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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  Shouldve got the V6 - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By RossP - April 6 - 3:46 pm

  Been a Toyo Man since 84. Bought this Solara as soon as it came out. Int/Ext styling sets this car apart. I just went to buy a new Camry for the wife and she said shell keep her Solara. Im 64" so the headroom is a litte tight w/the sunroof, so I have to recline the seat a little more than I want to which makes driving not as enjoyable. Great value for the money, handles well, the 4s nice but go for the V6. Even after 12K miles car rides like new, no rattles and very quiet.

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  Space Car - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By pir8fan - April 6 - 3:40 pm

  Sleek and fun to drive. Average 49 mpg city and 53 highway. Multi-function display is great as well as the nearly heads up display. Upgraded sound system is very good. Ride is smooth and quiet with only noise being tire noise. No wind noise at all under 75mph

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  Initial review after first trip. - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By JohnAE - April 6 - 7:20 am

  Within the first week of ownership completed a one day 830 mile trip. Really smooth, quiet, comfortable, fuel efficient car. Computer said we got 29.9 mpg at 70++ mph. Not a canyon carver but handles well enough for legal speeds. Braking is okay but not stellar, best you could say is it gets the job done without drama. JBL sound system has excellent separation and frequency range. Blue tooth is a plus. Floor mats are black, a little strange. All dash controls are easy to reach and well lit even in bright light. Manual tilt and tele. Seats are supportive even though flat but sit a little to low even when adjusted as high as they go. Headlights light up the night.

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  Amphi-prius - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Spectra - April 5 - 2:16 pm

  Replaced an aging Jeep Wrangler with the Prius, and never looked back ... except to remove the Thule roof rack & install it on the Prius. This way, I can carry a kayak & 2 bikes at once. Hence "Amphi-Prius" Its the most basic model, right off the lot, but light years ahead of the old Jeep. Great Fun! Quiet, smooth, roomy. Terrific A/C. Now that Ive got the technique down, am consistently getting 63 MPG (!) at moderate speeds on secondary roads.

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  My Favorite - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Bird - April 5 - 2:03 pm

  My 2007 Toyota RAV4 (6 cyl) continues to amaze me. This my third Japanese vehicle and will probably exceed my expectations in terms of reliability. Toyotas do not break - no expensive repair bills, no frustration. The 2007 RAV4 is destined to be a favorite for decades to come.

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  Thoroughly amazed - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By coggs - April 5 - 10:26 am

  We did a lot of research before purchasing and our patience was thoroughly rewarded. Trading in a Dodge Durango that got 13.7 miles per gallon will save us almost $13000 in fuel costs alone in the next 5 years based on $3.20/gal. The car has been everything expected and more. We are amazed at not only its mpg (averaging about 49) but its overall comfort and affordability as well. It has numerous qualities including good handling, low noise level, smooth ride (at least compared to our ex-Durango), good rear seat leg room and good performance for a small car. It wont beat a Viper off the line but the 40 to 60 acceleration is amazingly good. Overall, an excellent choice for us.

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  We love our Corolla! - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Chad Vegas - April 5 - 10:15 am

  What can I say? I was a little hesitant to get a Corolla because of the size of the car. Im a big guy and thought that it would not be big enough for me. When we test drove the car it turned out to be very spacious both front and back and we love all of the standard features that came with the car. All in all it was one of the best decisions we made to go with the Corolla.

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  Very pleased. - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Brent - April 5 - 6:03 am

  I am very pleased with my purchase. It has been absolutely reliable with no repairs needed - just routine oil changes. As far as comfort, absolutely amazing. Extremely quiet with a great ride and ZERO squeaks/rattles. The 2.4L four cylinder engine is wayyyy ahead of its time. Lots of low-end torque and smooth power delivery. The 05 facelift of the 5th generation of Camry looks classy and chrome accents in the interior were a nice touch. The car has a very upscale feel. I wish side/torso airbags were standard instead of optional and that 4-wheel disc brakes were standard as well. Both of these issues have been addressed in the 2007 redesign.

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  Solid - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By ResQ198 - April 5 - 5:30 am

  I have had 3 Toyota pickups, an 89, 99 (my all time favorite) and now an 01. The 01 is great in the snow, reliable as can be, and easy to drive. The four cylinder is underpowered, and as some people have mentioned, the gears need some adjustment. I would never discourage anyone from buying anything Toyota, but like everything out there, if you take care of it, it will take care of you.

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  my truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Dave Montville - April 5 - 12:10 am

  The truck has been perfect since I bought it. I went from a Dodge Dakota getting 8 to 9 mpg in the city to getting about 17 on the Tacoma with just as much if not more power than the Dakotas v8.