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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  Smooooth - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Tsnash - June 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought my camry used at about 60,000 miles 2 years ago. I put 100+ miles a day so now it has about 117,000 miles and except for some minor maintinence (tires, brakes, battery, etc.) it still runs excellent! But the best thing about the Camry is how smooth it rides, I mean this car is SMOOOOTH! In one of edmunds reviews they say that the seats are uncomfortable for people over 175 lbs., well they are fine for me and I weigh 150. If you are looking for a nice car that is reliable and comfortable beyond six digits try a camry.

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  Love it! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Lynnette - June 13 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my 2003 Rav4 with the sports package a week and a half ago. I traded in my 98 Corolla. The Rav is great for people with physical limitations. I have arthritis in my hips, back issues, shoulder problems and have not had as much pain since driving the Rav. There are two complaints, first is there is no get up and go which is dangerous in my opinion - my Corolla hauled a$$! Secondly the stereo system is horrible, I cannot get the local stations that I used to get in the Corolla. The sound of the stereo(CD player) is good. My dog loves having his own space in the back, and I love not having dog fur all over the vehicle. So far, all is well!

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  The most reliable car ever owned - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Nam Nguyen - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Just pour gas and run. Not a single mechanical problem.

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  a really fine car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By ralf - June 13 - 10:00 am

  im so happy with this car, this car takes care of all my needs a perfect car just for me =). i test drove the rest ( nissan maxima, nissan altima, and the new 2003 honda accord) but the camry is the best overall car. i wanted to buy the 2003 honda accord but its butt ugly, the ugliest car honda has ever made, whoever designed it should be fired.

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  40 MPG and very pleasant to drive - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Old Dude - June 13 - 7:53 am

  This was a Cash-for-clunkers deal. My former car was a loaded 91 Cadillac, so you might imagine an awkward transition, but I love it. The car is quiet, accelerates well enough, easy and pleasant to drive. The S in a dark gray, clearcoat, with tinted windows looks pretty sharp, not that much different than the little Lexus. First drive of 200 miles on the highway hit 40.7 MPG! I get 30 around town. Seats 4 adults very comfortably. Fold down back seats added versatility. Sound system is quite adequate with the 6 speakers. For the price, and I really shopped around, there is nothing I could find to match with such fuel economy. No hint of the weird steering issues others mentioned.

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  I LOVE MY SEQUOIA! - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By KDay - June 13 - 6:43 am

  I cannot think of a negative thing to say about my sequoia! I have enjoyed it completely! The back seats are a little hard to remove but I dont have to do that often

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  Test Drive - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By anonymous - June 13 - 4:30 am

  Based on a test drive, I feel that the matrix is a very well-designed car. It is versatile (folding the front passenger seat and the back seats down provides room for a lot of stuff), and it is sporty (good acceleration & braking, and a smooth but slightly firm ride). The two things that impressed me the most were the roomy feel (decent back seat leg room and good head room) and the ride (much smoother than expected).

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  My Blue Prius - 2006 Toyota Prius
  By whisperlee - June 13 - 2:10 am

  I was so impressed with the car the very first time I test drove it that I got one for myself 6 months later. Great interior room, great mileage, smooth ride... very satisfied. Even the exterior design grew on me over time. Lots of storage, and the leather seats just made the car even better!

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  10000 Mile Update - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By josephys - June 12 - 7:08 pm

  Its a quiet truck. The only grievance I have is the voice recognition...it frequently gets my requests wrong...far easier to attach my smart phone to the dash, and voice my requests. Navigation is frustrating. Who has time to pull over?

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  Awesome Sport Ute Rocket - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Colin - June 11 - 2:13 pm

  Checked out the CRV, the Sante Fe and the Mazda CX 7. After test drives and reviews, wound up with the Rav4 and have not been disappointed. Its an awesome little truck with tons of standard features and typical Toyota quality. Even at the base model you feel youre getting a lot for your hard-earned dollar. Oh, and this thing is fast, even the AWD.