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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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By clxi - December 6 - 7:46 am

  20 mpg city, 35 on the road, comfortable, quick and roomy ! I replaced the Michelins with Firestone Firehawk GTs and it became better in the corners and better in the snow.

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  Great car - 2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  By rob260 - December 5 - 3:56 am

  Ive had the 2014 Avalon XLE Touring Hybrid for about three weeks now. Im really enjoying the vehicle so far. The fuel efficiency has been as advertised for the first 1000 miles. Ive done a mixture of highway and city driving and have been averaging just below 39 mpg according to infotainment system. This vehicle fit my needs perfectly. I needed a daily driver that was really fuel efficient but had the space I needed to haul kids and sports equipment on the weekends. Check and check for this Avalon. Its pretty impressive to have a large sedan get this fuel efficiency and provide a large trunk and rear passenger space. The hybrid option was a no brainer for me.

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  Excellent SUV - 2001 Toyota 4Runner
  By 6paul11 - December 5 - 2:02 am

  The 2001 4Runner is an outstanding SUV. Reliable, excellent in bad weather, and built to last through the apocalypse. Ever seen the Top Gear episode with the indestructable Toyota? This is the cousin of the Hilux, the car featured in that show. Nothing can take this beast down. Problems are few and far between. 140,000 miles of service life and many more to go.

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  Definitely improved and worth it. - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By Ty - December 4 - 6:13 pm

  We looked at minivans for years before finally buying this. It was not so much the soccer-mom stigma but also the price as you get into the more loaded models. We did not want a stripped down model since this was also for the long trips and outings. The Honda was ok but uncomfortable, lacked the refinement and was too rough-riding for the family. This new Sienna is not spongy but not harsh either. The interior is astonishing and the bells and whistles make a 10 min show-off session to neighbors and relatives. The kids love it and just want to hang out in it all day and my wife proudly calls it the Swagger Wagon. LTD is expensive but compares very well to what 40k buys these days.

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  charlielishas Yaris - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By charlielisha - December 4 - 4:06 pm

  I love the car! Very fun to drive. We used to drive a Chevy Aveo, since I test drove a Yaris I traded in the Aveo right away. The Yaris is more stable, quiet, more hp and very fun to drive. The best is its fuel efficiency (40MPG).

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  Great SUV - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Raleigh Neal - December 4 - 1:06 pm

  I have only owned the vehicle for a few weeks, but I can already tell that I made a smart decision in buying this SUV. It is a well made vehicle (no rattles, quiet, excellent interior materials, etc.). I am also suprised at the gas mileage, it is better than I expected at 23-24 mpg on recent trip. I previously owned a Ford Escape, which was also a fine SUV, but the 4Runner is better in every way.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By bob - December 4 - 4:53 am

  The car has been a joy to own. I intend to purchase a new one at the beginning of the new model year. Gas, oil, lube and tires have been the only expense in operating the vehicle.

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  AWD? - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By KJS - December 3 - 1:03 pm

  Sienna, along with Odyssey, is the top pick in this segment. As such, there is very little to complain about. The only thing dislike is the run flats that are standard on AWD models. The rigid side walls transmit every little bumps on the road. If you want a cushy ride then do NOT get AWD models. Every things else is just great. Functionality is well thought out and suited for family life. Many cup holders , bag hooks, and other minor details add up to a very usable car.

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  One awesome vehicle - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By MarineOne - December 3 - 3:40 am

  I bought this Venza for my wife. Traded in our 2005 Honda Odyssey for a what I thought was a smaller vehicle. To our surprise, the Venza is very spacious. Yes, we do not have the third row seating, but we only used it when family was visiting. The first time I test drove it, I was hooked. Very comfortable, smooth ride and a quiet cabin. The interior is very comfortable and Toyota spared no expense in the design. It is the best interior I have seen. I opted for the 6 cylinder. Let me tell you, if you are not watching what you are doing, you can find yourself traveling at 75-80 mph with no effort at all. The first time I passed a car on a two lane road caught me off guard with the great power.

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  own for 8 years - 1997 Toyota Celica
  By richie - December 3 - 2:06 am

  I bought this car with 65,000 miles. Now Ive had it for about 8 years and it has 193,000 miles and it never has given me any bad problems other then the starter and cv boots. Overall I enjoy this car.