with very good handling for an SUV, and gives reasonable fuel economy (actual calc.21-23mpg city & 26-27hwy avg)

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  Air bags add security - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By R. Hantsbarger - February 15 - 1:13 am

  I am a parent of two teenage daughters and I feel that small cars should be safe also. The car drives well and the steering is crisp enough to add security on mountain roads. The ride is fair on confort and leg room is just enough for 5-10" people. The Toyota Corolla is a great little car, but the base model is hard to find with air bags. We finally found one with the side curtain and side seat air bags without the top end LE accessories. Consumer Reports recommended buying the Toyota Corolla, but only with the air bag option. It is not something I hope to test, but it is reassurring to know they will save a life when needed. The brakes stop the car with enough safety as well.

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  Honestly - 2001 Toyota Celica
  By MAtt - February 14 - 9:26 pm

  I owned my car for a little bit less than a year. I had a celica gt-s. This car is very rev happy, and at high rpm fun to drive, but acceleration is terrible. I have never owned a car this small that accelerated so poorly. The style is great, many compliments on the car, and the inside of the car reminds me of a cockpit. however I hydroplaned and flipped my celica. No airbags deployed, but I walked away unhurt. So from my injury aspect the car must be fairly safe, but it may worry you that the airbags are almost impossible to to deploy? If you are wanting a car that you are planning on racing.. this isnt the car for you, but if you just want a fun sleek car, you have found what your want

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  Not ready for medicare yet - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Carl - February 14 - 10:06 am

  Thought the new Avalon would have better handling, but it drives like my fathers old Buick. The concept is great... lots of features, good price/ value, should have good reliability, but "oh what a feeling" is missing big time. Mileage is 19 to 20 in town on the road it is 27+/-. The transmission seems to slip. Dealer says it is a new 6 speed auto and is supposed to slip(?). To our surprise it is not very comfortable on long trips. Neither of us have back problems but after 3 hours our backs start to hurt. So this car will be going on Autotrader/ Cars.com soon. It will be a while before we go back to Toyota.

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  Good for daily driver, but not a racecar - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By atclate - February 14 - 7:26 am

  Bought this car used last year, and Ive been driving it daily. Quite reliable, especially because the engine has been used by Toyota for quite some years. However, since the engine is old technology, there are much more powerful engines and transmissions out there. Gas mileage is not good enough, compared to the new V6s out there. Automatic transmission is not responsive enough, loses power starting second gear. Interior is very comfortable though. Cannot find another car this soft and comfy except maybe American cars. Sound system is only better than average. Ride is floaty at high speed, suspension is comfortable but too soft for spirited driving. User features are limited.