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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  Get one! - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By jimjimmyjimjim - July 18 - 7:30 pm

  I really do love this little car. Why do people have to state the obvious in their reviews? Its not a $60K sports car, duh. That said, I think it is fun as heck to drive in the 5spd manual trans. Plenty of power and dare I say even a "sporty" feel. Great modern look, bordering on adorable (to me). I honestly like the center console that some people complain about. It makes it easier for me to read my speed and I get an extra glove box out of the deal! The interior is ridiculously large for such a small car. Ive owned many cars including expensive sports cars. Ultimately a car is transportation. Toyota proves that transportation can be cute, fun, well made, reliable AND INEXPENSIVE! :)

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  2009 Toyota Camry XLE - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Rahul Singh - July 18 - 7:13 pm

  Purchased my 2009 Camry and I love it. The ride is smoother quieter and more comfortable than the Honda accord. I do majority of my driving in city and town combined and i am averaging 32 MPG. This is phenomenal for a car this size. Couldnt have made a better choice.

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  Great Car - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By jnibs - July 18 - 4:43 am

  3 tanks into my new Camry and I love it. Learning the most efficient way to drive, without totally sacrificing performance, improves mpg. Latest tank 40.5 in both city and highway situations. Only disappointment is satellite capable radio, meaning I need to get it installed. Dealer tells me it is $600. Looking for cheaper alternative.

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  2016 Rav4 XLE AWD - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By ebeall05@gmail.com - July 18 - 4:13 am

  I have owned my RAV4 XLE a little over a week now and I really dont have any complaints. There was one day where the driving was a little funky, but it seems to have corrected itself now that the vehicle is adjusted to my driving style. Since that one day I have had no awkwardness while driving and find it drives very smoothly. I have no issues with accelerating, braking, etc. I have also found passengers feel it drives smoothly as well. I test drove the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Subaru Forester. I preferred the driving style of the RAV4 the best. The one area for critique would be the sound system. I think the music sounds fine, but it definitely does not stand out as an amazing sound system. Sirius will also go in and out at times around areas with lots of trees. There also seems to be a sound differential when changing from Sirius to a normal FM radio station. Overall I still think the sound system is good, but I also am not a sound buff. A crisp, amazing sounding radio was not an essential factor to me. The RAV4s is more than sufficient for me. I love the looks of this vehicle. The outside looks great with the redesigned front, and I am in love with the interior. The dash is made up of a lot of soft materials, it looks very sporty and sharp. I got the Entune package with Nav on my XLE and feel it was definitely worth it. The upgraded 7in touchscreen looks perfectly fitted in the dash. I also have tinkered with the Nav system and find it more than adequate. It has not given me false directions and is easy to use. It seems to work as well as an older Garmin GPS I own. However, it will not allow you to input an address while driving unless you use voice commands. I have not tried inputting an address via voice command so I dont know how well that works. The bluetooth in the RAV4 has also worked great for me thus far. I can clearly hear the person on the other end, and have not had anyone complain about not being able to hear me clearly either. This vehicle also has great cargo capacity and tons of room. I have driven passengers in the backseat and heard no complaints about it being a tight fit. I find the seats comfortable. I did have to adjust my seat a few times after buying to get it into just the right position, but I think I finally got it there. Overall, I would definitely recommend the RAV4. For me, it was an immediate standout when I first viewed and test drove it. This was actually the last compact SUV I looked at because I was hooked from the first test drive. The RAV4 was not even on my list of potential SUVs, but the dealership was next to Honda and I decided to take a look and am really glad I did. If you are shopping for a car, Id say you should at least check the RAV4 out. I am super happy with my car purchasing experience!

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  Brilliant, Brilliant - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By scott McCready - July 17 - 8:13 pm

  This is the most value and individuality you will ever find in an automobile. Performance and comfort far exceeded my expectations. Visibility is also better than one would think and the styling lights up every child you will ever meet. This is a flawless execution of the cutest car money can buy all for an incredibly cheap price.

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  Drove cross country - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By Dietrick van Nassau - July 17 - 7:53 pm

  I was surprised at how quick it it. I sold my Mercedes SL 500 and was expexting to really miss it. The Toyota Prius made that transition easy. I got about 34 MPG at 90 MPH and 38 MPG at 75 MPH and loved the way it handles. It has a very small turning circle, has plenty storage space and holds quite some luggage. I cant wait to see a larger car with this milage. Bottom line: I love this car, its the most fun I have had driving and feeling good about it.

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  My first Toyota was a great choice! - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By TchrCochrane - July 17 - 11:53 am

  I wasnt sure about getting an SUV, but this one was so comfortable. I describe it like this: its like a car and a van all rolled up into one! I really enjoy driving it. My two children love riding in a more spacious area and really enjoy watching videos on the Dvd player. Glad I got it!

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  2007 CrewMax - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By rackmaster - July 17 - 11:16 am

  Plenty of interior storage space with bucket seats. Very smooth ride even with the off road package. Transmission is very smooth shifting. The rear seating is incredible. Im a first time Toyota buyer and this truck beats my 01 and 03 Chevy HD Crews by a mile.

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  2017 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By pflynnku - July 16 - 11:05 pm

  Good value for the price

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  I LOVE my Yaris - 2008 Toyota Yaris
  By Miss Thang - July 16 - 7:46 pm

  I bought this vehicle for its fuel economy as my daily commuter. I have been getting close to 40MPG regularly as most of my driving in on the highway and that it is going to and from the mountains to Denver every day which means it would suck more gas going up "the hill" where I have to downshift to get more speed. If I was on flat highway I would imagine it would get even HIGHER! I took a road trip to New Mexico with my two children and my husband and it fit us and our small bags without a problem and we got about 39 MPG even driving 80 MPH most of the way. It was as comfortable as our other larger crossover AWD vehicle. I have been very pleased with my purchase.