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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  Not bad, not great - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By displayname - May 8 - 6:46 am

  Bought new 5/04, came with conventional Dunlop tires that were absolute garbage - had to replace them after first winter as it was like driving on skis. Michelin rules! Reliability otherwise has been good except for battery issues that many others have had - if one interior light is left on for several hours, battery is dead. About a year ago radiator showed signs of seepage which dealer wanted to replace to tune of $1000 - but since we had no puddles/coolant loss we just left as is - still ok. Steering wheel suddenly developed squeak at 68000. Not the worst car I have ever owned but not sure I would buy another.

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  Disappointing - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Georgesparks - May 7 - 8:50 pm

  Smooth ride but headrest is so uncomfortable I had to reverse it. Dash control background is black - looks like a black hole in many situations. Somehow, I can never get the seat position perfect to be comfortable. I wish speedometer was labeled in 10 mph increments, its very easy to go faster than you thought and get a ticket. A pain to reach for seat belt - it manages to get stuck behind door frame somehow. 5 speed is a dream to drive, shifts perfectly. Great car with minor but continual small irritations.

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  2007 Toyota 4Runner Limited - 2007 Toyota 4Runner
  By MR. CLEAN - May 7 - 10:40 am

  Had this suv for a week now, tows a 3000 lb trailer very easily. Went with the v-8 for this purpose. Ride is good for this type of SUV. Cant wait to drive it in the snow! Wife likes the dual climate control. Auto-dim rearview mirror is nice.

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  Lowered Expectations - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Kirk Ryerson - May 6 - 7:10 pm

  I researched about 15 cars in this segment. The only thing that motivated me to purchase the Yaris was the promise of no scheduled maintenance for the first 120,000 miles. That was the deciding factor. EPA ratings are off, I average low 30s in town and mid 30s on the highway. The brakes are terrible. It struggles to take turns. The electric steering (at highway speeds) is frightening. My S didnt even come with a remote key fob. Be careful driving the S on a windy day.

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  Drive before you Buy - 2003 Toyota Avalon
  By JohnC - May 6 - 10:00 am

  This is the second Avalon we have purchased. The first was a 1996. Toyota has really "aged" this car. Steering in numb and requires constant correction at highway speeds. It is almost tiring to drive. Had to return it to the dealer at 500 miles - steering wheel was off center. Also too many rattles in a car of this price. On the positive side - room and comfort for passengers is outstanding

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  Get A Ford! - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By mtbkr44 - May 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had this vehicle 4 months, one of which has been in the shop. The sunroof quit working and so did the dealership. I finally got the car back and the paint is peeling off of the front! 40K for this??? I should have bought a Hyundai!!

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  Great Car - Reasonble Price - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By toylander - May 6 - 10:00 am

  After test driving many vehicles in the same class (Honda Pilot, Mitsubishi Endeavor, Nissan Murano), we decided that the Highlander provided the best combination of ride, size, reliability and value. Through in the fact that we got the car at $1500 under invoice with 3.9% financing for 60 months, and we just couldnt turn it down. After owning two Volvo wagons that had unrelenting mechanical problems, its nice to own a reliable vehicle that wont leave me stranded on the Jersey Turnpike in 100 degree heat.

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  A Compromise - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By carsal67 - May 6 - 10:00 am

  This car is a compromise. It performs well generally, but lacks the engineering and careful design of a more expensive car, such as the old Volvo I owned previously. Ive had two problems fixed under warranty. The trunk remote cable was replaced (wouldnt work), and a half- shaft seal was replaced after I noticed a transmission oil leak. Fuel economy is not that impressive for a small car. On balance, its a decent car for the price, with enough space for a small family, good highway performance, and a nice range of standard features.

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  A happy buyer. - 2012 Toyota Prius
  By emmettmoore - May 6 - 2:17 am

  Just purchased a 2012, loaded Prius. Out the door at $35k. Switched from a Mercedes e350 that was getting 16 mpg city driving. Spending $80 dollars per week was just pissing me off...so i took the plunge. The performance is no comparison to the Mercedes, and the interior is bit bland. However, I am really enthused about the gas mileage. Drove around the city, punching the gas to see how bad of mileage I could get (seriously), I ended up with 44 after a day. The next day I babied the gas pedal on got 50. My wife is a real baby and wont drive anything but a benz, she is actually kind of liking this car, which is a big relief. My 10 year old son loves the big back seats.

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  summary - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Joe Blogs - May 5 - 9:03 pm

  Overall a very well designed vehicle. Needs a power drivers seat and telescopic steering wheel to fit a wider range of driver sizes.