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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  The Satisficer - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Mike - October 19 - 4:46 am

  First, lets be clear. Im a satisficer, not a maximizer. All cars are compromises, and this is expecially true at the lower end of the price spectrum. Im 62" and, ahem, lets just say over 300 pounds at the present time. I can get in and out of this car with no problem. It runs like a charm, turns on a dime, the steering and braking are silky smooth and Ive still got a quarter of a tank left with the odometer at 325+ miles, so Im heading for 40+ mpg on the first tank. Yes, the seats could be better, maybe Toyota will fix them, maybe not. The cup holders are neat - you can send the air around them - or use the AC to cool your drink. Nothings perfect, but the Yaris is awfully good.

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  WOW - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By arie - October 18 - 11:16 am

  The 07 Yaris was initially puchased as a fuel conserving alternative to my BMW. Now, I only drive the yaris. It is a pocket-rocket. Acceleration is a tad slow in the first three gears, but not enough to be noticable. This car goes 85-95 mph daily on a 180 mile a day commute. The gas mileage is amazing. the car is perfect and fun to drive. goodbye gas guzzlers! I am hooked on the yaris!

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  Jerky/Slow responding Camry - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By ramankgb - October 18 - 10:43 am

  The Camry gives impressive fuel economy for a V6. Reston, va to Erie, pa on a tank of gas. Very silent compared to my 2.4L Camry. The fit and finish are excellent and is the interior comfort. Excellent JBL stereo option. The only problems i noticed was, The transmission shifts back and forth at low speeds. It gets very annoying especially in rush hour traffic. I am assuming that to save on cost, the same tranny as the one used in 2.4L or 3.3L was mated to the 3.0L. Also, the Drive by wire system response is tragically slow, especially during accelaration for passing other cars, to the point that it can become a safety hazard, as the driver is unable to judge the passing time.

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  07 Camry a let-down - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By badmph - October 18 - 8:40 am

  We purchased our first Toyota product, an 07 Camry LE AT in October 2006, after months of consideration and test driving them as rental cars (averaging 30 mpg all around and 34 highway); it replaced a 1989 2WD V6 Nissan Pathfinder that averaged 21.5 mpg. What happened?! With 4000 miles, its been a disappointment, 24 mpg (mostly hi-way) and only 400 miles/tank! Each tank gets progressively fewer mpg. It seems to be a non-issue for Toyota who dismisses the complaint and makes excuses for winter driving, gas additives, etc. We expected much more from this car and are somewhat soured on Toyota already.

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  Toyotas are the best! - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By TP - October 18 - 5:30 am

  My 1997 Camry has over 200,000 miles on it and I love it. The only minor repair I had to do besides changing tires and brake pads, was replacing the timing belt and water pump back in 2001. But that repair was done at no cost because it was still under warranty. If you want a quality car, then look at Toyotas.

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  Sell the House_Live in the Prius! - 2008 Toyota Prius
  By Michael Kaplan - October 18 - 1:46 am

  This is the first auto Ive owned that I feel joy every time I get in it. It is also very driver oriented with a complete LCD readout available at all times for : audio, climate, GPA, BLuetooth cell phone, volume of CD;s and aux music player (iPod, iPhone, etc). Things I have come to love: #1 keyless entry and use; steering wheel control (front/back), wiper, cruise, lights stalks. It is the driver designed (instead of engineer designed), e.g., all things to make driving & safety first and foremost--and gas mileage is superb and the constant LCD readout gasoline consumption is not only informative but allows the driver to see, real time, how driving behaviors affect MPG.

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  Fine Car overall - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By Frank S - October 18 - 1:13 am

  I waited a month to write my review after I purchased the car. Overall, the car is fine and rides nice. It’s a Toyota and we all know it will last forever. The Entune 3.0 system is adequate but could be better. Hopefully Toyota will have Apple Car Play or Android Auto soon. My biggest thing is how the car rides and how it looks. It is very smooth and feels solid. The new design is also very nice. I traded my 13 Accord for the 18 Camry and have not regretted my decision.

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  Glad I decided on the Corolla - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Jim - October 17 - 5:53 pm

  Been looking for a subcompact for a month and finally decided on the Corolla. Drove it home today and felt better with each mile. A truly solid, well constructed car. Better mileage than Mazda 3 and Focus. A lot more car than the Civic with a better warranty.

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  Not bad for the money - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By bschram - October 17 - 3:11 pm

  Ive only had it for three weeks but mileage has amazed me. There is a calculator in the trip meter that told me I averaged 24.2 but actual MPG came out to 25.8 all city. WIsh vehicle had a little more ground clearance and some of its plastic panels were a little more sustantial. Car has a fragile feel to it. Comfort, quiet, mileage and handling are very nice. Looked at the Sonata but Crest Hyundai scared me away with the paint, fabric and all the other add ons they wanted on top of the car price that you are always advised to stay away from. Toyota can thank Hyundai for me buying a Camry.

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  Love at first site! - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By linda - October 17 - 11:36 am

  I went from a 94 gas sucking explorer to my sleep red V6 rav4. I love this vehicle! I am getting over 29 miles a gallon with a bit of hyper-miling and not squealing the tires when I take off! I looked at Saturn vue, Ford escape, Ford edge, Mercury Mariner and I found this to be the best value! Its fun to drive, and I do not regret buying it a bit. 3rd row seat hold my daughters friends for combined mall trips, or lay em down and put all her softball stuff there! Its an awesome SUV