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 first Toyota - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Lonna - May 25 - 11:20 am

  This is my first "foreign-made" car, after owning GMs for the last 30 years. Im counting on Toyotas reputation for reliability and value. Ive owned my Camry XLE for 6 months and love the comfort--even better than my 1995 Buick Regal, which I didnt think could be beat for long-distance driving comfort. Other than for oil changes, Ive only had my Camry to the dealership twice for a hesitation problem between 1st and 2nd gears. When cornerning, or accelerating after a slow down, my car seems to remain in 1st gear at 20 mph, then zooms off all at once. Dealership has re-set the drive-by-wire twice. Ill guess Ill just put up with this minor problem.

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  Terrific truck! Very happy. - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Will - May 25 - 6:50 am

  Toyota nailed it with the 2016 Tacoma. I purchased a TRD Off-Road, Double-Cab, short bed truck with the premium and technology packages, sunroof, folding bed cover, and towing package. Overall: I could hardly be happier with the truck. The technology is terrific; it wirelessly charges my cell phone in the center console, senses cross traffic when I am backing out of a parking spot, identifies cars in my blind spot when moving one lane over, and displays my surroundings on the large lcd screen in the dash when reversing. It also has a power outlet in the bed of the truck for tailgating. I love the look of the trucks exterior and am pumped about the ride quality, quietness of the cab, and comfort of the interior. Even in the TRD Off-Road trim, this truck matches my wifes Lexus for ride quality, and as a result, it has become our main vehicle. The rear selectable locking differential is terrific. And the safety of this truck won my wife over. Best of all, the Tacoma came with a lifetime power train warranty and free service for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Technology: When you add the technology and premium packages, this truck has all of the gadgets typically found in luxury vehicles like Lexus, including blind-spot monitoring, a backup camera, wireless phone charging, Bluetooth, predictive traffic maps, weather, e-mail and text messaging, satellite radio, crawl control, and more. It automatically unlocks when I touch the drivers door handle with the key fob in my pocket. Id be hard pressed to come up with more technology I would want in the truck. Ride quality: The ride is phenomenal. The truck soaks up large and small bumps far better than I expected. Gone is the spine-shaking sensation that pickup trucks often have when the rear axle hits a short, harsh bump. Steering: While not as precise or firm as my sports car, the truck feels planted. I can confidently pick and hold a line at speed on Georgias curvy roads. Interior materials: The trucks dash looks terrific. You can change the interior accent colors with the touch of a button. I love the display for the GPS and radio. The smaller lcd screen between the speedometer and tachometer is packed with technology and displays more information than I thought I would ever need in a truck, from tire pressure, to a compass, to the name of the street I am driving on. I love the 9 cup holders for the front two seats alone, with an additional four in the rear for a total of thirteen. I am shocked by some of the reviewers that complain about the interiors quality. The materials are handsome, and are a snap to clean the mud off of. I love the all weather mats, a definite must. Exterior: One of my favorite options so far has been the folding tonneau cover. By locking the tailgate, I can store my chainsaw and other tools without worrying about them walking off. The bed cover keeps my stuff dry, and its easy to remove when loading up the dirt bikes for the weekend. The styling of the truck has prompted two neighbor buddies to come over unannounced and chat about the truck. Areas for improvement: Sure, there are a few things I would change. I agree with the reviewers who said that some options are missing for a truck in this price range, including a garage door opener (a $250 option, on top of the couple thousand dollar technology and premium packages), few interior color options, and manual seats. I also agree that the truck shifts often when set on cruise at 85 miles per hour. Set at a more reasonable speed of 70 miles per hour, however, the truck hums along just fine and gets reasonable gas mileage, though not mind-blowing. The bottom line is that I chose this truck because its exactly what I wanted after researching all of the trucks competitors. Go ahead and buy a different truck if you want, but I know that this truck will be reliable over the long haul, and it has been so enjoyable so far that Ive been coming up with reasons to drive it or run to the garage to look at it. Finally, that Toyota stands behind this truck gives me confidence in my purchase. Not so with some of the other guys, and Ive already seen a 2015 model of a competitors truck broken down on the side of the highway. I would definitely make the same decision again to buy the 2016 Tacoma. I hope this review helps.

