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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  Double Miles & Savings at Pump! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By VanSteve - May 17 - 6:50 pm

  After waiting nearly 3 months (back ordered) for my new Camry Hybrid, Im now a proud owner of a 2009 TCH. I traded in my 2002 Mercedes Benz S430 which was only averaging 21-23 MPG with a 20.5 gallon tank running on premium gas. Thus far my first week of owning this vehicle, Im averaging 43 MPG with a mix of city/highway driving during rush hour traffic with normal driving. Hands down, the Camry Hybrid has a very attractive design, good quality, pick-up and excellent consumer ratings. I cant wait to go on some long road-trips and really break the vehicle in; who knows, maybe I can top 50 MPG... lol GOOD JOB Toyota!

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  2005 Toyota Prius Power - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By mb - May 17 - 1:06 pm

  Driving this vehicle, when my wife allows, is fun. It’s quiet! It’s mechanically sound and fuel efficient. It’s part of the oil consumption solution. I like the fuel consumption gauge and center display, which is fully adjustable to the light conditions. The car accelerates well, it’s not a dragster. There is more room in the rear seat for me at 6’2”. We get anywhere from 47 to 51 mpg. The smart entry system is great as well as the standard safety features. We wish Toyota would use better interior trim materials, add an option for a small towing hitch or bike racks. A larger battery capacity with an increased range in speed would make the car more efficient.

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  Love My Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Cordy382 - May 17 - 11:50 am

  Purchased my Venza in February and love it. It turned 5900 miles today and every day I find it a pleasure. Had a late meeting last night and was driving home after a long day, turned on the JBL and just coasted home. This car is a true pleasure to own, drive, and enjoy. Unfortunately, Im beginning to see more of them on the road, so guess my days of being a trend-setter are over!

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  Fun to drive but too noisy - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By SUV lover - May 17 - 9:10 am

  This new SUV is indeed fun to drive. I couldnt wait each day to drive it. 4 cycler engine still has enough power making acceleration sharp. So, everything is good except for one thing: too noisy when accelerating. I found the noise is not coming from engine but from poor insulation or design of exhaust system. I recommend the manufacture should recall to replace this noisy system with quite one. I feel strongly that once this noise issue is solved, the RAV4 4X4 base model can be the best selling SUV in the world and people will love it even more. Sincerely hope the manufacturer will listen to our voices.

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  2008 Highlander Sport vs. 5 competitors - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Otto Mann - May 16 - 8:26 pm

  Excellent choice. I compared to Acura MDX, Lexus RX 350, BMW X5 6 cyl., Hyundai VeraCruz, Subaru Tribeca with test drives. Sport model has firmer suspension than all other Highlander models which is why I picked it. Have pushed this car hard in turns and while it leans, it wont give up grip. Quiet and smooth on the highway. After 3,300 miles, I average 21 mpg overall. Seats are comfortable with plenty of room (3rd row only for small kids). V6 has great pickup and smooth shifts. Stereo is fine. Navigation system is a flop -- not intuitive -- buy a Garmin instead. Have owned Toyota/Lexus for 20 yrs. Great overall reliability.

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  Excellent - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By mike0205 - May 16 - 3:10 pm

  I took a month to compare the Odyssey EX and Sienna LE and found that EX lacks features that are standard in the LE. The only advantage on the EX is the second row middle seat but I thought how many days practically I will use it while I will use the blue tooth, backup camera, USB interface, Roof Rails, one touch windows (back seat), XM radio, Sun shield, Home link etc on a daily basis. Also the third row seats in Odyssey is smaller than Sienna and I started getting back ache within a 7 mile test ride (my wife was driving) while I was able to sit comfortable in Sienna with ample leg room (I am 6.1" with 230 pounds). Sienna LE comes out to $3500 cheaper than EX.

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  MR2 spyder - 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By schutcher - May 16 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun car to drive. It handles curve like no other car i have ever driven. Unlike most other small sport cars it is a smooth ride. It does lack in power, I wish toyota would come out with the zz2 motor in it like what is in the Celica GTS. That would boost the horse power up 40.

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  Ferdis TRD-GT300 - 2004 Toyota Celica
  By Ferdi Laco - May 16 - 2:00 am

  The Celica is one of the most beautifully designed 2-door sports coupe in the market today within the 4 cylinder category. With tons of aftermarket upgrade kits to improve performance. The Celica GT is priced right, with so much potential for improvement and innovation. The owner only has to be resourceful and extremely creative. What would make the 2004 Celica an awesome sports car, put a 19" inch 5-spoke AXIS Hagen wheel with 35 series HP tires, drop body by 2 inch, and install wide body kits by APR, and then install a carbon fiber hood scoop, retain your metail hood. To me that is what a Celica should look like

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  2004 Martix, So Far, A Great Deal - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By Shell56 - May 16 - 2:00 am

  After much research I purchased a 2004 Matrix,base model with the power package,I got it for under $15,000 before the TT&L.I have added mud guards and am going to get the windows tinted.So far I am very pleased with it.It is ideal for hauling stuff, has a sporty look, plenty of room for passengers and is economical to run.This is one vehicle I can say I have fallen in love with, it is a lot for the money.I read it had a noisy engine,which it does,and that the dash dials can be hard to read in the sun light and that was true also but overall it is ideal for my situation.

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  MPG varies widely -- for a reason - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By IowaCityOwner - May 16 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car - comfortable, handles well, fun to drive. The fuel gauge is a mystery as it raises the alrm way too early; but accumulated MPG figure on the screen is accurate, so just multiply that by 10 and youll know when 10 gal. are needed. Ive seen complaints about the fuel mileage not being as high as EPA ratings. People need to realize that when you drive an efficient car, the effects of variations in driving conditions -- cold, wind, hills, fast accelerations, etc. -- are a lot more noticeable than in a car that just burns a lot of gas all the time, no matter what. If you want predictable fuel mileage, buy a gas hog and youll get it!