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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  QUICKIE - 2018 Toyota Sequoia
  By TOM - May 2 - 3:23 am

  The technology of today has not caught up to the Sequoia. Gas mileage is crazy bad! The ability to load a 4x8 sheet of plywood cant happen. The price is out of line.

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  Good Everyday Truck - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By A Alvi - May 1 - 9:30 pm

  Love the quality and the look of this truck, both logical interior design and the beautiful exterior .

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  A funny story about my beloved Sienna - 2001 Toyota Sienna
  By SexyMechanicinHeals - May 1 - 4:36 pm

  I have owned many cars in the past & not one has ever made me this happy as an owner. I am also an amateur mechanic. My story is classic, because I am a smart-a$$ & it was fun. Last summer I was driving behind a cherry red mustang with the top down. Sweet. Anyhow, the driver was kind of a jerk, ignoring the admirers on the sidewalk calling to him, "What year?" Fed up with this mans "Holier than Thou" attitude, I patted the side of my gray minivan, smiled wide & said, "2001! Aint she a beuat? Awesome mileage & drives like a dream!" The side of the street guys were in stitches as I waved and pulled away slowly and proud. I LOVE THIS VAN! My next one will just be a newer version!

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  for wasnt really a fan boy anyway and unsatisfied - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By stephen - May 1 - 12:04 pm

  its a really nice car, I love driving it, it doesnt accelerate as fast as some of the cars Ive owned but its a 1.8 L 4 cylinder what do you expect? and notfanboy dont cry about the transmission get a manual and for unsatisfied thats a nice novel you wrote but again they do offer a manual 6spd transmission that alleviates the majority of what you dont like about the car. I cant say much about the backseat because I dont sit in it, I know the storage really impressed me for the size, I went to Costco and got two households worth of groceries folded down the back seats and fit everything with room to spare, didnt have to jam anything in and scratch my stuff up or anything. For everyone who is interested in the car its awesome, good mileage, very smooth even into the 100s, handles great and has a ridiculously tight turning radius. Again it was a solid buy.

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  for wasnt really a fan boy anyway and unsatisfied - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By stephen - May 1 - 12:04 pm

  its a really nice car, I love driving it, it doesnt accelerate as fast as some of the cars Ive owned but its a 1.8 L 4 cylinder what do you expect? and notfanboy dont cry about the transmission get a manual and for unsatisfied thats a nice novel you wrote but again they do offer a manual 6spd transmission that alleviates the majority of what you dont like about the car. I cant say much about the backseat because I dont sit in it, I know the storage really impressed me for the size, I went to Costco and got two households worth of groceries folded down the back seats and fit everything with room to spare, didnt have to jam anything in and scratch my stuff up or anything. For everyone who is interested in the car its awesome, good mileage, very smooth even into the 100s, handles great and has a ridiculously tight turning radius. Again it was a solid buy.

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  My Dream Minivan! - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By DCSowell - May 1 - 10:50 am

  As a mom of three I do not have the luxury of owning my dream "car" anymore, I had to settle for a dream minivan, and this one is it!!

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  New Avalon is Outstanding! - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Karen - May 1 - 10:46 am

  The new Avalon is outstanding! Its our 2nd in a row, third Toyota & its over the top! It rides like butter on a hot roll. The new look is so elegant, new safety feature in brakes just adds to it being a car we have always felt extremely safe in. It is roomier inside, back seats recline, the dash is all push button, hidden controls & the new colors are beautiful with the leather seats. It has awesome acceleration & smoothest ride. Our last Avalon of 6 yrs was still like brand new, other than basic maintenance, oil changes, new battery & tires, we never had it in the shop. Toyotas are outstanding cars, & get great gas milage. Well always have an Avalon, we come from an all Toyota family.

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  Smooth drive, but not quite the MPGs - 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ak49 - May 1 - 7:32 am

  Ive driven nearly 15K miles now, including two Alaskan winters. The biggest drawback to-date for the hybrid technology is that even when the battery is fully charged and capable of operating in EV mode, the engine is needed to heat the air for the defroster. In my climate, that cuts into the possible efficiency at least 5 months out of the year. All told, including daily idle time to pre-warm the car for my wife, I still averaged over 18 MPG in the winter. Everyday summer driving in the city is more like 23 MPG. Best ever for a 100+ mile road trip, fully loaded with many hills was just over 27 MPG. With that said, the drivetrain is exceptionally smooth. Interior finish is OK.

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  Incredible beautiful quality technical car - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By stealth64b - May 1 - 4:24 am

  We have the 2012 Toyota Camry XLE with everything package. We also have the 2012 Lexus H200 with everything package. The Camry handles very well, and is so quiet running that we do not use the stereo above level 5. They carpeted the roof, walls, floor of the trunk, carpeted the wheel wells to reduce noise, recessed the wind shield to reduce air noise, and even with out the stereo on, it is a pure pleasure to drive. The Camry handles easily, parks very easily, turns very nicely. It feels SOLID when you drive it, ROOMY with large trunk, wide seats, and extended wheel base. We are up to 44 MPG now and still going up. The detail and workmanship make this car a MUST BUY if you are comparing.

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  Great Car - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Larry - April 30 - 9:20 pm

  Ive had my Avalon Limited for two weeks and so far it’s the best car I’ve ever had. Comfort, amenities and enough power to handle freeway driving. I like the overall look especially the cabin. It came with DVD NAV, VSC and Laser Link Cruise Control. I was pleasantly surprised at the way it handled on moutain roads. I guess the VSC paid off. I am still learning the NAV system and the Laser Link Cruise takes some getting used to, especially if someone cuts you off. A satellite radio was installed. The dealer used a third party to install it. The antenna is on the vehicle centerline half an inch above the rear window. Looks a lot better than it would have on the trunk lid.