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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  2016 toyota corolla s special edition - 2016 Toyota Corolla
  By Adam - June 23 - 5:36 am

  I have owned the S Special Edition for about a month now and have put just over 5000 miles on it. My only complaint so far is that it is a bit under powered, especially going up the hills in Pittsburgh, but Ill sacrifice that everyday of the week for the gas mileage. No complaints other than that so far. I think next time Ill go for the Avalon Hybrid to get my power and great gas milage. My car is the S Special Edition with Absolute Red paint, red stitched interior trim and mats, the Smart Key System, Entune™ Audio Plus, moonroof, pure black chrome 17 inch rims with low profile tires.

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  It doesnt get any better... - 2005 Toyota 4Runner
  By Bob Kim - June 22 - 5:23 pm

  The car has gotten me through the one of the worst winters Ive ever experienced. With over a foot of snow on the roads, I just throw my car into 4x4 and I can get anywhere without worrying about spinouts.

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  Why Look Elsewhere? - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By Bob - June 22 - 6:23 am

  What a machine---lets see, faster than a BMW, quieter than a church, built like a tank, 30 MPG, sofa like seats, more electronic toys than the Johnson Space Center, heated and cooled seats, Carnegie Hall stereo and it costs less than lesser equipped sport sedans. Im 62 and in my youth again driving this car -- see ya at the stoplight -- then you can watch my taillights!! People cant believe its a Toyota -- what an improvement over the old Avalon -- or the over priced Camry in feathers. No Camry here -- this is a WINNER!! Check it out -- youll be impressed!!

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  Best Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Tom Weber - June 22 - 5:50 am

  I have only had my Highlander for about a month but I really like it! Its fun to drive and Im getting over 28 miles per gallon. I drove the lexus version and it was a great car but not for the extra money over the Toyota. The Toyota is a very comfortable car.

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  Cant get better than this! - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By gbusta - June 21 - 1:40 pm

  I have had my car for approx. 2 years and have not once had to put it in the shop for major service. If you take care of this car (i.e. oil changes, tires) it will last you a long time. When I walked into the dealer I never expected to walk out with a Corolla however, it was the best decision. For the money I paid, Im going to run this thing into the ground. Super car. Comfortable (have driven to Canada and New York with no complaints from my passengers). And you cant beat the resale value.

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  I love my car! - 2007 Toyota Sienna
  By gldnaura - June 21 - 7:28 am

  My husband bought this car for me to use with my grandchildren. One has Autism, but high functioning. He loves the car because he gets his own seat, movies on the dvd player, air conditioning in the rear and his personal setting. Very roomy car, drives really nice. Has tons of storage for those long trips, roof rack for the luggage, and has power like a V8. Middle seats are removable and can be moved to the side for easy entry to the 3rd seating area. I am in love with my car. Its baby blue with leather interior and I dont have space to tell you about all the features. But if you cart around your family, or like high quality cars. This is it!

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  I love my new car. - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Shenandoah - June 21 - 5:43 am

  Ive had my Camry SE for less than 2 weeks, but I love it. It is a beautiful sapphire blue, has really nice lines, is very comfortable, is plenty peppy, and hugs the road. My husband and I took a road trip down Skyline Drive and he was impressed with how well it handled. Im short and hes tall, but the seats are perfectly adjustable. Im glad I insisted on the Vehicle Stability Control because safety is very important to me. I had to wait several weeks to get one with VSC. I didnt need the $1,000 JBL sound system with the 6 cd player, but it was hard to get one without it.

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  Tundras Little Brother - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By myname150 - June 20 - 11:20 pm

  This really is a great truck, I have used it for hunting & fishing and some off-roading. I have the 4.0L V6 PreRunner & which ever one is the 4-door. I absolutely love it. Used to own a Dodge ram 1500, and Im glad I got a Tacoma, though I wish I had gotten a Tundra. Pros: Good & Powerful 4.0L V6, Somewhat good fuel economy (depends on how you drive, as with every other vehicle), Great off-roader even though its 4x2 (just no mudding or something of that sort), I got 0-60MPH in about 6.5-7 Seconds. Cons: Side Curtain air bag became standard on 2009 model, iPod connection became standard on 09 model (big deal for me), Somewhat jumpy if you dont have any load.

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  Is it Lexus LS/GS. No is 2011 AVALON - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By WOW WOW - June 20 - 8:16 pm

  Im not sure why people say its an old person car maybe i think they dont know the history or to much knowledge about cars or possibly in my opinion they see other people driving and want to but the same cars. Anyways to me Avalon is very very comfortable, Great interior,GREAT everything.Yes i use to think AVALON was an old person car until i saw the 2011. I previously owned g37, bmw3 series, lexus gs and other vehicles but so far the best is the Avalon. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CAR.Trust me you cannot go wrong. Just so you can know I am 31 yr old. You dont have to be in 50s or 60s to own one go out there and test drive. Trust me you will enjoy the ride.

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  I always buy Toyotas - 2008 Toyota Sienna
  By Maryellen Voigt - June 20 - 9:43 am

  I had a 2000 Sienna CE that I recently gave away to someone who needed a van. It had 280,000 miles on it and still ran, everything (but a few minor things) works on it including the AC. It had no bells or whistles on it that could break anyway. It was an amazing van for our family. Two years ago, I bought a pre-owned 2008 Sienna LE, and I am very happy with this one as well. I hope it lasts as long as the 2000 one. It has a more powerful engine so accelerates nicely, is roomy inside and has a very large cargo area. I find the front seats uncomfortable for my lower back, even with the lumbar support fully extended so I keep a long pillow in the crack of the seat which remedies the problem. I have met other Toyota owners who seem to have the same problem. I was not a fan of the automatic side doors because I found them to be very slow, but theyre growing on me. This van handles perfectly in all types of driving. I bought this van with 72K miles on it in May of 2015 (the year bought below doesnt work)