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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  a short some where - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By camryle1993 - October 15 - 3:17 pm

  I bought my care 10/24/2011 and I loved it, but it started acting up so I had to do some repairs and I have fixed the timing belt, the water pump, radiator, timing belt, tune up, oil change, fuel pump, and fuel filter....but for some reason when I drive in it with the gas on full, it will cut off when I am not holding the breaks and the gas to keep it on...I still love it but I just got it and I am frustrated about the short, and my 9 certificate mechanic has put it on the analizer and it will not tell him anything so far... I love this car and it rides great, but for some reason we cant figure out why my love want stay on...anyone have any suggestions.. I always wanted a camry got 1,but..

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  Be wary - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By owner in wisconsin - October 12 - 10:56 am

  I have read many positive reviews of the Sienna but ever since I bought this car in 2003 it has been a money pit. I have replaced the tires...twice! Also, last spring replaced the radiator and now the auto shop tells me I need to sink another $500 into the axle shaft. I hate this car.

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  OH What a Failing - 2005 Toyota Sequoia
  By ronc - October 8 - 7:30 pm

  Got rid of a Trailblazer. Picked the Sequoia for Toyota reliability. Almost immediately observed a problem with oil pressure. Dealer had no clue ("never seen that before"). Went to arbitration, corporate ultimately claimed - ready for this?- "they all do that." Aside from hoping the engine doesnt seize, its a nice driving vehicle, well suited to its purpose. I want to get rid of it, though. Toyotas are good if you get a good one. If you get a bad one, be advised youre on your own.

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  Good car but needs more power - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By Lioness - October 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is alot of fun to drive. I like the fact that it is still small enough to be like a car yet higher up so that I can see more around me.

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  Not that Camry any more - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Morn - October 6 - 2:00 am

  I have a 2002 Camry LE, 4 cyl, bought May 2002. After several months driving, I have to say that this car, although still called the same name, does not deserve the same good words people used to have. The acceloration is always abrupt and make the ride very uncomfortable during stop-and-go driving. The transmission was truely retarded, does not know when to shift and what gear it should select under different road conditions. Also the squeaking sound from the brakes always drove me crazy. My next car is not going to a Camry for sure.

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  Not What I Expected - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By veltonc - October 2 - 4:00 pm

  I have been driving my Camry LE 4 cyl. for a little over two years and have 70,000 miles on it. Basically, it is over valued and over praised. I have a rear main oil leak which unusual for such a new car. I have found that road noise is atrocious, also, there is wind noise. The car doesnt hold the road well, and there is hesitation when I start to accelerate when I first start driving. I am a big person, 250/lbs., and the drives seat is not holding up and the rest of the seats are hard to keep clean. Also, the suspension is terrible and fills like you hit a brick on every bump. The front end is too low and scrapes on small dips. Overall, I would give this car an F rating and I love Toyota.

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  A Hollow Promise - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By dk - October 2 - 7:50 am

  Maybe its reliable, maybe the 2006-07 redesign is good. But I hate the drive, its atrocious.The windnoise is extreme, so not like a Camry. The 4 cylinder is a shame. The size of the car increased and the hp remained the same. Dont know about V6 but the I4 is not for real drivers.

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  Define Reliable... - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By channelinvest - September 30 - 4:48 pm

  So the engine, transmission and drive-line are still good to go after 145k but what about everything else? To replace the sparkplugs, the engine has to be dropped which is very expensive. Weve had a sliding door fail on us and it cost over $2k to repair. The other door is now starting to make a very similar sound. The tires they recommend are from the Camry since the van frame is based off it but the vehicle weighs a lot more so you eat through them very quickly. The rear springs are undersized and loose their life very quickly. Still havent found a beefed-up/stronger solution yet so the butt is dragging. The automatic doors take a lot of power so batteries are short lived.

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  Nice car with a few glaring flaws - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Tom H. - September 26 - 9:36 pm

  Overall, the highlander is a good car. Soft ride with good acceleration...but you have very little feel of the road. Everything seems very well put together and of high quality. Basically, this seems like your typical Toyota vehicle. However, the instrument panel seems to have been designed by someone new to the technology. Most of the options wont save as default, the GPS is horrible, and trying to use the touch screen while driving is too distracting. The menus arent intuitive, and thingshe that should be prominent one click buttons require use of sub menus. These are things that you dont notice on a test drive, but really get on your nerves after having the car for a month.

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  Reliability Issues - 2000 Toyota Sienna
  By T - September 25 - 8:03 pm

  For a five year old van with relatively low mileage, our Sienna has had some serious reliability issues. In the past 12 months, weve replaced a front axle, transmission, drivers & passenger seat belts, and drivers exterior door handle. Fortunately, our dealer has gone to bat for us and the only out of pocket cost has been the $200 door handle. We also recently found out that we need a new ABS control module ($1800) and the spare tire wench wont lower the spare tire ($160). Theyve declined to cover either of these items, so weve formally appealed to corp. grievance. The first three years we loved the van, the last two have been very disappointing to say the least.