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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  Not Cool - 2007 Toyota Sienna
  By hmmmf - August 12 - 7:33 pm

  Handles like it is three times as heavy as it is, underpowered, interior could use some refinement. Overall unpleased.

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  Premature exhaust manifold crack at 4k. - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Jomer - August 9 - 11:53 pm

  I purchased my 08 Sequoia last Jan 09, after 3 days the headliner rattled, the headlamp washer cover discolored. After 4k miles the exhaust manifold cracked! Interior very plasticky and hollow!

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  a turtle with an ipod - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By jefre - August 4 - 3:02 am

  had six 4 runners over a 25 year period. so obviously have been happy with them, PREVIOUSLY. have had the 10 limited for five months now and so disapointed with it, i sold it new years weekend. gas mileage 17mpg, pickup/acceleration is terrible. so underpowered. dont believe the HP is adequate for the mass of the vehicle. need to downshift constantly in order to get up the slightest incline. apprehensive to enter a highway. wouldnt try passing a scooter. if your looking to only drive it to the local green market then ok. otherwise look at anything else.

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  Dont Buy. Unsafe and Irritating - 2007 Toyota Highlander
  By garywi - August 3 - 3:03 pm

  Problems: 1. Excessive engine vibration transmitted through steering column. 2. Excessive front braking, front brakes grab, seem out of proportion with back. Braking consistency varies. 3. Cold idle too high, 1950 RPM, transmission slams into gear. 4. Engine idle, loud resonance or “boominess”, growl in first gear. 5. Transmission erratic with inappropriate shifting. Transmission always shifting up to 5th gear at slow speeds, pushing car forward faster when not desired. Car will not downshift when appropriate. Car will drive for a mile without gas pedal input, stuck in 5th gear at 900 RPM. Car is easier to stop if put in neutral. Excessive braking to keep car from surging forward.

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  Not worth it - 2014 Toyota RAV4
  By duke98 - August 1 - 9:40 pm

  This is my first Toyota but will be my last. It has problems from the first month and the dealer is not willing do do any acceptable resolution. The car runs OK but not better than competitors and there are numerous quality issues. The navigation is not working properly and lost on the road at least once ever 5~6 uses. I now use my iphone more due to its reliability. Seat-belt locks when I put on, so I have to try many times to unlock it. I often locks when I need to reach the glove box while parked in a parking lot, so I had to take it off. The rear brakes make strange noise. [HTML removed]

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  Why cant it be like Camry? - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Joe Hasting - July 28 - 2:00 am

  May be better than previous version, but not quite there yet to my standard. (This is my first van.) Why it cant be like Camry - handling, acceleration, noise, braking..

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  UNRELIABLE - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By MIKE - July 25 - 6:43 pm

  Unreliable for the long run. Had several warranty repairs, rear shock absorbers, water pump, steering shaft. Then after 60000 kms no support from Toyota Canada. Try and do repairs through the dealers and end up paying 2 times the price on parts alone.

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  Toyota isnt what it is in Japan - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Tim - July 25 - 4:29 pm

  Worked for 8 years in Japan (Okinawa) and had three "used" Toyotas (fantastic vehicles - only thing I had to do was replace battery - tires - brakes ... AC on my Noah Lite Ace Van (8 years old when I bought it) didnt even require maintenance in 8 years of use in a the tropical environment of Okinawa)!!! Alternatively this vehicle has disappointed, to say the least. Acceleration is dangerous (in that you must wait 1 - 2 seconds for the computer to figure out what pressing on the accelerator means). Here in Denver when you change lanes you need to make your move upon turning on your signal - have had close calls when other drivers (whose vehicles accelerate crisply) shot into a lane I was trying to get into. Also, worse yet, this vehicle rolls backwards if youre on a steep upward grade when you put it in drive!!! Very dangerous if anyone is behind you (dealer told me to increase revs when Im in this situation ... if this was a manual thatd be a given ... but this is an automatic)! So if you live somewhere like San Francisco this is the last vehicle you want to buy. Im very disappointed in Toyota ... perhaps its because its made here (as stated, the Toyotas I had in Japan were head-and-shoulders better than this Toyota-Japan-wanna-be).

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  Horrible! - 2012 Toyota Prius v
  By crazycatlady58 - July 24 - 6:08 pm

  This car has gotten stuck in 1 inch of snow this winter, and in Wisconsin that is not a good thing! This car rides horribly also, you feel every bump in the road! My family lives about 40 miles away, and I dread going to see them because I know I will be stiff and sore after the ride there! Another complaint I have about this vehicle is that it is difficult to get a convertible car seat to sit properly in the middle of the back seat while in the rear facing position. It would take forever to get the car seat in just the right spot that it wouldnt tip due to the split between the oddly sized seats in the back. And you cant put a car seat on the side because of the side air bags.

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  Huge disapointment - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By JayEssPee - July 23 - 10:00 am

  Under 6,000 miles, both battery & rear wiper assembly replaced. Mileage awful, 11 mpg town, max 15 hwy. Cant open sunroof because of sulfur smell (dealer says try different gas - yeah, right) Engine lacks punch and power. Rear visibility awful. Turning radius huge, hard to park. Turn signal indicators blocked by top of steering wheel. Transfer case shift boot impossible to keep clean, interior looks perpetually dirty. Ride comfort good but thats only positive thing I have to say. Never so disappointed in my life, and my 1st SUV was an 88 Trooper II 4-cyl. Wife hates this SUV so much she wants us to trade it in on something, anything else