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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  true work horse - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By mercer - December 19 - 7:46 am

  I purchased my 92 camry used, with 130000 miles. I used it for 2 and a half years for work. driving an estimated 60000 miles a year. I had no problems other than an emission coil needing replaced. other than that it has been well worth money spent. and money earned from this work horse.

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  I love Lola! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Katherine - December 18 - 6:46 pm

  Lola, my Corolla, has been an awesome car. No maintenance issues at all. I drive her 60+ miles per day and only fill up every 5 days. Glad I went for the LE, it feels like a much fancier car than I paid for! Plenty of room for passengers and cargo. Love the dashboard look, too. And its got plenty of get up and go for my needs so far.

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  4x4 V6 Base - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By randy432 - December 18 - 5:03 am

  The V6 is as quick as my V6 Altima but without the drama. The 4x4 and traction control means I just point and go, no tire spinning. Mileage is so so, 16-20 in town depending on how hard you push it. At 80 on the highway 22MPG. At 60 26MPG. The seats are OK, nothing great. Noise level is OK, a little louder than my Altima. The base stereo does everything I need, I just load up a flash drive and set it to random play. I have had the car 4 months.

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  Verdict is still out! - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By tdavis07 - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Overall it has been a fairly good vehicle. I have had to spend about $300.00 in the last three months for minor mechanical repairs. It has 150,000k so I guess that is to be expected.

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  A Solid Grocery-Getter - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Hokie - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Stepped up from a RAV4 for added size and safety. The stable, car-like feel of the Highlander offers no surprises. Although hesitant at first about the 4-cyl., we are finding that its adequate for our needs--mostly "grocery-getting" with an occasional 150-200-mile expressway trip.

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  toyota refuses to fix rotten egg smell - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By tga - December 17 - 10:00 am

  how can toyota disregard the rotten egg smell when so many customers have complained? what should be a fun, economical car is an embarrassment; buyer beware

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  NEW CAR BUYER - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By HUMDRUM - December 17 - 10:00 am

  LIKE: QUIETNESS, GAS MILAGE,EASY TO GET IN AND OUT, STYLE DONT LIKE: SPONGY BRAKES, SMALL ODOMETER READOUT, CRUISE CONTROL STEM PLACEMENT, IGNITION KEY OFTEN BINDS

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  Superb surprise - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By kirschair - December 17 - 5:23 am

  I bought a 2008 Prius 3 weeks ago. In most respects it has far exceeded my expectations. The fit and finish is first rate. It is comfortable for 4 real adults to sit in. The leather is quite nice and comfortable. The bluetooth works very well. As for mileage, I have 900 miles on the car. I live in the country where there are lots of hills. This past week I had to drive for 5 days between liberty and poughkeepsie, ny for a distance of 57 miles. My average mpg was 56 (no B.S.). After 400 miles I put 7 gals. of gas in the tank. It is quiet with no wind noise from the windows. The car does things that no other car does. The nav is good although I like the software on my honda pilot better.

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  Convenient - 2015 Toyota Corolla
  By ebz123 - December 16 - 5:05 pm

  Ive had this car for a couple months now and am pleased with what it is giving me. Great value in terms of design style and fuel efficiency + performance option in S model. This thing has a small engine so it will never feel truly sporty but I have an S model and when in Sport mode, the engine is trained to rev RPM high between gears when hitting the gas instead of holding down RPM as in economy mode (defaults to economy). So far Ive yet to reset the gauge tracking fuel economy and over the first 2,200 miles, I have achieved a little over 29 MPG doing mainly city driving here in Miami where traffic can be a real pain (takes 25-30 minutes at times to travel 6-7 miles).

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  2 DR Hatchback first 1000 - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Dale - December 15 - 6:46 pm

  Well I hit the 1000 mile point in two weeks. The car I bought is a bare bones unit with an upgraded radio and cruise control. No power locks or windows. The car has plenty of power to get you down the road. This is not a rocket, but does good. My mileage over rural / highway has been 34.7. I have a heavy foot and my daughter found that she was driving around in 3rd instead of Drive. Very roomy feel in the drivers seat. There are several things that take some getting used to, like the position of the steering wheel. The seats are a bit stiff, but should soften in time. This is a good lower priced car, but it seems demand is driving the price up. Wait to buy when the price comes down.