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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  THE - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By Daniel Hedrick - December 28 - 4:13 pm

  This truck is bad ass! I love my Tacoma, it is the most fun to drive. I wish that I had a little bit of better fuel mileage, but it is all good to me!

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  Mixed bag - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By RonC - December 28 - 1:57 pm

  Pros: Roomy, great gas mileage, dependable, good dealer network, good driver lumbar support. Cons: Armrest placement awkward for trip comfort, suction cup marks on windshield, handles rough pavement poorly, wind noise very noticeable at highway speeds, outside rearview mirrors block side views, no way to judge your parking as fender height totally blocks any visibility for parking. Overall road comfort feel is like a truck.This is my seventh toyota and I feel the rav 4 did not meet my expectations.

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  97 Avalon - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By jish - December 28 - 2:23 am

  I bought the car used for $3500 in 2006 with 207k miles, and it now has 243k miles. The car has been very reliable for me overall. I have done some preventive maintenance, such as change the original timing belt and water pump at about 220k miles (recommended to be done at 100k miles). The car did develop some squeaky noises in the front suspension, but this was fixed by replacing the strut mounts for about $250 including labor. Also, the front drivers window stopped rolling up and down for about 6 months (luckily it was stuck in the "up" position), but then magically starting working again. Overall, the car has been excellent. I look forward to driving it at least another 100k miles.

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  The Car That Never Dies - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Ash - December 27 - 10:34 pm

  This was my first car and honestly it was great. The car lasted up to 230,000 miles, and the only reason it died was because I had given it to my irresponsible younger brother who had driven it for 30,000 miles without getting a single oil change... even after that with a huge knock under the hood, it would still start up and drive down the road. PROS: 1. The transmission was great. The car had no problem going 100 mph... it actually had a better ride going faster. 2. It ALWAYS started. Most reliable car ever. 3. Awesome sound system for a stock radio. My bass bumped better than a custom speaker. 4. It was okay to slack a little on oil changes. Now for the negatives... 1. Electrical problems. The cigarette lighter stopped working as well as one of the power outlets. It was not a blown fuse either, they just stopped working for no rhyme or reason. 2. CD player would skip when hitting the brakes or taking a right turn. 3. The cassette player would spit a tape out when the car was cold. No problems once it started heating up. 4. Easily weighed down/bottoms out. Fitting five people in the car and driving over a small bump would be the scariest thing ever. 5. Constant minor repairs. Ive had quite a few with this car out of the six years that I drove it... Repairs: 1. Struts. I think I replaced them three or four times. I would drive through a massive pothole and the stuts would be fine... but then one day out of random, theyd be s***. 2. Replaced the timing belt at 180k. It was previously replaced at 90k. 3. EXHAUST. I forget the amount of times I had gotten a random whole in my exhaust pipe. I remember it happening to me very frequently. 4. It had another on&off problem before I had given the car to my brother where I would start it and the RPMS would go very low causing the car to stall out. I have no idea why this happened, but I would give it a few mins and it would be good to go again. It would do this a couple of times every few months or so. All in all, a really reliable car. I still see them everywhere in 2015 and there is a reason. That car had taken me everywhere and I beat it up... but it always drove.

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  Great - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Nirav Pancholy - December 27 - 9:18 pm

  Nice new car

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  Downsized from Lexus ES 300 - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By AJ - December 27 - 5:23 pm

  Bought the car 1 week ago to replace a perfect, but aging 2002 Lexus ES 300. I like to sport look of the Corolla S and thought I would be sacrificing a lot but not really. No heated seats, no leather (in my model) and no 6 disc CD changer but thats about it. Gas mileage is excellent and car is more than what you would expect to get, with the price tag. Really liking it so far and I know this car will be burning gas down the NY roadways for many, many years to come.

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  Love my Corolla - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Stan Hillyard - December 27 - 2:36 pm

  The main selling point was visibility. The Corolla drivers seat allows better rear visibility for a shorter driver (my wife) than the Civics we looked at. Having purchased it I love to drive it. It is very solid at freeway speeds and carries 4 people comfortably. I get the advertized 30 mpg in the city and 35-37 mpg driving from Las Vegas to LA at 85 mph with the air conditioning on. The air conditioning handles Las Vegas summers and doesnt underpower the engine. The trunk is large. My only complaint is lots of road noise on some old concrete freeways, probably due to the stiff suspension (that we love).

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  Best Car Ive owned - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - December 27 - 12:16 pm

  Ive driven a lot of cars over the years. This one is by far the best. One of best looking cars on road too. Ride is great, quiet, plenty of power in 4 cyl, and acceleration is just fine on hwy. Ive average 31 mpg city hwy. My job is sales, so dependability is key. I dont know what everyones complaints are about here, but Toyota still builds a top notch car. I love the blue color, sunroof, JBL stereo is awesome, tires are great and at 25,000 barely show any wear. This was by far the best car I could have bought for the money, at $400 under invoice. I still see no other car on the road that has the sharp looks of this vehicle, new or otherwise. Buy one used!

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  If you are looking for fun, this is it. - 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By silvertoy - December 27 - 10:00 am

  Seriously, if anyone gives this car a bad review, then they probably dont own one. I find myself driving 15 miles out of the way on my commute to and from work, just so I can fit in those extra twisties. Its an excercise in minimalism. True there isnt much storage space, but theres cant be more than 2 of you anyway, how much could you possibly need. I would go as far as saying that the car is even economical, I find myself driving it instead of my Tundra because I get anywhere from 30-35mpg consistantly, AND it uses regular unleaded. Its just fun. Its supportive seats are comfortable on long trips.

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  Avalon: Like Cruisin on Catalina - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By jdog - December 27 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy the Avalon. This car gets a solid 25 mpg without sacrificing performance. I can turn off overdrive and step on it going up mountain passes and around slower traffic and the V-6 responds really well. The ride is smooth and the interior sits six adults comfortably. Ive taken road-trips with four other adults without any complaints about space or comfort. The only problem Ive had is that the brakes have a pernicious squeal on this model that was not corrected by the new brake pads that the dealer installed. I think that this was corrected on later models. Overall, I think my Avalon is an excellent cruising sedan.