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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  No Problems - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By metaxaide - April 21 - 10:00 am

  Replaced my 99 Corolla LE which was a great car. This car is much improved and has been completely trouble free. I routinely get 30-32 around town and 38-41 on the highway. It has a smooth ride and handles well in snow and ice conditions.

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  Still Looking Good - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By New2Camry - April 21 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Camry for over 3 months now, and I am pleased. Aside from a minor cosmetic touch up (flaw on the dash), the cars performance has been exactly what I was looking for. After hearing comments from 03 Accord owners about rattles and apparent design flaws, plus news of the Nissan Altima having major problems with its engine, I believe I made the right choice.

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  It rocks - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Danielle - April 21 - 4:50 am

  I love this car. Everything is right where it should be. It is comfortable and luxurious, especially for a Toyota. Way nicer, bigger and more features than the Lexus 400h. The only complaint is the price tag.

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  Solid! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By KK - April 21 - 4:03 am

  I needed to buy an economy car and Id read a lot of good things about the Yaris (I did a lot of car research!), but I was concerned about getting something solid and safe; I didnt want to drive a "tin can". When I finally tried the 08 Yaris sedan, I was happily amazed. Surprisingly solid for an economy car! Has all the extras (side curtain air bags, ABS brakes, power everything) which pushed up the price but still was a great deal. Gas mileage is the best I ever had on a car. Ive driven it almost a week and the tank level has barely moved. Im surprised this car doesnt get more attention.

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  Why Corolla is The Most Reliable - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Robt-Cobb - April 20 - 9:10 pm

  I have 103000 miles on my 03 LE Corolla. This LE will last 400,000 miles just by changing the trans fluid every 10,000 ml, oil at 3,000 ml, spark-plugs at 10-15 months. Tires when worn. The higher wheel base keeps the car from scraping the curb. You can also repair (or find mechanics to repair this car) very cheaply! With premium or high octane gas I get 34cty/40hwy. And I drive at speeds of 70+ mph! The speakers are fine but I hate the lame radio/DVD which is too hard to swap out! And the space doesnt accommodate any of the popular MP3 players! The larger headlights are a welcomed improvement. And the higher door and head room is a great improvement for my bike and computer stuff.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR! - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Jonathag - April 20 - 3:56 am

  I have had this car for about 5 months now, absolutely love it! Fun to drive, reliable, I step on the gas and the pickup is great, comfortable leather seats, just a joy to drive! I thought I would like the heated seats better than I do, but I dont see what the big deal is really. I drive my car all over the state for my job and it performs flawlessly, unmatched Toyota quality. Mine had around 98k when I bought it but you could tell it had been taken care of. My speaker system is a bit flakey, the rear speaker is blown and two of the front speakers go in and out a lot, other than the speakers the car is great. Buy one and you wont regret it! Mpg is around 29-30 hwy and around 21 or so city.

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  Venza - great job Toyota - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By FM - April 20 - 3:20 am

  Car interior is excellent. Love the blue tooth, MP3 ease of use and keyless ignition options. Really enjoy not getting keys out to get in to start the car. Dash layout is good and easy to store things. I have owned the car one week and have never received so many compliments. Barcelona Red color is eye catching. Interior seating is roomy and comfortable. I went in looking at a Highlander and this car caught my eye. It didnt take long to change my mind. Great crossover and enjoyable vehicle.

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  Good Reliable Truck - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By bgr - April 20 - 12:33 am

  I bought this truck brand new over two years ago and I drive it for work every day. The Composite bed is a great feature as well as the power outlet in the bed. I didnt have a generator and it powered some basic items in my house for a couple days after a recent storm. The factory tires ride a little rough but have pretty good reliability. The stereo could be a little better. I love the design on the interior and exterior. Gas mileage is great. I usually average around 21-22 miles per gallon. Towing is ok but my 16 ski boat dogs it down a little. Unfortunately the bed dents easily like my last Tacoma. The front bumper should be chrome instead of plastic as well.

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  My 2007 Camry XLE - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By joe - April 19 - 2:26 pm

  I am a 72 year old white male. After driving this Toyota for 3180 miles, I am more than pleased with handling, economy, fun of driving, ease of parking, quiet ride and excellent vision to the outside. Appx. 2000 miles were on a trip north on I-95 the rest of the mileage was in Daytona Beach, FL and surrounding area. on my 2000 mile trip gas mileage in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina was 32.7, as I edged into the mountains of NC and Virginia, the mileage fell to 30.9. In town driving the mileage has been 20.1. I have used 87 octane fuel. I would still select this automobile knowing what I have now experienced. The new semi manual gear shifting added pleasure in the mountains.

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  Expanding family, so . . . Sienna XLE - 2009 Toyota Sienna
  By Fatguyinalittlecoat - April 19 - 1:20 pm

  We looked at a lot of competitors, 3- row suvs, and felt this gave us the best compromise of function, mileage, features. It is a quiet, nicely put together ride. It came with the features (DVD, leather, power everything) we wanted. If you have kids and take frequent road trips, this is the way to go. We drove the Nissan, Honda (3x), had a Ford (loud), Mazda5, and checked out the Hyundai but felt this was the way to go after researching and testing. I really liked the Mazda5 but with 2 kids and 1 on the way, we decided a "full-size" minivan is what we needed.