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  Love my Yaris! - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By Tine - May 25 - 1:16 am

  I purchased my Yaris at the end of August 2006. Its given me no problems, it is fun to drive and I love the 657 million compartments. The little extras like MP3 hookup are great!

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  love the sienna.. - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By inseattle - May 24 - 10:23 pm

  So far, its worth every penny. Handles and rides great for such a big car. Very comfortable on every type of surface. Love the power of the engine.

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  Most Underated of All Convertibles - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Steve - May 24 - 9:46 pm

  Outstanding quality, nice ride, seats 4, looks great. This convertible is a bargain compared to others out there and it comes with the typical Toyota reliability. May not be the most stylish on the outside, but this is a great automobile.

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  Economic Commuter - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Iowa driver - May 24 - 3:40 pm

  I bought our 05 CE certified used as a second commuter vehicle...during high gas prices. The gas mileage, build quality, and appearance are all excellent. Top mileage in gentle conditions (mostly highway, around 60 mph) we get 36 mpg. Average close to 400 miles per tank. I like the simple dash layout and open feel of the cabin. I am less happy with the ride quality. Pronounced road noise and jittery ride at highway speeds. On the highway it also feels light and gets pushed around my passing trucks or high winds. Know this is because it has a smaller wheel base and light frame for gas mileage. Considering trading up to Camry or Lexus. Need a better ride as a is suffer vertigo.

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  Beautiful, Classy & Fun - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Audrey - May 24 - 2:06 pm

  I just purchased a 2006 SE V6 3.3L Solara the other day after comparing many vehicles. This car by far is the best out there for the money. I paid $17,500 w/15k on it. The engine is powerful and I am averaging 26 mpg in the city 31 mpg on the freeway. The car is just stunning inside and out. I chose Arctic Frost White w/light tan interior (only offered on SE Model, that is why I chose the SE and not Sport or SLE). Everyone comments on how beautiful and classy the car is. You cant beat Toyotas reputation for quality and reliablity, all while getting a very stylish, sporty looking car. Nothing out there can compete on price.

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  Great Car - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Al - May 24 - 1:30 pm

  I bought this car couple of months ago for my wife. She loves it and I drive it every chance I get (or excuse I can come up with). Rav4 is a fun car and I researched many months before decided to go for a 2WD automatic. Living in California diminishes the need for 4WD and plus I can save more money on gas. So far I get 21 MPG and this is mostly city driving. Curtain air bag was very important for me, so I had to move up to “L” and few other options since this was the only one on the Dealer’s Lot with side/curtain airbags.

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  Lives up to expectations - 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By jim - May 24 - 7:53 am

  The best car that we have ever had. It has been fun to drive. Great acceleration at all speeds. Mileage has been steadily going up. The air conditioning greatly reduces mileage. We are now getting about 29mpg around town with air off. We are averaging about 27 overall. The highlander is a great road car (great acceleration, quiet and comfortable). Excellent controls and navigation with mileage screen is great. It teaches you how to get better mileage. Electric air conditioner is very powerful and cools the car down quickly.

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  Surprisingly good acceleration and MPG - 2016 Toyota Prius
  By Andrew - May 24 - 5:50 am

  This 4th gen Prius is not the same car as older versions. In the one month that I have had the car, I continue to be surprised by the many preconceptions that have been proven wrong. 1) It accelerates well - step on the gas and the electric motor together with gas engine will pick up the speed very nicely. I have not had to floor the accelerator yet when passing or merging onto freeway. 2) EPA gas mileage of 53 is wrong. It is also wrong that highway MPG is lower than local. I have been averging 63 combined and little difference between local and highway. 3) It handles very well, thanks to the new 2016 rear suspension. Coming from a BMW 3 series, the handling is comparable around corners and turns.