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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  Great Mileage! Great Car! - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Jim - December 9 - 12:30 pm

  This is a great car. I drove it the first year in DC. I now live in Germany. It is rock-solid at autobahn speeds and quieter than the Audi 80. We drove to Paris last weekend and, not wanting to have to buy gas at French prices, we kept the speed at 63MPH (100 KPH). We got 34 miles per gallon! This is not the only time that I have confirmed the advertised MPG. Mine is a 5 speed w/ the 4cyl engine. The only complaint I have is the rear spoiler. It makes backing up difficult; cant see over the darn thing. If I had the choice I would have left the spoiler at the showroom. The only maintenance problem was an elec lock on one of the rear pass doors. Toyota dealer fixed it at no cost.

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  Great vehicle - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Joe D. - December 9 - 8:46 am

  Love it mechanically. The display monitor can not be read in daylight hours due to slope of windshield. There are reflections of air vents in both side view mirrors also a result of the windshield slope. Have written to Toyota about this and feel confident there will be a design correction in the future. I have not obtained more than 49.6 MPG in city driving. The smart entry system is great as well as the standard safety features.

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  Best I have ever owned - 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By bill1941 - December 9 - 8:27 am

  Purchased my Avalon Hybrid 2 weeks ago and cannot believe how Toyota developed a "near perfect car". During the first week, after being completely blown away at the overall quality, inside and out, the gas mileage was a shocker!! The first tank of gas delivered 47.7 MPG. Now on the second fill-up and am averaging 44.6 MPG. Driving has been mixture of highway and city/town. WOW. What a surprise. Great value!!

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  FJ, best all around family vehicle - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Jami S - December 9 - 1:13 am

  Since 2007 I had been looking at the FJ but was not willing to pay the price. I read reviews and did my research for nearly a year. I love this vehicle. It drives great, handles great for the vehicle type, and it has very good power to get up & go. It is a very capable off-road vehicle. I have had it off-road on some rough trails and the FJ performed like a champ. Visibility is not that bad and it is something you can get adjusted to. The suspension is nice a tight and provides plenty of confidence on the road. Also, regular unleaded fuel is acceptable to use. My dealership stated this and so does Toyota. Gas mileage is not bad considering. Plenty of room for a family of 5 on any occasion.

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  At 75,000 miles and Running Great - 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By chris_s_2010 - December 8 - 11:15 pm

  I bought my 2010 Camry Hybrid (used) a bit more than a year ago. Its running well and hasnt given me any problems. I put on about 15,000 miles in that time including a drive from Toronto to Florida and back. One of the key things that attracted me to it originally was the interior room. I am 64" and my son is 66". We tried a lot of mid-size cars and this was the best for space (except for the trunk!). The electric drivers seat is a big bonus for tall drivers. We got over 40 mpg on the Florida trip without too much effort. It has a lot of technology in it but it all seems to work well. It isnt intended to be sporty but as a comfortable car it works well.

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  I love my Corolla - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By Ci - December 8 - 8:03 pm

  she drives like an absolute dream! Cant ask for anything better...

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  This is the truck I wanted! - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By drjohn - December 8 - 6:36 pm

  Having spent over a decade in an S-10 Blazer, I was amazed at the quality of materials, quietness and smoothness of the Tacoma. My son-in-law has an 02 Tacoma that he loves. Driving my 07 is a pleasure. It has a great view of the road, ample power, a smooth-shifting manual 6 speed and ice-cold AC. The seats are comfortable and all of the controls within easy reach. I found the stereo to be more than adequate for my tastes, Im not an audio snob. The locking rear differential is a nice bonus. Im looking forward to many years of service from this truck!

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  2004 Prius - 2004 Toyota Prius
  By Gary - December 8 - 3:33 pm

  Just bought a used 2004 and enjoy the drive. We average 48 MPG.

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  toyota - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By miketango - December 8 - 10:00 am

  good exterior,beautiful leather interior,antitheft from toyota,entertainment system,spacious,smooth driving,dayrunning light,moonroof,many cup holders,many storage compartments,easy to drive.

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  Want security? Buy an Echo! - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By Merryweather65 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Having owned a VW prior to the Toyota I can assure you the Toyota is a far superior vehicle! With the VW I was always worried about when and where I was going to break down, and how much it was going to cost me. Granted, I have owned the Toyota less then a year, but I already feel much more secure in it then I did in the VW. I have very few bells and whistles (not even a CD player), but with less features there is less to go wrong. The Echo is a simple car, for people who want to get get where they need to go without the worry. Plus, who can go wrong owning a car that gets 40 mpg!