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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  4runner - 1994 Toyota 4Runner
  By pmsturgill - October 19 - 10:00 am

  i bought this vehicle a fewmonths ago, i go through cars like candy and this is by far the smoothest riding 4wd i have ever been in. i am wanting to sell do to gas mileage, but that is the only reason, i have to drive 90miles a day and this is not a good commuter vehicle. i have had some small things go wrong, trouble with rear window ssliders and motor seems weak has trouble when getting to the top, speedo stopped working and back seat windows dont work, who knows dont need em. i think this was a great SUV and qould recommend it for someone who doesnt drive far.

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  my sequoia - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By moni - October 19 - 10:00 am

  Excellent pick up speed. No road weariness during long road trips. Interior is roomy. All rows are comfortable for seating.

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  russells car - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By Russell Brown - October 19 - 10:00 am

  i bought it yesterday, is $15000 worth it for this car? plz tell me.

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  my camrey - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By merle slay - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I hate the lack of rain gutters, and the having to unlock the back doors upon exiting! The "cargo net" is a waste of money. The indentation in front of the windshield is a dirt carcher, and the doors dont cover the entry sills because dirt marks with dried mud form on the sills. Other than that, its an all around excellent car!

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  Love it - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By Seattle Driver - October 19 - 6:54 am

  I read all the reviews before purchase and I am really happy with this car. It is a great value. The safety features that come standard are awesome. I like the radar-responsive cruise control for highway commuting, as well as the lane alert. The design of the car is such that there are very few blind spots. The seat is very comfortable, and it is just comfortable to drive. The turning radius is great and it is very responsive. I live in a city with hills and I love the hill assist feature--no rolling back! It is also great for city parking. The temperature control and sound system are wonderful. The gas mileage is fantastic! And this is a car which holds its value and comes with years of mainteance support, keeping the mainteance costs lows. The only two areas that could be improved are consistent with what the fancy car reviewers say: 1) it could go from 0 to 60 a little faster. That being said, it is consistent with other value cars that I have driven. No better but no worse. 2) The gear shifts in lower gears are a little louder than they could be. There are quieter cars out there. But overall this is car is a great value! I needed a car at a good price, that would hold its value, had great fuel efficiency, high safety standards and low maintenance costs. This car wins in all those categories. And it is fun to drive. The bonus for us is that the trunk is big enough to take the two kids camping, and the 60/40 split means one person can sit in the back seat and we can still haul longer items. Very pleased!

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  black mold - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Tena - October 18 - 8:31 am

  I am asking if any one else has a problem with the windshield staying fogged up in the morning and black mold on the inside of gas cap ?

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  Very unhappy after 2 years. - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Andy Morris - October 17 - 9:40 am

  When I bought this car, I was so happy to see Toyota improved the bland styling of the previous model years. I was hooked by its looks, but after driving it for the last two years, I am disappointed. I have had non-stop transmission problems, terrible sunroof noises, very uncharacteristic squeaks and rattles from everywhere in the dash, and unacceptable paint issues.

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  4 years running... - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By Mike H. - October 17 - 9:16 am

  This is a 4 year review. This should give used sales a boost. First, the reliability is superior. At 40,000, no major problems except for regular scheduled maintenance. I mainly use the truck for traveling. I average approx. 16 mpg. The comfort exceeds any truck I have owned previously. Handles a heavy load well. Load the truck up with timber and still rides like an SUV. The transmission is exceptionally smooth. After 4 years, my Tundra has held up well. I would certainly buy one again.

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  Camry OK - not great - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By mworld938 - October 16 - 11:26 pm

  I needed a comfortable commuter that I could also run around with the family in. This car fits the bill as my Civic was too small (was a great car though). Comfortable floaty ride. No transmission issues. 4cyl is slow! Interior looks OK but is built a little cheap. Exterior looks good. Mileage has met the EPA sticker and I just started. I am happy with the car but experience no passion. Still a Japanese Buick (and thats OK for me).

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  Get the CR-V - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By palaginghuli - October 15 - 8:56 pm

  I got the front wheel drive Limited. This was a replacement for my 2008 Honda CR-V. Ive always been a Honda customer. I thought Id try the Toyota after seeing a brand new exterior and the spare tire is no longer visible in the back. Ive had it only for a little over a month. Although it is nice to look at (exterior and interior), you can tell it is the cheaper version of the CR-V. The handling feels like a toy car. The ride is also bumpier. The "leatherette" I am sure will wear off much faster than a leather. It also stains very easily especially if oil based. Even pens stain and is very hard to remove. Also not as good visibility. Women will find the CR-V much easier to drive