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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  Very Trustworthy Car!!! - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By Mrs. Taylor - July 11 - 5:36 am

  My car was bought in 2003 while I was college. I still have the car. My husband and I both drive the car. Its not sporty but you can definitely depend on it. The only major repair was to only replace the transmission, but at 185,000 miles I didnt complain. Now at 201,000 miles, it continues to run strong.

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  Reliable Car - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By D. Corley - July 10 - 3:50 pm

  I bought my car in 96 with 40k miles. I only had 1 major problem with it, oil leaks and this was around the 60-70k miles. I have had it for 10 years and have 105k miles and hope to keep it another 10. It is very reliable and rides nicely. However, had problems with the power windows twice. Overall I have been very happy with the car. My husband has a 97 and it rides nicely too.

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  Love the Highlander - All Around Great SUV - 2012 Toyota Highlander
  By goodboi_75 - July 10 - 3:07 pm

  I absolutely love my 2012 Highlander, Base 3.5 L V-6 AWD. It currently has 15,000 miles on it. Its a nice driving vehicle with comfortable ride and outstanding reliability. Its a tank in the NY snow and backs up my steep driveway like a breeze - no spinning, slipping, etc......unlike my 2003 Ford Escape 4x4 which had a tough time backing up the driveway. I went on a recent trip to PA and the highlander handled the hilly terrain with ease and the best part is the gas mileage - averaged 25 mpg highway! I was shocked it did so well and was very impressed. Thats better than the 23 mpg hwy rating on the sticker window!

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  Poor gas mileage - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By sail360 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  positive points: LOTS of interior space, blue tooth, pretty quiet ride. negative points: averaging 21 mpg with conservative driving, 4 cylinders had to struggle a bit going on long uphill stretches, exterior skin seems to be thinner and less ding resistant compared to my older Toyota.

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  Ill keep buying them. - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Cathy - July 10 - 7:13 am

  My last Corolla was a 1991 which I kept for 12 years. I tried a RAV4 but it had too many minor problems, so I traded it in for this car, used at 9000 miles. I find it has less power than my 1991 had (even at its advanced age) but that might be due this one being automatic. It is extremely comfortable to drive and really looks sporty. Ive found my forever car... my next will be a Corolla - in another 10 years!

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  Unplanned Purchase, but so Far, so Good - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By chuck17015 - July 10 - 4:31 am

  I wasnt planning to get another car for another year or so, but when the postcard came in the mail, I went to check this vehicle out. Took the test drive and liked the ride. I was coming out of a Honda Fit, so driving this around felt like driving a beast, but I kinda liked it. The Fit was a nice little car with great gas milage, but I just wanted something a bit more capable. Also, the Fit was rather a slow vehicle for something so small. Im happy to say The Rav4s base 4 cylinder actually is quicker than the Fit. The handling is good, not as good as the CRV I once drove, but still solid. The ride is smoother than either of the other vehicles. Still, the gas milage is pretty low.

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  Toyota Tundra SR5 TRD Package - 2017 Toyota Tundra
  By Ray Lyons - July 9 - 2:01 pm

  Nice truck, handles well, comfortable, smooth ride. Only thing missing is a few bells and whistles that are on comparable Ford/Chevy trucks. No turn signals in mirrors, no power rear window, no dual climate controls. These were standard on my old 2010 Toyota Tundra 4X2. It would have been nice to have these, but I gave them up for the long term benefit. I expect my Tundra to last a lot longer than the other pickups on the road. Too bad Toyota cut back on these on this model, you have to get the Limited, Platinum to have these included. Fuel economy is not as good as the other pickups on the market, but I didnt buy it for fuel economy. Otherwise very happy with the purchase.

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  spacious ride - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By petras - July 9 - 6:03 am

  The xls has a nicely appointed, spacious interior yet exterior dimensions are fairly modest. mileage is around 21/30 city/hwy. Overall reliablily is very good although watch for noisy front suspension due to bad strut support mounts, $400 to fix, also my car has some occasional squeaks/rattles from glovebox area, I definitely would buy an avalon again.

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  Disappointing Powertrain - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Gary Abraham - July 8 - 8:30 pm

  I am very disappointed with my 4runner. At 3000 miles it developed a driveline vibration when it is driven between 50 and 70 mph. Toyota head office tech reps could not fix it. Between the dealer and head office I have been given the run around for 15 months. I hope they replace the truck, if not I will have sell it soon. Buyers beware...

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  No hill holder on 4cyl. 4wd - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By rr93lwb - July 8 - 8:08 pm

  2011 RAV4 Limited 4cyl. 4x4. For me (63") I find seat bottom short and uncomfortable. Mom (54") loves the seats. Ride isnt terrible but still bounces around like SUVs do. Rides nicely on highway. One of the quieter vehicles. Visibility is pretty good. Storage and cargo space is great. Mom is averaging 14mpg because she drives short 3-5 mile trips to the store or doctor and frequently sits in traffic. But, its still 3-4mpg below lowest EPA estimate. 1 highway trip 1000miles I averaged close to 30mpg. There is no hill holder on the 4cyl. 4wd model. Car rolls back quickly and easily if stopped on incline and remove foot from brake. Very disconcerting. Only thing my mom does not like.