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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  My Solara, the little red Ferrari - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Joeg243 - July 11 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Solara. My first was a 99 w/ 4cyl and stick(very rare find) in white diamond pearl with cloth oak interior. My 03 is an SLE/v-6 in red flame met. w/ ivory leather and every option available.The V-6 is quick and you would think you were riding in a Lexus if you didnt know that its a Toyota. I also have an "03 Tundra SR5 Access Cab.

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  Pretty Satisfied - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By mainecamrydriver - July 11 - 10:00 am

  All in all a great car. A few minor defects that the dealer has taken care of on warranty like roof molding loosening and "chrome" on the interior door latch peeling. Drives great and in completely reliable. Also feel very safe due to the larger size of the car and being surrounded by airbags. I think of it as a sporty version of a vanilla car.

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  Extremely unhappy with fuel economy - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Don Miller - July 11 - 3:10 am

  The vehicle is an exceptional vehicle in all aspects but the fuel economy. To the point were I will not purchase another Sienna! I previously had a 2004 Sienna and the mileage on it was 29-31 mph. The 06 is around 21! Yes, I still have the same driving habits and locations.

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  Very dependable - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By jay buck - July 11 - 12:43 am

  Have had vary good luck with this car. I drive 300 miles a week to work. The the car had 46,248 miles on it when I got it and now has 139,666 I keep the oil changed when it needs it. Have put two sets of tires on it two set of breaks and two running head lights.

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  An Avalon for a younger generation - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By DC-T - July 10 - 8:30 pm

  A great car for the money! I wanted a nice commuter car but still enough room to carry the family when need be. The gas mileage is great considering the amount of horsepower available.

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  Just a "Blah" Car... - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By LordJoeChi - July 10 - 12:46 pm

  We had a 1988 Toyota Camry that ran forever with no problems. This is our second Camry and to be honest, I am a little disappointed. I also had a 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL Coupe that had less power and was a "smaller" car yet had better pick-up and a LOT more interior room which for me, is a big deal because I am over 65" and the 1998 Camry just doesnt fit me well at all. Its SUPPOSED to have something like 80" of overall room but it doesnt seem to. Also, the seats, well, they are pure CRAP. No support for hips, thighs, back or anything. Yeah, they are soft but after a little while, it feels like sitting on concrete blocks. Otherwise, everything else about the car is just blah.

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  Most of it is right - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By lmoore - July 9 - 10:53 am

  Owned more than 10 trucks in 10 years. Im in the accessory business with a great relationship with all brand dealers. Great power, brakes, smooth tranny, and imposing looks. Does not ride any better than chevy or ford, a little better than dodge. Leans a lot in corners, but it is big for a 1/2 ton. Interior is a funny combination of materials and colors, but functions well. Mileage is close to 15 city, close to 20 at 65 mph. 17.8 at 80 mph. Wind noise is more than acceptable but slightly annoying over 70. It will be more difficult to get aftermarket wheels as they have changed the bolt pattern. Billet grille and steps are now available. Impressive!

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  Know what you are buying. - 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By PQuinn - July 8 - 7:20 am

  Pros: Looks good, reliable, comfortable and durable. Rugged feel but a refined interior. Cons: Gas mileage is miserable, averaging around 12 MPG, that isnt unexpected. The worst part of the bad MPG is that they combined it with a small fuel tank. This equates to filling up every 3-4 days. If you are over 6 1" you will have to do a squat to get in or you will bump your head. The controls are also set up for a right hand drive vehicle. For example, when you press the seek button to scroll through presets, going to the right takes you from preset 5 to 4 instead of to 6....smh! The moonroof has 2 switches the one closest to the driver tilts and the button further away is to open!!! My conclusion on the SUV is that it is truly a niche vehicle but it is nowhere near an every day truck.

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  Happy with my decision! - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Emily - July 7 - 3:00 am

  When my Chevy died on me, I wanted an affordable car with good fuel economy, as I commute a long distance. Ive been outstandingly happy with my Yaris. I average 38 mpg (mixed driving, both city and highway) and have a record of 41 mpg. While not the Yaris is not the quickest accelerator, I do not feel out of pace on the freeway. Not recommended for tall consumers. I am 55" and feel that this is the perfect sized car for me. The Corolla feels slightly too big, for comparison. The center gauges do not take long to get used to, and are not as distracting as you would think. Stereo is excellent, storage capacity good for a car of its size.

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  Solid truck - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
  By dave - July 6 - 7:53 pm

  Its a good, solid compact truck. The clock is poorly located, the truck "thumps" when stopping and starting and feels like its almost airborne on the freeway. With the TRD package, the ride is harsh. Beyond that whining, the truck handles well, has good headroom, and all the power I need (I did improve its breathing by adding an additional port on the filter box to allow more air in. Its been reliable, with no problems other than what I noted above, except the dash rattles against the windshield, which was fixed by installing weather stripping to muffle this sound. My only regret was not getting a 4x4 since its of little use in snow (the rear locker doesnt really help).