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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  Esthers Interior departing - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By Esther Dudley - April 12 - 2:06 am

  I love my car but I am very disappointed with what is happening to my interior. I have already replaced my exterior around two of my windows. This is truly a problem with the manufacture I think. This is causing me money to fix and stress because of the way the car is looking. This is my second Toyota and I can not believe what is going on. When I went to the dealership where I purchased the car they did not show interest in fixing the car but for me to purchase. I am trying to find out if this is a recall.

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  Great car but not for Northern Climates - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By ykmichae - April 11 - 5:39 pm

  Im writing this after 8 months (7,000 km) of ownership. I live in far northern Canada. Other than the behavior of the car at extreme cold (-35C and below) and the problems I describe below with the keyless entry, Id highly recommend the car to anyone. Cant see how you can get better driving enjoyment and value at this price.

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  Complete Lemon - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
  By KevinP - April 11 - 11:23 am

  The car has been to the shop 23 times in the last 4 years. There was a short in the electrical system in the first month that Toyota didnt find that caused many other problems. Worst Dealer ever, worst car ever. The car understeers heavily, too little grip for fun handling, I average 23 mpg. I bought this because I thought the Passat was unreliable. I will be trading this piece of crap in for a Saab this week. VW and Toyota need to be taught what customer service is.

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  Wheelchair Accessible - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By ducatidave - April 11 - 8:57 am

  I love this Car! Its is by far the easiest car to transfer into from a wheelchair.

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  If youre going to buy a gas guzzler... - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Mike552 - April 11 - 7:30 am

  You may as well buy this one!!! Dont let some of the magazine reviews turn you away from buying this gorgeous vehicle. I mean, lets face it, is there a halfway decent car out there that has room for the whole family AND gets good gas mileage. The simple answer is NO. My 2008 Sequoia is a smooth smooth ride, and mine spends its time on Boston roads, which are some of the worst pothole infested roads in the country. Some reviews say that the steering is too easy, and coming from a 4runner I can see what they are saying, but if the Sequoia had a Lexus badge they would be complementing its effortless steering instead of trying do equate it to a Chevy Silverado.

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  GOOD Car - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By black10 - April 11 - 4:13 am

  I purchased the Corolla S. This is a real good car. it has a good fuel consumption rate if you drive moderately. i put ten dollars in and it will last me for three days. like any other car, if you floor it, it will go. if you put premium gas in it, it REALLY takes off. This car is a cruise type of car. Driving at 60- 80 burns the gas good. The ABS is REALLY annoying. Every bump you brake on, the thing just keeps on coming on. have no control on it. Steering system is good. the sound system could be more louder. the interior is ok but it can be better. Suspension is real good too. you really dont feel any bumps on the road, even when driving fast.

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  Perfect sporty hybrid/poor music quality - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Jen - April 11 - 3:21 am

  I love this vehicle,even from coming from a new explorer previously. Gas usage and fill up cost is amazing. I average 54.4mpg with lots of driving. I love the interior two toned leather seats. The touchscreen is easy to figure out. My kids have plenty of leg room. The engine is very quiet. The ride is very smooth. Trunk space is great. My only negative is that this vehicle comes across as a sporty hybrid but the sound system is very poor quality for it.

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  Venza: Im loving it! - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By love2bnik - April 11 - 3:16 am

  One word: AWESOME. I have owned this car for a few weeks now, and am so glad I made the purchase. I use to own a 2007 Camry SE, and the Venza totally blows it out of the water. The exterior of the car speaks for itself and I love the 20" tires. The leather interior is a MUST have- it has a nice texture, and the piping is a darker color than the seat. The V6 engine rides smooth, and is pretty peppy. The turning radius is great, making it very easy to park. The JBL stereo sounds great, and I love the blue tooth capability for both my phone and audio player (iPhone). This car really is Lexus quality with the Toyota price. I even chose it over the Lexus RX330!

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  Love this car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Bob - April 11 - 12:23 am

  I just recently purchased this car. The exterior finish is exceptional. The interior is plush and well thought out. The audio system is fantastic. All this plus great mileage too.

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  Great Value - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By EdLee - April 10 - 5:00 pm

  Traded in a GMC Envoy for our RAV4 and couldnt be happier. We looked at CR-V, Rogue, Equinox, and Mariner. After driving the RAV4 there was no comparison. It simply is the best value for the money. I was afraid the RAV4 would be too small compared to the Envoy, but I believe there is actually more room inside the RAV4, and a nicer interior. Ergonomics are great. Good choice for anyone looking at a smaller SUV.