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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  A lot for your money - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By TNT - August 27 - 5:16 pm

  I did a lot of research and searching for an SUV that would meet my wallet size and travel style and I found the Highlander to exceed all my expectations. It is an SUV that drives like a car. We drove the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Saturn Vue because they were classed so closely and there was no comparison. The Highlander was bar none, the best deal and ride we found for the money. And it is so fuel efficient. I am extremely happy with the vehicle and the sales process we went through.

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  Our First Camry - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By Wayne Albrecht - August 27 - 4:53 pm

  The 2017 Camry SE was our first Camry and our 4th Toyota overall. We bought the car on 3/11/17 but had been shopping around for awhile. We had looked at Honda, Kia and Hyundai. While the others came close (The Accord being just a little less expensive), our loyalty with Toyota and the local dealership was the determining factor. Pros: Handles great, smooth and relatively quiet ride, nice body look (A Classy/Sporty mix), interior is intuitive and smart, very comfortable, easy visuals from all angles while driving, price is reasonable for its class and features. Cons: Only one, really; gas mileage. Overall, the 2017 Camry is a solid car and, if like our last few Toyotas, will be in the family for a long time.

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  4Runner.....one great car - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By phil89 - August 27 - 11:56 am

  I got a 2002 4Runner SR5 4WD Sport Edition and I love it. The ride is trucklike and bumpy over washboard surfaces but the 4Runner can take almost anything you throw at it. The engine is smooth but it will leave you wanting more horses(one of the only faults). The braking is exceptional plus the traction and stability control helps me stay firmly on the road in bad conditions. The inside and outside styling is superb and in my opinion it is the best looking SUV on the market. Average fuel economy for an older SUV about 17-21 in my experiance.

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  Great Truck - 2012 Toyota Tundra
  By voiceover - August 27 - 4:35 am

  This is my third Toyota truck and is by far the best. I looked (briefly) at others when it was time to trade and I easily came home to Toyota. This truck has it all - capacity, comfort, durability and great looks. The 5.7L V-8 offers plenty of power for even the most demanding of tasks. Plenty of room in the front, back and the bed. Leather interior is top-notch. Navigation w/ JBL sound system is superior to others I have owned including Bose. We often take the truck to our vacation home and find the ride pleasant and relaxing. Lots of storage space to keep things organized. If you are looking for a full-sized pickup truck, give the Tundra a close look. You wont be disappointed.

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  2006 Toyota Sienna - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By ED PARTYKA - August 27 - 3:36 am

  Great minivan, gas mileage is not as good as I expected. I average about 17 mpg around home in the suburbs.

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  Not what you think - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Itschuck - August 26 - 10:23 pm

  Well at 80k a new engine due to oil sludge, Toyota covered it but not assuring. Lots of little cheap trim that broke and bubbled. Exterior gold emblems all cracked and peeled, paint didnt hold up at all, mottled and splotched. Sheet metal is incredibly thin, had to drill out the license plate bolts cause they rusted in place.

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  Awesome Vehicle! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Dave - August 26 - 5:50 pm

  Lots of fun to drive. I love the way this truck looks and it is built with excellent Toyota quality. We purchased the 6 speed manual which has full time 4WD. We live on a ski mountain and encounter fairly extreme weather, including very slippery icy roads. It goes through rough terrain very smoothly - a joy to drive.

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  What a let down! - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By Zayne Austin - August 26 - 1:41 pm

  I went from a 2008 Solara sport to this 2014 Avalon, What a let down! The good, Lots of snap/HP. Nice materials used. Nicer styling. For the bad... the list is long!! Poor headlight illumination Blind spot mont.system over agressive during passing. you can not wash the car with the keys in your pocket, the car constantly locks and unlocks. There is poor storage area, and push button start makes it worse with more stuff Keys)to set somewhere! the certer armrest storage is horrible, no where to have a pen handy, Ok seats, super hard!!! no comfortable at all. Im always trying to readjust to relax my butt. the tilt wheel does not tilt down far enough, and does not telescope far enough. plus both are controlled by only one lever. so the tilt up upon exit usually retracts the telescope as well, so constant adjusting. I had to put the seat much closer to the dash than I like do to steering position issues. the window controls are wrong. when the arm is on the panel, my fingers are on top of the mirror controls, kinda not where then need to be! I dislike the radio controls. as you change presets your actually going down on the wheel, yet your preset stations are going up in sequence. very confusing. I guess setting up the presets backward will help. The materials on the radio controls are cheap. also, the HD is constantly going in and out, making radio loud, then quiet. Ill turn it off, but as soon as you change the station, its active again. The screen on the radio and climate are slanted at a poor angle, the sun hits them and you cant see anything!! they need to perhaps be tiltable so as to avoid sun glare. OK the car is automatic, always wandering for a gear, and has sport shift option and!!! paddle shifter! really? why waste that much mony on 3 shifting options in an AVALON? The a/c vents are horrible!!! you can cool the body from the chest up, or from knees down, but there are NO vents to cool your mid section. the "auto" to cool the car, does not work well, it activates vents only, not the floor vents, and it doesnt turn on high, you have to adjust it. some of the controls are just touch and some are PUSH, so wierd trying to remember what ones you have to push hard. The review camera has not helped me at all. I do like that the mirrors tilt down upon reverse though. the brakes kinda suck, it feels like they are going to warp if I push hard. I am a single guy 35, drive the car in eco all the time trying to be gentle. This car is neither luxury as I thought, or sport as they are trying. its simply a glorified Maxima, that is a let down on all fronts. Update as of 7-13-2016 I still dislike the car with 4200 miles. I would NOT buy it again.

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  THE BEST OF THE MINI-VANS - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By arnie98683 - August 26 - 1:30 pm

  This is the best car I have ever owned! It is a dream to drive. The turning radius is amazing when I need to do a u- turn in a parking lot! It is quiet, smooth and comfortable. When I am tooling down the road, I feel like I am in the lap of luxury. I have had friends who owned mini-vans, but this one feels like a car, compared to theirs and is so EASY to drive.

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  Best Avalon yet - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By W Nelson - August 26 - 12:23 pm

  I started buying Avalons in 1995 and this is my 5th one. It is by far the best in amenities, performance, design and fuel economy. The things I would have improved on, from the past models, they addressed and more. I am extremely pleased in every way.