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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  Drive It before you buy another car... - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By KLM - November 28 - 6:00 pm

  Perfect engine combination of power and economy. Touring is firm but what I wanted in a luxury car. My second avalon, I tried a 2000 model and liked it so much I had to get the updated, more refined, better design 2005 model. So far no problems other than radio door cover sticks in down position, and toyota punishes you if you take off your seat belt with an irritating ascending bell. Please..big brother, a simple light warning is plenty! PS. All those who cant figure out how to turn of the radio from the steering wheel..just hold down the power button for 3 seconds!

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  Great Car! - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By bpetz5 - November 28 - 5:50 pm

  I have driven the car for about 550 miles. The first tank I filled up with I got 54.5 miles to the gallon! The display says that I am getting close to 57 mpg on this tank full. It is sort of a game to see how good gas mileage you can get, by coasting to stop lights and accelerating a little less from stops. Have had a lot of compliments on the car. Styling is improved from past model. I got the blizzard pearl paint job, and it looks awesome in the sunlight, also easier to keep clean than some other color choices. I chose the II model, because I didnt need the 6 CD player or the bluetooth for an additional $1,000.

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  2003 Highlander (2.4L 4A) - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By Rich - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Our Highlander has been a very reliable vehicle. Its very well built and has lots of room. Im always amazed how much I can stuff into it! The handling and traction has improved considerably after replacing the cheap OEM Goodyear Integritys with Michelin LTXs. The 4 cyl isnt exactly a tire-burner but it consistently gets upper 20s to lower 30s mileage on the highway. We tow a two PWC trailer at just over 2000 lbs. and pulls it nicely at speeds up to 60 mph. Over that and the engine has to work quite hard. Needless to say the mileage drops to the low teens. Overall, Im hard pressed to find something as roomy and versatile as our Highlander on the market today!

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  Problem with highway Steering - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By Wayne - November 28 - 9:43 am

  We brought the car for its great fuel economy and nothing else. The car isnt cute, the ride is not what we were used to but we knew that. We test drove the Prius many times before buying it. But during our first long distance trip (400 miles) we experienced handling problems. The car wanted to move from side to side, I was constantly adjusting the wheel. There were also cross winds during part of the trip, which made things worst. Spoke to my local Toyota Service department and corporate Customer Service, they indicated the car was "Working as designed". My wife refuses to use the Pruis for long distance highway driving.

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  Zero to Sixty in 43 MPG - 2016 Toyota Prius v
  By centerstrip - November 28 - 9:27 am

  I love my Prius V! What other wagon would get you 43 mpg with this amount of cargo space. My family of four fit perfectly in it, that we rarely use or Sienna (which we also love). The car is slow, but that it is because I drive it slow. I am more aware of my driving and I would say that Im a safer driver now. From a stop, I will accelerate quickly to the speed limit and then keep a light foot to keep the speed. I dont race to stop signs or red lights, I coast to them. In traffic, I dont accelerate fast to catch up to the person in front of me, but I slowly accelerate to them. When I put the car in cruise control at 70mph, it shows that I get 40+ mpg. Its like learning how to drive again. Im a quarter way through my second tank of gas at mile 650. My first tank averaged 42 mpg, my current tank is averaging 46mpg. My brother has a 2006 Prius with 300k+ miles, so I hope this one will go beyond that.

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  Dont be fooled by the great reviews! I think people dont know any better! - 2012 Toyota 4Runner
  By face6 - November 27 - 8:17 pm

  I am very disappointed with this SUV! I purchased my 4 runner in 2011 and have 27,000 miles on it currently. My main issues are as follows: 1) Price to value - MSRP on my limited was $43,000+ in my opinion after owning it and driving it - its really a $33,000 SUV (or should be priced this way.) Very tinny sounding when you slam the door - seems like poor quality, somewhat underpowered, many interior features cheap and plastic, Handles poorly - (See consumer reports negative reviews) - I ignored them when i bought mine. Nav/Bluetooth very antiquated - Nav way behind the times. Bluetooth sound quality when on your phone is poor. Trunk area - slight tilt Groceries shift milk falls out/breaks

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  8 passenger Sienna LE - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Brian - November 27 - 8:10 pm

  Smooth car like ride. Smart interior design. Child car seat attachment easy. "Space Age" instrument cluster. Simple controls. Middle second row seat not easy to transition forward.

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  Dont ingore the car cause its a corolla - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Mike Roman - November 27 - 7:56 pm

  I was looking at getting a second hand luxury car but wasnt thrilled about the insurance costs, mileage to the gallon, and the lack of warranties. The older Corollas are not for me. Im 25 years old, had to make a smart purchase but still an eye candy, fun to drive car. The XRS 2009 is amazing in every aspect, and there arent that many out there, so yours will stand out more. Bottom line a Corolla hater (2008 and earlier) is now a Corolla lover. Test drove a dozen new cars, XRS wins by landslide!!

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  Ive had enough - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By RJ in A - November 27 - 8:56 am

  Aside from a few expensive annoyances, the SE was fun to drive. Toyota makes a great family car with the sporty look, but it needed some tweaking. Based on prior Camry ownership, Im disappointed in the 02 SE. Major repairs on this car were a bit more frequent than I expected from a Toyota. Maybe the new 07 comes with better results. I may give Toyota another try.

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  Wow factor in the family SUV - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By SuburbiaMom - November 27 - 8:40 am

  Just got the Sequoia last weekend and Im wondering why it took us so long to find the perfect family SUV. We had an 03 Expedition that was acting up. Figure wed give Toyota a try since big Ford has let us down on what was suppose to be our 10 year SUV. For being a full size SUV, this machine drives like a car. Suspension is much nicer and acceleration is super smooth. I never thought Id ever switch to a Japanese SUV for fear that its not roomy enough for my family but Im sure glad now. Definitely made the right decision. The design is well thought out for families that need to drive 3 kids in car seats. Love the fact that the 2nd row slides forward for easier access to 3rd row.