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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  Best car I have ever driven - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Michael - December 11 - 7:03 am

  This is the first foreign car I have had, and I couldnt be more impressed without a hybrid engine. Once you learn the responsiveness of the gas pedal, you can get either the performance or mileage you want out of a 2.4L 4-cylinder. I get a consistent 22mpg in suburb driving and have hit 26+ on nothing but freeway at speeds of 70-75ish. The steering and controls are awesome. The sound system looks great and sounds great, plus it has a hidden power and audio in jack for iPods or satellite radio. The folding back seats allow extra room when needed (help a friend move). The climate controls are very simple yet adjustable. I like them more than my moms Avalon. Overall, an awesome car.

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  Perfect (for me) - 2001 Toyota Tacoma
  By Hemonie - December 11 - 12:20 am

  Only truck Ive ever had that did EVERYTHING I asked of it. I bought it w/69,000 miles & after 5 yrs have just over 140,000. Replaced O2 sensors & cat converter outside of regular preventive maintenance. I routinely travel min maint & backroads, 50 miles of hwy/day of work, haul equipment/firewood, utilize 4WD, etc. Handles extremely well regardless of conditions. Fuel mileage is higher than acceptable given the demands I place on this truck. Tight cab even @ 9-10 yrs old, no rust. Outstanding truck! I dont have a family, but my dogs & I fit perfectly (not small dogs). Given the miles I drive for work & school, the weekend projects & dependability during inclement weather. I just love it!

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  First Toyota Truck - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By Kevin - December 10 - 9:23 pm

  This is the first Toyota truck I have ever owned. Ive only had it a few weeks but could not be happier. Plenty of power for passing and a very comfortable ride for a pick-up truck. The interior of the truck was set up very nicely with no gauges being blocked from your view with the steering wheel. Ive seen several reviews from professional websites that claim the seating position is too low. Im 62" and I say the seating position is too high. Other than that an overall exceptional truck.

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  What a Great Car - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By Katherine - December 10 - 11:06 am

  I bought my car new in 2005. I am six feet tall and the car is very comfortable front and back. I get between 46 and 52 MPG. I watch the consumption level which changed my driving habits. No jackrabbit starts and I drive a with my cruise control a lot. We have mountainous uphills and Ive never had trouble passing on them - lots of get up and go! Have had no problems with it. You can stuff a lot of stuff into this car. I have always owned Toyotas and this is my favorite.

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  Tundranator - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By SonyAbyss - December 10 - 10:53 am

  I have owned my Tundra SR5 for about 3 months and I love it. Mostly every one that I know agrees the Tundra has a better external apearence than the Titain and gets better gas milage while having the power and reliability of a Toyota. I can pull my 20 ft camper trailer with out any problems and the interior makes the long rides between vacations enjoyable.

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  Great Truck - 2002 Toyota Tundra
  By don - December 9 - 9:33 pm

  I now have 67000 miles on my truck. It is my only vehicle and it has never failed me in over three years. I live in northern New Hampshire where winters can be pretty tough. I have had to only do the regular maintenance required. Before this I owned a Toyota Camry which I ran for nine years. My son still runs it and it has over 150000 miles. Ill stay with Toyota for the reasons noted above and for the resale value.

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  Not the truck i hoped and payed for - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By John H - December 9 - 6:46 pm

  As we all know Toyota Tacomas are very expensive in comparison to their domestic counterparts. Youre hoping they give u at least 200k. Bought this truck brand new with 26 miles. I commute nearly 350 miles every 2 days. I changed both the oil and filter every 3,000 with Toyotas recommended oil, flushed the trans every 45k and had the rear end done every 50k. Cooling system at 65k and again at 118k. With 121,450 miles my 2.7L seized. Not what I expected. Toyota said at 120k it should be ready for an overhaul. Engine sludge. OK? I thought they lasted. My wifes 05 FX4 f150 has 188k on original drivetrain along with my 97 Jeep 4.0 with 294k on the original engine. Should have spent money elsewhere.

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  2002 bad valve guides, expensive! - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By NANCY W - December 9 - 2:56 pm

  We bought this car new & expected to drive it 20 years. At about 100,000 miles valve guides are leaking oil and the estimate is $2,714.00 to fix it. Also front brakes are not that good for weight of car. We are considering selling it. We are really not happy with Toyota. They would not provide any compensation for an engine that should have had no major problems until at least 300,000 miles.

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  Great Mileage! Great Car! - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Jim - December 9 - 12:30 pm

  This is a great car. I drove it the first year in DC. I now live in Germany. It is rock-solid at autobahn speeds and quieter than the Audi 80. We drove to Paris last weekend and, not wanting to have to buy gas at French prices, we kept the speed at 63MPH (100 KPH). We got 34 miles per gallon! This is not the only time that I have confirmed the advertised MPG. Mine is a 5 speed w/ the 4cyl engine. The only complaint I have is the rear spoiler. It makes backing up difficult; cant see over the darn thing. If I had the choice I would have left the spoiler at the showroom. The only maintenance problem was an elec lock on one of the rear pass doors. Toyota dealer fixed it at no cost.

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  not a good start - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By lisaleeann - December 9 - 10:21 am

  I bought my first new car in 30 years 3 days ago. A Toyota Rav4, beautiful. I was happy. Wait. First, my contacts wouldnt load onto the bluetooth system although I have a perfectly acceptable android phone. Now, my car alarm is going off every twenty minutes. I finally had to take a battery cable off to get some sleep. Im worried...is this the joys of ownership?