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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  Fun to drive - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Pat Sebastian - December 13 - 4:09 am

  Very peppy car with a V6 comfortable and dependable

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  Zippy Prius C - 2017 Toyota Prius c
  By Kathie Autumn - December 13 - 1:43 am

  I love my Prius C and how it zips around the city. Its the perfect size car for me, especially looking for parking. Its fun to drive and has a "zippy" personality.

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  Glad it was a rental - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By concordenerd - December 13 - 1:42 am

  I rented this vehicle as I was interested in buying one someday. I must say this car was new with only 3,000 miles on it and it was a let down. The carpet next to the driver seat was not even put under the molding near the door. You could see underneath the car. The window switch panel was peeling/flaking off. The transmission was a bit harsh as when you braked it jerked down in gears. Not good. So I am glad that I did not buy this car with these kinds of problems. I guess youll have to look over the camrys with a good eye before you buy now.

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  I have mixed feelings - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By 707Rob - December 12 - 11:30 pm

  At 65,000 miles a rear wheel bearing went bad. I thought "great $100 bucks max at the dealer and Ill press in a new one." WRONG. $300+ later I had to buy the WHOLE hub assembly. This is a bad design issue that makes people fork out the dough for parts. 85,000 miles, Engine serpentine belt Tensioner = same design issue....it isnt serviceable $245 later, I now have a quiet belt and tensioner assembly. Fog light relay went bad, $65.00 later the lights work again. Parts are expensive for these cars! Should this stuff be wearing out so soon? Why not design serviceability into the parts?! Or is Toyota trying to sell you pricey parts? Sorry Toyota, that Fusion is looking good.

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  Satisfied owner - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By D. Fisher - December 12 - 10:53 pm

  This car has surpassed my expectations for a hybrid vehicle. It has more room, response, and features than I expected to get in this type of car. When traveling longer distances, I do get between 48 and 53 MPG. On flat roadways on shorter distances I have seen higher. The overall landscape is hilly where I live and generally the MPG is in the high 40s. This is lower than advertised but much greater than my previous car which had a V-6 engine.

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  Unpredictable Handling - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By benine - December 12 - 10:23 pm

  The handling of this thing is worst of the 6 FWD vehicles Ive owned--makes driving work instead of pleasure. Like riding a half-broke horse, you dont know which way its going and when! I doubt its due to weight--other small cars dont have the problem. Otherwise, price, pep, gas mileage, visibility, noise levels are good for this level of vehicle. Poor center armrest for driver. After I bought it, dealership informed me it needs undercoating from them or Ziebart because its not done at factory! The vehicle would be a keeper if the steering mechanism was reliable and it tracked well. Best thing about car is its a Toyota and I should be able to unload it easily for a decent price.

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  Rollas Rock - 2002 Toyota Corolla
  By DanMan - December 12 - 2:43 pm

  No complaints, excellent ride, great mileage.

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  Still Running Great - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Rayalon - December 12 - 2:40 pm

  After 25,000 miles this car still looks great and is running flawless. Makes long driving trips a breeze with all the comforts one would expect from this fine automobile.

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  Practical sedan thats great on the highway - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Greg F Harris - December 12 - 12:23 pm

  People know the 4th generation Prius is the most fuel efficient car ever. It is also a great highway car. Its quiet, feels tight and cushions bumps. It cruises effortlessly at 75 mph and still gets 50 mpg. If you go the speed limit you will always get 55-60 mpg. If you want a trouble-free car that is likely to go 200,000 miles and cost little to operate, buy a Prius.

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  First Toyota... - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Bullyu - December 12 - 3:30 am

  One thing that really impressed me the most was its acceleration. It accelerates faster than my previous BMW 325i automatic and has a very smooth engine. Critics were right about overdoing it with V6 engine in such a small SUV, but love it! Ride is smooth, not jarring like my other Pathfinder and corners well. Easy to park with tight turning radius and have ample space in the cargo and backseat; love the fact that you can recline and slide the rear seat to create more room and cargo space. One thing i should have gotten is the upgraded JBL sound system; stock system is very adequate at the most where you gotta crank up the volume real high to hear anything soft sound.