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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  Good deal - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
  By Toyota Fan - February 2 - 3:30 am

  I bought my car new and have put 132,000 miles on it. It has been a great car. This car is very reliable with very good gas mileage, ave 28-29 mpg (driving combo of 1/3 city and 2/3 freeway).

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  Great 1st Car - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By Mel - February 2 - 1:56 am

  This car was pretty much my present for my 18th birthday. I browsed around for a car and found this at a dealer. I drove it and was instantly attached to it. Yeah, its not the fastest car on the road, but what I was looking for was there. Reliability. I live in the northeast, so there are things that are going to need changing (brake lines, exhaust system, stuff that rusts over time). Other than that, no mechanical problems to this very day. Very good car for a high school/college kid.

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  4Runner owners beware of Transmission - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Disappointed - February 2 - 1:56 am

  Purchased 4Runner used (w/ 75K miles) from a dealership with high expectations regarding the quality and realibity of a Toyota. At 146K the Transmission went out which is not much better than the Ford Taurus we owned. The cost to replace the Transmission was $4500, OUCH! We decided to rebuild instead which cost around $1800.

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  Happy with Prius - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By imnaha - February 1 - 6:40 pm

  Ive only had this vehicle about one month, but so far Im pleased. My waiting period was about one month, and I paid sticker price. One bonus is that Oregon has a $1500 tax credit for purchasing a hybrid. As expected, the EPA mileage estimates are too high, but Ive been achieving around 47 MPG in mixed driving that includes occasional use of the A/C or heater. Of course, Im being careful not to drive agressively. I managed an overall mileage of 52 MPG last week. The car has adequate power for mountainous driving or heavy traffic. Some complain that the car is "ugly" or isnt powerful enough. This isnt an SUV, folks. Its a wonderful car thats designed to cut fuel and pollution.

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  2017 Tundra 1794 Edition - 2017 Toyota Tundra
  By Jim - February 1 - 5:48 pm

  I had previously driven a 2007 Tundra SR5, which I had purchased in 09. Its why I bought a 2017. I studied, as I do with all big purchases for a couple of years. In reading the reviews online, I agree with the "cons". We all know they dont get great gas mileage, and Ive owned this truck, with 1500 miles on it, for a little over a month, and right now, the computer shows 15.9 mph. Having said that, most of my driving is 60 mph on the highway. And I also know a couple of new Tundra owners who are getting in the 13-14 range. If my computer is correct, Im doing a little better. The other "cons" in reviews are slow braking, and I knew that going in. They are heavy trucks (5900 lbs) if Im not mistaken. My old Tundra had the 4.6 engine and the 5.7 is a hoss compared to that one, though for my purposes, I never had an issue with the 4.6....just wanted more, and I got it. One of the other knocks is a less responsive steering, but its never bothered me as I dont drive Fords or Chevys anymore, though I drove Chevy for 30 years prior to 09. Now for the "pros".......the interior of the 1794 is said to be comparable to the Lexus, and I believe it. The leather is beautiful and this thing has every gadget available as the 1794 is a "Platinum" with a unique interior. Ive heard it said that competitors offer more stuff, but to be honest, it will take me 10 years to learn how to operate everything on this one. The 1794 does have directional signals in the mirrors and one of my favorite safety options, the blind spot indicator in the mirrors, which I now rely on. The interior (save the inside cargo space) is larger than my wifes Chevy Tahoe. Far and away the roomiest truck out there. And with the long wheelbase, on the highway you get a ride like a very nice car. This truck is 4WD, and the suspension is stiffer than my 2WD 07 Tundra, but on the highway, theres no comparison. Both smooth riding trucks however. As the guys Ive worked with and I share truck information liberally, theyve been surprised at the price of this truck compared to say a comparable Ford "King Ranch". It s large pickup that drives and rides like a large pickup, and if you consider that going in, you really cant go wrong with a Tundra.

