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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  Love my Toyota Corolla - 2013 Toyota Corolla
  By C. Thompson - May 26 - 8:48 pm

  I was having to replace my 2001 Mazda MPV and was looking for something that was comfortable and easy to get in and out of. Was interested in a small SUV or crossover; however, I saw this little beauty on the lot and it had less than 6,000 miles on it! Took it for a couple of rides. Love the acceleration and the drivers seat is comfortable for me, though maybe a little lower to the ground than I would like at my age. Banking on Toyotas reputation and Edmunds review, I bought it and am very happy so far.

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  My 06 was better on gas!!!! - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By jsmeltz - May 26 - 7:13 pm

  Nice car! Love the redesign (Inside & out)! Not as peppy as my 2006 S. Planned on driving my 06 for 5 more years as was so dependable, but totaled it so needed a new car. I chose the S Plus due to the disc brakes all the way around. Purchased with the convenience package. Love the XM and blue tooth which I didnt have before. With that said, I am so DISAPPOINTED with the gas mileage. My 06 got 33 MPG consistently. This car barely gets 29 MPG. They advertise as 35 MPG which is NOT true. But its still a nice car. As far as reliability, that remains to be seen. Oh yea, I put 5,000 miles on it so far, and still cant get rid of the epoxy smells when I accelerate. Seems to come thru the vents.

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  Bigger but not Better - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By 3lakeswi - May 26 - 2:06 pm

  The Toyota is far bigger than any before it, but is by no means better. A goofy and unavoidable traction control system that actually governs the engine, exterior pieces that mysteriously disappear, and other problems plague our Sequoia. The engine and driveline (excluding the traction control) deliver good power and reliability with decent mileage. The interior styling is blah and the newness wears off of this vehicle rapidly.

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  Wonderful small truck - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By JimiDGreek - May 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Tacoma last year and I love it! Great on gas,I average 28mpg. Good ride,drives nice. A/C is ice cold. Cab is a little tight for me,Im 5`10. No problems at all with it. I would buy another for sure. Next time Im getting an extra cab. I feel its a better value than a Ranger or S-10.

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  4Runners Rule - 197K and Going - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By ToyFan1 - May 25 - 9:16 pm

  I purchased this vehicle new and it has been the most reliable vehicle I have owned. Ive had other brands Hondas, Chevys, Ford, GMC.... and nothing compares to Toyota quality and reliability (not even my Honda Accord). The only maintenance has been oil changes, tires, timing belt per owners manual and brakes (probably weakest feature - upgraded to Tundra front discs last year). I would buy another 4Runner, but this one still has years of reliable service left.

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  A (Quiet) Joy to Drive - 2011 Toyota Prius
  By upchurch80 - May 25 - 8:34 pm

  Although I had read reviews suggesting the Prius was like driving a wet blanket (something that almost kept me from buying it), Ive found myself looking forward to the chance to just get in and drive somewhere. My wife and I bought this car to take on long trips to replace our XTerra and as a commuter car for me. Theres almost no road noise. In fact, when we first drove it, I mistook the fan for that because it is so quiet. The engine handles the steep hills in our area with no trouble. You may find the price a bit steep, but the more gas goes up, the better the deal the car is.

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  Having your cake and eating it - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By ijennings1 - May 25 - 3:40 pm

  This is my first Camry. Recently I owned a 2010 Mazda 6 3.7 and a 2012 Kia Optima 2.4. The Camry simply is a class above these two. I hadnt even driven a Camry or a Hybrid before June this year. I believe cars should go around bends when asked to, which is why I never owned one. However, Toyota have re-worked the suspension and it handles better than my Mazda, although not quite as good as the Optima. The hard ride is new to Camry owners, but it is there, believe me. However, it holds the road well, the Bridgestone Turanza tires appear to help.

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  Great Truck - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By cbrdoctor - May 25 - 10:23 am

  Title says it all. 24MPG, 2.7L Gone over every inch of it and looks typically Toyota great.

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  Nice ride but needs a few things. - 2013 Toyota Avalon
  By mongoose5 - May 24 - 7:43 pm

  The Avalon is nice and has a high quality interior look. But the things that you notice after you buy the car matter. The seats need some more cushion. We rode a couple hours before our bottoms hurt. My Corolla is a good 5 1/2 hour seat. Where are the bottle holders in the doors? They are absent front and rear. So on a trip with three in the back with the armrest folded up, the rear seat passengers will not have a single place to store drinks. I like more than one drink myself, especially living in a desert area. I would also appreciate it if the two cupholders up front were cooled. Power is good in this V/6, Best mileage on a road trip with a full trunk and three passengers was 29.5 mpg hwy

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  Tailgate woes - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Dan Young - May 23 - 5:20 pm

  Beware loading tailgates on new crewcabs. I loaded 12 yard blocks for retaining walls (16# each) on the tailgate and crawled in the back to move them forward. This action pushed an internal tailgate beam sandwiched between inner and outer panels out. The movement made four very obvious reverse dimples on the outside of the tailgate. Toyota factory reps. said I had overloaded the tailgate and offered no resolution. I found no tailgate load rating in the owners manual. This tailgate is a new taller design for the crewcabs due to Sequoia based frame and body according to the factory reps. Tundras are not truck material in my opinion. Factory service needs improvement. No more Toyota trucks.