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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  2007 (2.4) Camry - An expensive mistake - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By PADRIVER - December 29 - 10:56 am

  Ive owned Camrys before but this 2007 (2.4 L) is the worst. It is totally underpowered. It constantly hesitates, looking for the proper gear, when you punch it. It is dangerous. Total lack of frontal visability. Grossly angled windshield with large front roof supports make looking forward like looking into a tunnel. Large rear view mirror blocks off even more of frontal visability. Good luck with curbs when you turn right! Dash rattles. Gas mileage is disappointing, 21 in town. My 3.8 Town&Country got 19! Ride is bad. No head room. This was an expensive mistake. I will dump it next year for sure and eat the loss.

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  Fun and Versatile RAV4 Limited V6 - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By hkwilson1977 - December 29 - 9:16 am

  We bought the RAV4 right before Labor Day weekend. Its one of the best cars Ive owned, so far. The V6 is extremely powerful. When you really punch it, it can feel almost dangerous due to the torque, so be careful! :) Gas mileage is averaging about 22 mpg. Overall, this is an awesome vehicle for our family of 5. No regrets, I would definitely buy one again!

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  Lovin the new Corolla - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By kklein - December 29 - 8:50 am

  I bought my new 2008 Toyota Corolla S (red) a few days ago. I was looking for a new car, but didnt know what I wanted. I was looking at Honda, Nissan and Toyotas. I test drove an 08 Toyota Corolla and didnt like it. When I saw the 09 Corolla S, it looked real sharp! The car was smooth riding and looks sporty. This car really turns heads!! In case youre looking at the car colors on toyota.com, the colors online dont do the actual color justice. I was skeptical of the red when I found out thats the car the dealership found for me. But when I saw the car in person, it looked totally different than what that what I saw on Toyotas website. You wont be disappointed.

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  Another 4-Runner for me - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By Ray - December 29 - 1:33 am

  We purchased our 2010 Limited 4-runner 3 weeks ago an so far we are very pleased with the decision. We had previously owned an 04 4 runner which we also liked a lot except that it was a little difficult to control in heavy cross winds. The new 2010 4-runner does not have this problem and seems very stable with any cross-wind. Ride is much smoother than previous generation 4-runner and so far our fuel economy is 18.5 mostly city driving. Wish Toyota had put running boards on as standard. We will have to purchase instead but havent decided where yet. Overall , very pleased with fit and finish, ride and comfort. Telephone interface/Bluetooth is excellent and the Nav unit is also very good.

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  Highlander - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By John Gallagher - December 28 - 11:40 pm

  Wonderful vehicle. Typical Toyota quality. It is a pleasure to drive and travels as smooth as silk. Nice acceleration and plenty of power.

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  Exceptionally Reliable Car - 1996 Toyota Avalon
  By honesty_1 - December 28 - 7:32 pm

  My 1996 Toyota Avalon was a gift to me in 2002. The car at that time had approximately 60,000 miles. This car has been so reliable that I am still driving it shy of a decade later. I currently have over 307,000 miles and counting. I have had to do a bit of work on the engine (valve gasket covers etc) when the mileage reached around 280,000, but its running on the same transmission. I liked this car so much until I had shipped from Mississippi to Washington State with 300,000 miles because I trusted its reliability. It hasnt let me down, but it may be in its last years. Cant complain with over 307,000 miles.

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  More fun than a barrel of monkeys - 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Joseph C. - December 28 - 4:06 pm

  Its only weakness is lack of a trunk. In my opinion though, this car is made for nothing but enjoyable driving. It meets that purpose to a tea. It would take spending three time as much (not to mention gas and insurance costs) at the dealer to have a car this good.

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  Best Midsize Truck - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By SC - December 28 - 11:30 am

  After driving all the midsize trucks, Toyota was my pick. I would do it again even though there a few complaints, the primary one being that it has 3 or 4 impossible to find intermittant rattles, each being heard only when hitting its own unique road bump. Perhaps the firm riding Off Road package causes some of the problem. Also, a small nitpick: whats with the cloth arm rest on the door that will look soiled within a year? This is a truck, not an Avalon! Additionally, the engine fan causes excessive noise, even during fast idle warmup. Finally, there is no tailgate lock. After 3500 miles there has not been any warranty work required.

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  Good Choice - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Jim - December 28 - 11:03 am

  This is our 1st import. Went from SUVs, so realize that change. Comfortable ride to the grocery and up the east coast. Low road noise. Good gas economy. Good acceleration, especially for a 4 cyl. Im 64", wife 54". We both fit well into the vehicle without problems, even the back seat. Sound system is very nice.

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  OK car.. - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By w0by - December 28 - 4:26 am

  Ive had my 2010 Corolla S for a while now. Im happy that its getting around 30.5mpg in the city driving, I don’t drive much on the highway. The wind noise is pretty quiet.. Things I dont like: It has a 4 speed automatic transmission, why isnt this a 5 speed or 6 speed? Come on Toyota... Loud road noise on concrete highways. Very loud. Unbelievably loud. My friends 2010 Elantra is silent compared to this car.. I hear creaking coming from the drivers side front pillar and back pillar on passengers side. I also hear a weird rattle underneath the dash that sounds like a tan can. Who knows? Ive never had a new car with rattles and squeaks...??