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  Prius is a good car choice! - 2007 Toyota Prius
  By richardbckr - February 1 - 5:30 pm

  I practically live in my vehicle during the week as I drive quite a bit as a part of my job. Having driving a Honda Insight for a year and being very happy with its performance I looked a the Prius for better comfort and I must say I got it. While gas mileage is not as good (at about 53 avg) as the Insight (60.5 avg)I have been very pleased with the smooth and quiet ride. The many accessories like Blue Tooth for my cell phone, iPod speaker connnection, and excellent stereo system performance have met all my exacting expectations. The Touring Edition suspension and beefy tires have performed well for this tall car by keeping it flat when negotiating the tight turns on the roads I travel.

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  Toyota 4Runner - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Pat - February 1 - 5:16 am

  This is the best SUV I have ever owned. Its sleek, stylish, and the most comfortable vehicle. It has so many standard features that I am still trying to figure them out. I did a lot of research on this and other SUVs prior to making my decision. This SUV is by far the one that stood out the most. I read a lot of reviews and I did not find any that said this SUV was not a good buy. I have never regretted purchasing this SUV.

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  Great Truck!!! - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By BRIAN - February 1 - 3:50 am

  Looks great and is fun to drive around town. It does well off-road with the rear locker. Probably my favorite car so far.

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  Great Car, Simply the best for the Money - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By ledchp16 - February 1 - 1:13 am

  The car is wonderful. Its interior space is simply the best-in-class with excellent matterials and ergonomic design. The ride can be a little floaty, but is never harsh and uncomfortable, which is exactly what you should be looking for in a lux sedan. I have come to calling this car a poor mans Maybach. I say this because of the extraordinarily generous rear legroom, you might rather be a rear passenger than the driver!

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  20 years of RAV4s - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Chris K - January 31 - 2:47 pm

  I owned an original 1996 RAV4 as my first car and was curious to drive the newest version 20 years later. The original RAV4 was like all the other small SUVs of the day. Cute, compact, good mileage and a fair amount of utility. Mine was the forest green, but the hood paint was flaking off for whatever reason. The radio only worked in one speaker and I couldnt tune too high on the radio dial or I got static. If I floored it, not a whole lot happened and I had to carry around a can of WD40 in the winter, because the locks froze open. But it ran like a champ for the most part and was cheap to maintain. My wife and I got a 2015 Toyota RAV4 AWD XLE on loan from our local dealer thanks to a recall on my wifes 2008 Scion TC. So naturally, I was curious. How did 20 years of evolution measure up to the original? The new one is a lot bigger than the old one. I was impressed with the space in my RAV, but this car has to be twice as big. Its really wide too and the driving position is a lot higher. It almost feels like youre sitting on a milk crate, with a wide view of the road and your surroundings. The load floor in the back is still low and I imagine there isnt much you cant fit in the back. Theres some neat cubbie holes in the dashboard and console as well. The acceleration is definitely better than the original, thanks to about 50 more HP, but a bigger car carries more heft and you can feel it. From the numbers, its dropped about 1.5 seconds in 0-60, but it could use more oomph. The handling leaves something to be desired too. The new RAV4 is easy over bumps, stops well, is very quiet on the road and the wheel is light and easy. But man, is it boring. Sport mode just means a feeling of more power, but nothing else. My old RAV4 was mostly unremarkable. It had its flaws, but for the most part it got me where I needed to go with minimal issues. I put 145k miles on it and only traded in because the AC failed and would have cost more than the car was worth to fix it. I saw it a couple of weeks ago actually and has to be well over 200k in miles by now. Its great great grandson seems poised to do more of the same. Makes sense as thats what Toyotas are these days for the most part. If you want something to get you to where you need to go with minimal effort, this is the car for you. If you need something that moves the needle a little more and gives you some driving excitement, this may not be the best choice. Perhaps thats why I traded in the old RAV4 for a Subaru.