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:

• 

  My Reliable Rig - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Susan - August 12 - 10:00 am

  It is so reliable. I looked in consumer reports before my purchase as it had 44,000 miles on it and was spendy at that time.The only thing I have ever had to do is change the starter at 85K and purchase tires.I have never had any mechanical problems.

• 

  Super Little Car - 2009 Toyota Yaris
  By Toyota Fan - August 12 - 10:00 am

  We bought this car as a commuter as my husband drives 80 miles round trip daily. We have almost 34,000 miles on it and get 43-44 mpg on the highway consistently, driving at 65 mph. This car is fun to drive, corners nicely, accelerates quickly, and is amazingly quiet for a small car. I was a little antsy about safety in such a small car, until my husband hit a deer the other night at 55 mph and sustained no damage to the frame or engine compartment, nor to himself I am happy to say! We havent experienced any problems at all with our Yaris, and plan to keep this car for a long time to come.

• 

  1200 miles, and very happy. - 2011 Toyota 4Runner
  By gw - August 12 - 10:00 am

  My 1st 4R but on 3rd Taco pickup. I purchased 10 days ago and just completed a road trip. I tried a new Highlander,Camry,Avalon as well as a used Lexus car and Acura MDX and TL; settled on the 4R as it felt better than the rest. I also own a 02 Accord I bought new, and while a good car I feel it doesn’t match Toyota quality. I found some criticisms something to watch for,but exaggerated. The break booster sound is noticeable with the radio off, but not a big concern. I have not noticed hood vibration, cheap sounding doors, or problems with the brake feel, and the horn is fine. The performance and ride is great. I have yet to try accelerate quickly or tow anything. Love it so far.

• 

  Now a real road machine! - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By Glenn Norris - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought my auto last Friday and immediately went on a 500 mile trip. I now have a 04 Toyota MR2, a 2009 LE Camry and this 11 SE. This car has a great comfortable ride with stiffer suspension than the LE. The fit and finish is outstanding. It held the curves very well on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I especially recommend the Smart Key System with PB starting and wireless door entry and XM radio w/Bluetooth wireless. Also, spend a couple of hundred dollars and get pin-striping and side body molding. It will pay off in the long run. Fox Toyota in Clinton, Tn was great to deal with. I choose this car over the Hyundai Sonata Because of the much better trade and the dependability of the Camry.

• 

  Best car - 1994 Toyota Corolla
  By cari - August 12 - 1:13 am

  Bought the Toyota Corolla in Vancouver 1994 and when I moved to Ontario, it was transported across. It has been the best car ever with no problems. Serviced once a year and running like a new car. Highly recommendable.

• 

  Great Car - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Tarbox - August 12 - 12:00 am

  This is my second Avalon. It is a great car. Roomy and responsive. Quiet and quick.

• 

  Nice car - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By Garrett - August 11 - 8:37 am

  It is a very nice car. Worth way more than what I paid for it. Ive had it for about two years now and it had 189,000 miles on it. The handling is very good, the leather seats are very comfortable, the visibility is good, moon roof is fully functional, acceleration is rather decent, and brakes are good. The radio is not very good. The speakers sound very good for this generation, but the antenna motor (the one that is supposed to retract the antenna back into the vehicle after the radio is switched off) does not retract the antenna; it just makes noise. The CD and Tape players no longer work, but the AM/FM Tuner works great. The trunk is absolutely massive and the interior room is superb. Overall, a very nice car.

• 

  Echo Best Gas Mileage, Reliable, Roomy! - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By family2kids - August 11 - 3:23 am

  The best car ever. My wife and our two kids fit in just right. Bought the car with 17K miles in it in 2004, now has 140K miles. Drove from Frankfort KY to Chicago in one tank (38-40 mpg) everytime. Very easy on the wallet, usually pump gas once or twice a month at most ($20-25 bucks/mo). Drove through the worst snowstorms (Nebraska, Illinois) and did well. Carried five adults with trunk full of suitcases to Chicago airport from KY just fine. Able to pass cars or trucks on hwy real easy. VERY ROOMY, more space than Corolla, Camry, Taurus, etc. Father in law 64" 300 lbs drove comfortably over 400 miles, that says something :). Toyota is awesome. Odometer easy to see while driving.

• 

  JUST LOVE THIS VAN - 2011 Toyota Sienna
  By Mike - August 11 - 2:26 am

  Great Van love the way it looks and rides. This is my fourth Toyota and I will keep on buying Toyota. I got a great trade in price for the 07 corolla from Toyota. Toyota did a fine job with the 2011

• 

  Great Value proposition with style. - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Robert Sciba - August 10 - 9:04 pm

  The Highlander is big, it has three rows of seats, however it does not feel like a large car when you are driving. The size does make it comfortable for adults, the 2nd row seats have plenty of room even for larger/taller people. I really enjoy the "shelf" located slightly below the dashboard. It makes a great place to put your phone, glasses, laundry ticket, etc, you get the picture. It also has a large center console for bigger items. The onboard tech is OK, the Toyota Entune system has a couple of OK features including notification of txts and emails - although you cannot read them while driving but you can send a standardized response. You also have apps for Open Table, sports, stocks, movie tickets and a few others. The stereo, although listed as a premium system is not very powerful and the tone/quality is fair at best. The NAV is OK to use, the voice activation commands work best for making bluetooth phone calls but using it to NAV or perform other functions is mediocre. The motor sounds fine at most speeds but I do hear a "whine" or higher pitched tone from time to time that I do not care for. Also, the Homelink function is difficult to program. I have succeeded in getting button 1 programmed but the other buttons are not working. (I have not contacted Toyota yet on this issue) The pros are the nice size, overall styling and functionality, the cons are a couple of extra noises, avg stereo and mediocre grade leather on the seats. My net opinion, I would buy this car again and would recommend it to you!