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 and versatile - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Dogdoc - May 20 - 4:36 am

  I retired a big SUV after 10 years and 160K miles to buy a new Matrix. It always gets noticed, and everybody likes the looks. I volunteer at a high school, and the kids have dubbed it "cool" and "so cute", about the highest praise available from teenagers. It seats five with good comfort (Ive taken some of those same kids on a two-hour trip, and they stayed cheerful in the back seat) and it has the cargo room needed by a homeowner and business owner making weekend trips to Lowes and Home Depot, and the plastic surface and abundant tiedowns and cubbies make the cargo area very useful. And it sure was nice to see the dials on the gas pump start with a "2" instead of a "4".

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  Paint chiping off - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By Mike - May 19 - 5:56 pm

  The paint on the drivers side mirror is not only chipping away but you can actually see it bubbling. The car has less than 50K miles on it but the dealer will not repair or replace the mirror. I also have a 2000 Honda Accord 6 cyc. I looks and drives like its brand new. And is has 111K miles on it with no major work whatsoever. Bottom line, stay away from Toyota. You will never go wrong with a Honda.

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  After One Month - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By higganum - May 19 - 12:26 pm

  We had a 2004 6 cyl 4WD SR5 which we were very pleased with-excellent performance and reliability. We decided to buy the new SR5 and have been driving it 4 weeks. First off, a review at this site describes it as "taller, wider, longer." It is not wider and longer enough to be noticeable-but believe me it is quite a bit taller. Dont buy this unless the woman/children in the family climb in so everyone is on board with the height-it is significantly higher than the previous model. The trade off is the improved off road clearance. The ride is great, acceleration satisfactory, perfect build quality. We started off with 18.5 mpg and our last tank was 21 mpg.

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  Gatorland Toyota sold me A great 2015 Prius - 2015 Toyota Prius
  By 2015prius - May 19 - 11:40 am

  Many people told me I would regret buying a Prius, and they are all wrong. I have gotten some really amazing mileage on my 2015 Toyota Prius Persona. Toyota makes excellent vehicles. My brother bought a Scion, and his is great also; of course its made by Toyota too. The only drawback is the dash is hard to clean because it is rough finished, everything else works flawlessly. Gatorland Toyota of Gainesville, Florida sold me this car at a great price too! People told me it would have no pep at all, boy they are wrong. You should go take one for a spin before you put it down. So many features, so great a price.

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  Love it.... - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By MooseCar - May 19 - 4:36 am

  Purchased for commute, hauling dogs, camping and minor offroading. Very impressed with how nice of a ride this vehicle offers on highway and back roads. One of the few SUVs on truck frame, but rides very nice. Ton of great options.

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  Been trying to find an issue.. Cant seem to find one.. - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By themanindbox - May 19 - 3:40 am

  I have been looking for faults.. I honestly cant find any. At 12 years old, the most that has been replaced is Tires, Plugs, A tie Rod End, and the drop links on both sides, and a few sets of bulbs.. Thats about it.. Even the original speakers, and stock radio sounds good. The Top makes a little noise at 70+ which i think is just an adjustment. Other then that.. Honestly.. Just awesome!

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  Fuel Economy grrrrr - 2016 Toyota Sequoia
  By Hack - May 19 - 2:21 am

  The 2016 needs to be updated in a lot of ways but it didnt stop me from picking it as my first extravagant large SUV. I based my decision on Toyotas long reputation on reliability and resale value. I figured if it aint broken they didnt need to fix it. The gas mileage is awful but hey this truck is a beast. We can take our bass boat, kayaks, and all our stuff on long road trips all over the country in one hell of a reliable, safe, and comfortable vehicle.

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  A solid choice - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By NYC - May 18 - 4:33 pm

  I leased a 2000 Camry and I find that the 2009 Camry I purchased about 6 weeks ago is a better driving experience for me. The handling is tighter and the car maneuvers easier. If you are looking for a family car that gives you plenty of room and a quiet ride. The Camry is a great choice. The XLE adds the extras like the JBL radio which is standard to the stereo I had in my "07 Lexus IS250! Bluetooth and Homelink are very useful and the heat and radio controls and the steering wheel are convenient.

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  Gas mileage is REAL - 2017 Toyota Prius
  By Prius lover - May 18 - 4:14 pm

  Purchased a new Prius Two Eco and just finished the first tank of gas... 56 MPG! You cannot beat this car for operating cost. Extremely comfortable to drive and ride as a passenger, far more leg room (and cargo room) than would be expected. At this point, Im thrilled!

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  Best Yet - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Richard G. - May 18 - 4:03 pm

  Best car and best Avalon I have ever owned. Rides like a dream. Looks great. Very roomy. Almost no noise. I cant believe my fuel mileage. Consistently between 28 and 33 using cruise when driving the speed limit. Got great value on my 03 trade in to boot.