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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  aerodynamics problem - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Edavis - January 21 - 10:00 am

  The Highlander has a smooth quiet ride until the back windows are open, then all hell breaks loose! There is an unbearable rummbling sound that gets worse as one continues driving. This vechicle is perfect if one plans on never opening the back windows. If you plan on buying a Highlander I strongly suggest you test the back windows first!

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  Not So Pleased - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Its Not All That - January 21 - 2:00 am

  -Replace EGR valve at 30k-- took it to the dealer 5 times to figure this one out!!!~ very annoying -Sruts in need of replacing at 40k-- I agree,this should be recalled -24 mpg, not so great -CD player skips, possibly as a result of the strut problem-- $1500 to replace- - 2 weeks to figure this one out -big heavy doors that ding and get dinged -$600 to replace window due to vandalism-- not cheap! -Severe windshield glare

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  Toyota Camry SE from a E 350 - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Bruno Valenti - January 20 - 6:24 am

  I purchased this Camry SE after deciding for practical purposes my Mercedes E 350 wasnt suiting my needs. I have to say, although it is not a Mercedes( as far as weight, luxury and AWD). It is a pretty decent car for the money. It is comfortable, reliable. The base radio in the SE is just as loud as the deluxe radio, without the complications. ll controls are great, the 4 is peppy a nd suffice on the road. Braking is great. It came with Michelins so ride quality is fine. What I think is impressive is the ride noise, very low and build quality. Everything is tight, doors are heavy, no loose bumper fittings. I have to say it is better built and parts fits with no wabble or creak. My mercedes had loose parts to the bumper and the electronic luxuries of that car were way to overbearing. Great value and felt solid when compared to Honda. I would not even look at the Korean vehicles which use even cheaper materials.

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  We like it - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By frazbmw - January 20 - 1:09 am

  Really the only thing I can think to complain about is the steering. The steer by wire requires constant correction and has a different feel to it. AWD was adequete for my wife this winter without winter tires. Plenty of pickup when you want it! No outside temp reading on base model??? 29k come on lets add in a few basic options that all competitors have. I like the interior set up ecspecially the backseat space. Never get better than 18.5mpg mixed driving with 8k on odometer.

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  Thats all? - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By JC - January 19 - 7:53 pm

  I have had the car for over 8 months now and I am a little disappointed with the lack of accceptable engine power on the 4 cyl. Yes, I know is a four cylinder but I thought the engine should have performed better given the changes. Also, the sound system is so poor unless you are willing to spend $3K more to get the JBL and leather interior, which come together. Toyota made unavailable only the sound system for sale, why? I have had Toyotas for over 26 years and this one did not fulfill the expectations for the price.

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  Good all around value - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By tommyk - January 19 - 1:46 am

  I forget I am in a large vehicle most of the time. It has a silky smooth drive train with an amazing amount of power should you need it. I wish the ride was a bit smoother, but what can one expect from a vehicle with a tow rating of 10,000 lbs? I get good mileage on the highway, I get about 20 mpg if I keep it at or below 65 mph and around town about 15. I have only had one little problem with it and that was a bad O-ring on the dipstick tube that needed to be replaced. Other than that it has been a star.

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  Great Car - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By untgrad2000 - January 18 - 6:40 am

  I got my Camry from my mom. I am 25 and I do not have a family or need for a big sedan but this car is great. It is the best car I have ever had and it is used. I have 27000 plus thousand miles and no major problems. All my cars until now were new and still the quality is competition for the Camry. The V-6 has enough power for passing on the highway. The leather seats are alittle boring. I prefer the seats that are sport shaped, they make me feel more secure when turning.

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  Super Commuter - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By David - January 17 - 9:50 pm

  On my second Corolla. Great, dependable, no frills cars. 03 redesign brought a nice update to the look and the charcoal color I have is very impressive.

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  Awful Fuel Economy - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Frank - January 16 - 2:50 pm

  My choices were either a CRV (our old vehicle) or a RAV. We decided to go with the RAV and we are in general happy with our decision, especially since we got a good deal on the price. The main problem is the fuel economy. On my first fuel refill, it was 14mpg. So far, I have not been able to get more than 18mpg between refills. I asked the dealer to check it and apparently they can only do this in the summer. They also told me that the winter mpg is supposedly less, but an average of 14 - 18 mpg is a joke. In comparison, my 1999 Honda CRV averages 20 mpg. I only have about 800 miles on the RAV and the mpg may just improve with use (I certainly hope it does).

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  Luv my Solara ! - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
  By SolaraMan2003 - January 16 - 10:00 am

  Starting engine not as instantaneous as American-made cars I’ve owned in the past. Is this typical on this kind of car? Handles quite well. MPG from 19/city to 28/highway (high-speed ~75mph, non-constant). I don’t necessarily feel I’m in a “luxury” car, but you know you’re in a nice one. Cruise control kept constant speed, but I think it should have a second dash light for "engaged" as well as "cruise". Had the car at 100mph for 7 seconds on a straight, smooth tpke with 4 passengers and all thought the ride was quite smooth. They didn’t think we were going that fast.