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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  lene - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By marlene - December 6 - 10:00 am

  ac works very well

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  New RAV4 AWD - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By dogsofwar - December 6 - 10:00 am

  My Wife just bought the Rav 4 a few days ago..Not even 200 miles on the odometer yet. It rides great and handles well. It has every bit as much power as my 03 VUE with a V6.I was impressed with the standard feautures that other car dealerships nickel / dime you to death on. The steering wheel mounted audio controls is a very nice tough indeed. Finally Toyota has gotten the oil filter placement right..no more busted knuckles trying to change the oil or so it seems. If it gets the mileage that its rated for it will be a very impressive little suv.

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  A 60 Year Old Baby Boomer in a car for a 30 something. - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By ktb1 - December 6 - 7:42 am

  OK. So here goes. Purchased Aug 2012. This is not going to be a very good review. I am a 58" and about 255lbs so Im a big guy. When I sit in the buckets seats they uncomfortably squeeze me on both sides. The "sport suspension" makes the vehicle ride like a JEEP! Every little bump! And now onto the tires. Low profile, hard riding, difficult to maintain even air pressure. "Grey" coated Aluminum wheels. When and if you inadvertently scrape them on a curb or such they cannot be touched up and look cheezey! The automatic tire inflation monitor on the cabin touch screen is absolutely useless. The so called "miles per gallon" gauge on the right side of the dashboard is downright stupid.

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  Excellent vehicle w/ a couple of quarks - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By matt621 - December 5 - 7:43 pm

  Excellent acceleration & good handling. (V6, AWD, w/ sport pkg.) Lots of room, drives very nice. Super nice ride. In fact, maybe too nice. Could use a little tighter suspension. Took on a 10K mile trip and other than sagging, pulling and poor fuel economy (see below) had a very nice trip. Front seats are okay to drive in, but forget about sleeping in them. On long trips we frequently stop at rest stops to get a little sleep and these seats are horrible trying to sleep in them. Dont even think about it. Couldnt sleep in the back, too much stuff. :) Overall a very good vehicle that we use everyday to its fullest.

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  Unexciting Niche Vehicle That Works - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By MarkM. - December 5 - 9:23 am

  Traded in an 06 Subaru Outback that was a fine car, that had uncomfortable front seats for aging baby boomer backs. Researched crossovers for 4 months (Q5, CX9, Equinox, 2010 Outback, RX350, Santa Fe, Acadia, Highlander). Found the Venza to be the best overall choice for seat comfort, V6 response/MPG, cargo space, value, and Toyota reliability. Have driven about 700 mi. So far-have gotten what I thought-[A Crossover Compromise] of Comfy seats, vague "Bouncy" steering feel, rough ride over bumps thanks to the (no choice) 20" wheels, 24.6 average combined MPG, smooth V6 powertrain, useless small display backup camera with no NAV, and average interior material quality with inferior dash construction.

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  Mostly as expected but not everything - 2009 Toyota Highlander
  By pma022 - December 4 - 5:23 pm

  Own this SUV for nearly 2 years. Reliability is good. No issue so far. But there are quite a few rattling noises from dash,2nd and 3rd row seats. Its definitely not as serious as mechanical or electrical problem but sometimes is quite annoying. Dealer said its from under seats and cannot fix due to safety issue. Another problem is the very weird tire size. Theyre top expensive. Change a set will charge $955 at Costco and $1000 at America Tire. Basically its a comfortable and fast car but Toyota can make it better.

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  Awesome Car - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By S - December 4 - 10:00 am

  My 99 Camry has 285,000 miles on it. Nothing has been done to it except regular maintenance like the timing belt and oil change. It still has the original motor and engine. Im looking for other cars in case this one just break down but so far Ive havent had any problems! I had this care since 99 and I LOVE it. The speakers are great and nothing is more reliable. Toyota needs to go back to making cars like they did in 1999!

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  Luxury Car for Moderate Money - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Bill Fisher - December 4 - 3:20 am

  This car replaced our 2000 Avalon which was stellar. So far the experience is even better with the additional 70 HP compared to the old model and the quieter and more luxurious ride only increases our pleasure. We checked out everything in the price range and nothing came close for the dollar. This thing is whisper quiet, and for my driving style a perfect fit. This is not a sports machine so the handling isnt sports car tight but it is more than adequate for a luxo-mobile. The cabin of the Avalon is a great place to exist and it inspires confidence on the highway or around town. This wasnt my first Avalon and it wont be my last Avalon, I can already tell.

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  Drives Well, Good on Gas - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Rick - December 2 - 8:13 am

  Bought this car with 39k on it. The car rides well and has good stability. If I have any complaints is the interior cloth seats tend to generate static electricity and dont hold up well with child seats. The interior is loaded with plastic. Car is tight, steers well and a pleasure to drive. It actually has a lot of similar characteristics to a luxury car I have that costs almost 3 times the price.

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  OK ride - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By mac - December 2 - 6:43 am

  Watch the strut mounts, they are making the noise, not the struts. Dont let the mechanic get away with just struts, needs the mounts too to stop the noise. I bought this from a friend who got it new, now have 163K on it and runs great. Love the engine and transmission, suspension is awful, front and rear. 50/50 highway/city 23 mpg, have gotten up to 27. Geared too low for good mileage but has good pick up due to this. Just change the oil regularly and timing chain, water pump, plugs and belts every 100K and drive it everyday, through the rattles from the suspension. Turn the radio up and drown it out. $2000 and 80,000 miles not a bad deal. Still going.