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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  Love my new Highlaneder - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Happy with my Highlander - June 6 - 6:04 am

  I just love my Highlander. Leased a 2105 XLE but after driving it for a few months I found that I longed for the Limited edition. I found that I prefer the captain chair seating along with all of the safety features that come with the Limited Platinum edition. Not only do I love the safety features, it is really awesome to have the panoramic sunroof. I live in Southern California where the weather is beautiful year round so I opted to not get the AWD version. My only complaints are the price of the vehicle. It is quite pricey but for the features you get it is a WHOLE lot cheaper than the equally equipped luxury vehicles, such as Audi Q7 or the Infinit Qx6 which are cars that I was originally considering. For the price point of this vehicle I also would prefer if the side view mirrors would automatically fold in without me having to fold them in manually. I love the entune system which works quite well with my LG V10 cellphone which I also LOVE! Being that I had the standard audio system on the 2015 Highlander XLE, I am able to speak to the quality of the JBL system I now have. I am strictly a Pandora and bluetooth user and I will say the sound quality is far superior to the system that comes standard on the XLE model. So, I can say that I like the JBL. But, then again, I am not a radio listener and my music has HD quality because of the cellphone that I have. I absolutely love my Highlander and since I am no longer leasing, I will be keeping 2016 Limited Platinum Highlander for many many years to come.

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  The Drivetrain is a joke - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mike Murray - June 6 - 4:13 am

  The drivetrain of the 2016-2017 Toyota Tacoma is a total joke. This engine transmission combo belongs in a minivan, not an off-road truck. Toyota should be ashamed. Additionally, the infotainment system is also a joke! Where is Carplay or Google support? Toyota seriously needs a team of UX people for their software designs.

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  Review from an actual owner at 25k miles - 2011 Toyota Tundra
  By hdsale - June 6 - 1:29 am

  Ive owned a 2011 5.7 CrewMax TRD Off-Road Tundra for 2 years. Previous trucks were GM. All trucks have their issues, the Tundra less so than previous GM trucks - at least for me. 5.7 is a super strong engine that competition cant match. Feels and drives like a 3/4 ton truck, and tows like one too. High seating position reminds me of an F250 or 2500 GM. Driving the new F150 feels like driving a car after owning the Tundra. Mileage is 15.5 in mixed driving. Short bed on CrewMax means truck can fit in a 20 foot garage (but not by much). No alignment issues here - in fact, I wont let the dealer align the truck as it drives straight as an arrow.

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  Fuel Economy Disappointing - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Chris - June 6 - 1:06 am

  Bought 11/2007. Traded a 07 highlander limited because wanted better mpg. Thought a 2008 highlander hybrid would be a good choice. So far not the case. We are paying much much more and getting the same mpg as the 07 highlander. A hybrid should get better than 18 mpg. Tried different octanes and so far nothing has worked. Very, very disappointed and stuck with it.

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  Entune sysem is garbage - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By phillymic22 - June 5 - 10:40 am

  I love the look and feel of my Toyota Highlander and it is a pleasant ride until you try to use the Entune radio system. The HD radio is awful, constantly goes in and out, the satellite radio constantly loses reception and the GPS system leaves a lot to be desired. I am so disappointed with this system, I am starting to regret paying top dollar for a limited model. I will need to replace this system to save my sanity.

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  Great Luxury at Affordable Pricing - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Curt - June 5 - 10:33 am

  The 2005 Totyota Avalon is a great car at a great price. Fully loaded XLS only cost me $32k. It has navigation, vehichle skid control and very nice leather. The car is elegantly styled inside with a nice mixture of faux wood, metal and leather. The sound system is great, not very loud but the clarity and sound is wonderful. On the XLS model I would prefer more plush filled seats like in my SUV but the ones in there are good. The car has tons of room, in fact I dont mind riding in the rear seat because of the comfort and room. The power is excellent, you no longer fill intimidated to pass another vehicle because of the 280hp. Luxury that is affordable. Great Car!!

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  A nicely equipped truck for under $20K - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By tacodan - June 5 - 2:33 am

  The 4-cyl 5-speed manual trans combo is well matched. When you get on it, the power is very impressive. I am getting a consistent 24-27.5 MPG. Handled a large 7ft sofa and a tall chest of drawers with a hitch. The area below the dash and the steering column is small for people with large feet. Cabin is a bit noisy at highway speeds when crosswinds are strong. No frt tie-down d-rings as in the rear. HUGE BOO-BOO. The truck drives like a car for comfort on long trips. All the power accessories work well and are well designed. OEM spkrs chintzy. GREAT A/C with very adjustable vents. Adjustable lumbar a great feature. Changed oil today, easy, just have a cap style filter wrench.

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  Good ECONOMIC car - 2012 Toyota Yaris
  By thatdude2 - June 5 - 1:22 am

  Good car economical. It could use a middle consold but overall exellent reliable keeping the Toyota high standarts.

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  Loves it! - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By HappyCamper - June 5 - 12:56 am

  Great car. Always fun to drive. I drove about 350 miles on 1 tank of gas. Who doesnt love that with the gas prices nowadays? Very reliable. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Smooth running... - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By hybrid09 - June 4 - 10:20 pm

  Very smooth operation and extremely quiet. Exceeds my expectations, although the ride is a bit soft, as expected for a Toyota. Well-satisfied to this point. Heve the GPS which is a useful and enjoyable option. Car has plenty of power and is well-built.