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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  I Love My 05 Cam - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Philly2k - October 6 - 12:10 am

  I recently traded my 97 Infiniti J30 for an 05 Camry. I was honestly expecting there to be a dramatic transition, but the Camry is great. The Camry LE had most of the features my Infiniti had (less of course leather, moonroof seatheaters V6). However the benifits of the Camry far outweigh them. The manual transmission was enough to pacify my desire for raw power. Not to mention the Camry rides better and quieter than my Infiniti did. Dont get me wrong the J30 was 7 years old with 140,000 miles, but it had a good ride too. When my lease is up Im definitely getting a maxxed out Camry SE next time.

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  117000 miles on my Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Barry - October 5 - 6:30 pm

  I have an 04 Prius with 117000 miles on it. In the earlier years I had all the problems with the car stalling or not wanting to keep going, but Toyota finally resolved those issues with software upgrades and recalls. For the past 3 years Ive had no problems. At 112000 miles I needed a new water pump, but otherwise Ive had no mechanical issues. The battery is fine. I drive exclusively on local roads, 40 miles each way to work, and get 48 mpg during the winter (New Hampshire winters are brutal) and am now getting 57 mpg in the Springtime. The car gets significantly less gas mileage if I only use it for short hops (5-10 miles) or if I drive on the highway.

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  When driving became fun again! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Michael - October 5 - 2:03 pm

  I cant recall the last time I found myself looking forward to driving; my Yaris makes my being on the road a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I can only echo others comments regarding the Yaris handling, fuel economy (Ive been averaging 34 MPG as a city driver) and its inescapable head-turning likeability. I adapted quickly to the center-mounted instrument panel. Variety is the spice! I definitely recommend the Power Package if only for the power-lock amenity. The standard stereo setup thats included in this package is robust enough for me. Friends have all commented on the Yaris deceptively roomy interior. It seats five, but four seems a more realistic number to expect.

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  Avalon 2006 Limited - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Gregory - October 5 - 9:53 am

  Purchased the Limited today, very happy with design and features. It is a huge car, no comparison in inside space with Camry. And so quiet, I had to go outside to make sure the motor is running, you cant hear a thing inside. This car can do more than I can imagine so far. Limited rules!

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  For the Price, It is Well Worth It!!! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Alexiander Soler - October 5 - 9:10 am

  The price that was paid for this vehicle, I would have to say that it is well worth it. The Corolla LE is extremely comfortable, reliable, and fun to drive. It saves me plenty of money on gas, where as there are times that I do not have to fill the tank for at least two weeks. I think that I made the right choice on this one.

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  Long Lasting! - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By Peter Fenner - October 5 - 7:33 am

  I bought this car new in March, 2007 and have 163,000 miles on it. Ive done all the maintenance but my repair bill has been exactly $10 for a new gas cap! Its by far the most reliable car I have ever had and it still runs like new! The only negative is that even with the V6, its a little sluggish, but it rides smooth and has never let me down. As far as maintenance, the brakes are very strong, I can stop on a dime, and last a long time (around 75,000 miles). The tires do wear fairly quickly. Overall, how much more can I ask for and given how its running, even though I have the itch for a new car, why would I? It will be interesting to see how long it lasts - As I mentioned before, it sounds no different than when I drove it off the lot! Ok, its three weeks after I wrote the above review. The transmission died just short of 164,000 miles. Its a bit disappointing to say the least. Still a good car but I expected it to last beyond 200,000 miles. Donated it to Goodwill and bought a Honda CRV. Oh well

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  The best car Ive ever owned! - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By snowwie - October 5 - 3:27 am

  The 2008 Toyota Avalon is the best value car in its class. The ride is very smooth & quiet. Ive test drove the Lexus GS before I test drove the avalon and I could not tell the difference in performance. The avalon has more cabin space at lower price

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  A Hybrid Accessible to Everyone - 2013 Toyota Prius c
  By lmj009 - October 5 - 2:37 am

  Thanks to some great deals, I managed to get a new 2013 Prius C Two for $17k, which was comparable to the non-hybrids I was looking for and came with many more features. The Two has all features I could ask for. There is obviously some initial adjustment if youve never driven a hybrid, but the fuel economy is as promised. There were complaints about lack of power but I drove a V6 before and had no problem adjusting. The car is a lot roomier than it appears, particularly the backseat. Headroom is great, and the trunk space is good as well. Of all the cheaper hybrids, this had the best features and room, and with a good deal it can cost you less than many non-hybrids.

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  Excellent vehicle. Good job Toyota Japan - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By sammy b - October 4 - 8:43 pm

  I got my Rav4 v6 4wd sport last week and I love it. It is built very well, and performs great at acceleration and handling. It gets very good mileage for 269hp v6 w/4wd. Stable at high speeds, comfortable, looks good, fits perfect in my garage, what else is there to say. Test drive one and youll be hooked like I was.

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  A Good Match for Us - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Mas - October 4 - 7:10 pm

  We wanted reliability, comfort, good mileage, and high build quality. The Avalon delivers all. We sold our 2005 PT Cruiser because of noise and because we expected better mileage from a 4-cylinder. After driving the Avalon 3 weeks I wonder why I ever strayed from Toyota. The workmanship is superb, and the roominess heavenly. My husband would not consider a Camry due to size, but is happy with the Avalon. Ride is soothing and quiet.