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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  Great little SUV - 2010 Toyota Matrix
  By MACKY - April 28 - 10:26 am

  Ive been driving a Infiniti QX4 for the last 8 yrs or so and has been a good SUV. Due to the outrages gas prices here in Canada Im forced to scale back. I got the 2010 Matrix with the 1.8 liter and sport package and went for the optional hood defector and side moldings for those pesky door dents I hate. Gas mileage is awesome the first tank I put threw it I got 37 mpg or 7 liters per 100 km, blows the stats right out of the water. I suspect it to only get better as things loosen up more, and Im able to use synthetic oil after the break in. Everything has been so far so good, but I havent had it that long yet.

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  2009 Toyota Yaris Sedan Manual - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Jack Santos - April 26 - 4:50 am

  If you are looking for a cheap, reliable car, the Toyota is the way to go. My family has been using Toyota for 20 years and never has had problems. The Yaris is no exception. The styling of the car catches glimpse even more than the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa. The center mounted climate control, radio, and odometers create a very nice V look. Not the fastest car out there, but one that will get you from A to B at a decent pace. Acceleration is slow however buyers are not looking for a fast car.

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  Great car at first look - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By thrawnis - April 25 - 5:16 pm

  Unfortunately, I have had almost 40 problems with the car since day one, and I havent even reached the 1 year mark yet! Problems include parts falling off like grab handles and panels on the inside AND outside, brakes constantly squeal even after four dealer visits, radio/head unit failed, squeaks, rattles, etc. While I love the design, the poor components, sub-par fit-and-finish, poor quality control, and unreliable work on the part of dealership techs will make me question the quality of any future Toyota vehicle. I love the cars visual and aesthetic design, but quality is just as important and for that reason, I would NOT recommend the new Camry to anyone!

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  Good, Reliable Buy - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By JP - April 25 - 12:06 pm

  We love Toyota in my family. I have owned my Corolla S for two weeks and am getting 33.5 mpg, which is what I was looking for. I was looking for a sporty look and the spoiler and sunroof of the Corolla S was the best I could get for the money. Not fond of the boxy look and the sport fabric of the seats which shows every spot. Love the visibility of the front window, the roomy feel, big trunk, data of mpg, and smooth ride. Do not like the placement of center arm rest which is too far back and center cupholder built only for a travel mug. Im getting used to the odd placement of the clock and the illogical shifting direction. Overall, very happy with this purchase.

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  I love my Sequoia, but...... - 2001 Toyota Sequoia
  By Noelle - April 25 - 2:50 am

  Its been a great car. Probably should have gotten the leather seats for a little more comfort. We live on a hill so we have to replace the brakes about every 10,000 miles. Also, the rubber paint around ALL my windows is peeling off. I brought it to the dealer but they said I was out of warranty. I was a little shocked at that. It wasnt a cheap car. So now my wonderful car has peeling paint around ALL the windows, exposing chrome. But overall, its been a wonderful car. Id take it anywhere assuredly. Other than that, the functionality has been really great. Dependable. Wished it looked as great as I feel about it.

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  fitrst time toyota buyer - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By p c - April 24 - 1:16 pm

  I purchased this 2017 Camry XLE 2 weeks ago. First time owning a Toyota. I opted for the 6 cylinder. So far so good. I will be taking my first long road trip next week, so I will get a better feel of it. But, from what I have experienced so far, the CAMRY XLE is everything as advertised. Maybe after my road trip I will give another review with more detail

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  urban traveler - 1995 Toyota Corolla
  By urban traveler - April 23 - 10:00 am

  I found my 95 Corolla one year old with 5000 mls and have really liked it - easy to drive in town, good on long trips and a pretty roomy trunk for a small car and she started on the coldest Minnesota mornings. BUT - at about 65,000 miles - it started burning oil; thought this was a fluke and maybe not a good break in (I change the oil every 3000 miles) - but have heard of other Toyota Corollas doing this and recently heard of a smililar problem with 4 cylinder engine (Trecel) at about 60,000 miles. I hope this is not a problem with Toyotas as Ive been loyal to Toyota for many years.

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  love it but..... - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By goodboy399 - April 23 - 10:00 am

  Test drove 03 civics vs 03 corolla LE. Corolla wins hands down, quieter, smoother, comfortable seats, large trunk and interior, powerful enough for a daily driver and given Toys proven past, should last 200k mi. But... It needs telescoping steering. Either foot pedals too close or steering wheel too far away.

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  Very happy with the Yaris - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By CHCkid - April 23 - 7:16 am

  I bought the Yaris a year ago after my 97 Monte Carlo broke down and decided it wasnt worth fixing. The Yaris is rather comfortable and is very easy to maneuver. It looks really small on the outside but its actually roomy on the inside. I drive at least 30 miles a day to and from school and the gas mileage is incredible and the comfort of the seats are great. The Yaris does not perform well during wintery and icy conditions. The car heats up relatively quick during winter months.

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  Almost Perfect - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Pat - April 22 - 7:33 am

  It was a toss up between Corolla and Civic. Both have documented quality, comparable MPG and priced competitively. The Corolla won out and Ive been very pleased since. I have 27,000 miles so far with only minor complaints. Overall the Corolla is tight, surprisingly quiet for an economy car and the best gas mileage short of a hybrid. Ive noticed the prices have gone up considerably since I purchased mine, but its still a great car for the price. If youre a "bang for the buck" kind of person, this is the car for you.