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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  Did I love this car?? - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By sac - September 21 - 3:13 am

  We bought this car in May 1997. Sold it as we had to go out of the country in Oct 2005. We put on 90K miles on it. We crisscrossed the continent with this car. We lived in DC area and drove it to places as far as St Louis, New Orleans, Atlanta, Boston, Toronto, Quebec City and Ottawa. We did this with two kids, stroller, suitcases and other stuff! The car never ever let us down. Bullet proof, absolutely reliable. All I did was regular oil changes. Only had to change brake pads, timing belt, tires and of course the battery. After all this the car felt like new while driving, gave amazing mileage (30-34 in city, 37-40 highway). We felt really sad selling it. Lucky lady who bought it from us!

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  A great Utility vehicle - 2002 Toyota Highlander
  By amukunda - September 20 - 2:00 am

  A really good blend of truck, car and minivan. Best suited for on-road use as a family hauler.

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  Love my Solara Convertible - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Marilynn - September 19 - 6:10 pm

  I love the car. Very fun to drive. The top goes up and down easy and fast. One negative is that the passenger seat is not automatically adjustable and is not as comfortable. I did not notice this when I bought it. Gas mileage is about 17 miles to the gallon. The car handles well but sometimes going around a corner fast it seems to lose grip on the road a little. I would buy this car again. Looks great and seats 4 adults easy.

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  Had 2 1999 Manual V6 Camrys. - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Oleg Dyachuk - September 19 - 5:14 pm

  Bought one with 170k, sold it with 199k, bought another with 192k, sold it with 219k miles. THESE HAVE A HORRIBLE RESALE VALUE, I did not make any money on either of them, probably because not many people want a camry that is manual. But it has great power, 0-60 was 7.4 seconds for me on my first one, my second one was a bit slower because it felt beat on. Topped out the first one at 131 mph but blew a whole in the exhaust doing that lol. Both of mine had 1 common problem, the rear sway bar link bushing go bad and make a horrible clunking sound. Was impossible to change them because the bolts get rusted up and break if you touch them.

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  Best value in a compact car - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By davedietrich - September 19 - 1:19 pm

  I have done extensive research before buying the Yaris. Reliability is bulletproof, low maintenance costs, drives like it is a bigger car. With the right tires (Michelin Defender) the drive is very smooth and quiet. Fuel economy is exceptional. Peppy for an auto with only a 1.5 engine. Surprisingly good room in the back and front seats. The seats are quite comfortable and supportive. Only negative is the small cargo area in the hatchback. Will be driving this car for a very long time. If you need a car that does not break the bank or your budget for as long as you own it, yo really can not go wrong with a Yaris.

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  Think twice - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By angelique - September 19 - 9:20 am

  Im very disappointed. I have had this car 11 months now, and my intermediate shaft has given out, my brakes replaced, rotators SHAVED, and intermediate shaft replaced. I have taken my car to the dealership 3 times and finally had them sit in car to listen before something was done about brakes. The recall is only in northern states for the brakes. Although all of the above has been done. Costing me time and no car during the days being fixed!!!

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  Fun to Drive with reservations - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By momof4 - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Good: Many trips with family and dog via 3rd row seating. Love the V6. Has great pull into traffic. Lots of room, especially in the cargo. 61k miles in 4 years. Great little basic car. Runs smoothly and well. My paint/finish is holding up well. Negative: Replaced Driving Shaft @dealer =$500. Broken Joint on shaft. Should have a recall on that since it seems to be common that should not happen on a car this new. Interior does seem kind of loud and seats are basic. Dont like the floor mats.(hard to clean) Needs stronger front bumper. Wheel wells also rusting out, would like better coverage on the hubcaps.

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  Answer to MPG dream - 2012 Toyota Prius c
  By pablo50 - September 17 - 10:20 pm

  This review will be only for someone looking for excellent MPG! I drive 1,350 miles a week. 5,400 miles a month. (Every month - IC Courier). Ive had the car for 6 months, 22 days. It has consistantly averaged 51.3 mpg. ECO Mode gives you the best results in city. Regular mode (not ECO) gives best results on freeway. My best has been 59.1 in city driving, 47.8 on freeway. I owned a 2011 Corolla before this and at best only averaged 30 mpg. I drive 50% city, 50% freeway. I am saving $311.00 per month. Compared to the Corolla. Wish I would have bought the car when it first hit the market! These are "real-life" results. Hope this helps.....

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  TO GET IT PERFECT - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Bob - September 17 - 4:30 pm

  At the time this little beauty was unmatched in the market place. Probably still is. However, to make it perfect, for guys who are not small, the seat could be larger for better leg support, the noise level, was really noticable from my Sport Trac and the suspension bottoms out way to often over large bumps that can occur on our nations rail track crossings.

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  Pretty nice car - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By ed w - September 17 - 4:20 pm

  This is a pretty nice car. I bought this car because the predicted reliably. It is pretty fun to drive. The best improvements from the 08 is the remote is built into the key and has a button to open the trunk. also it can calculate the MPG. It has a little more horse power not much but noticable. The stereo sounds much better than 08. It is one of the most reliable small cars in history, thats why I bought it. My only complaint is it is only available in sedan.