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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  Owner Of Car Six Years! - 1996 Toyota Celica
  By JTODUH - March 4 - 3:46 am

  I bought this car used from a dealership at 40k mileage. I have never really had any problems with this car. Only problem I have is it is super slow. Other than that the car is wonderful to have. Great for a young teen who doesnt have a lot of money to spend on a new car.

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  Poor Gas Mileage - 2007 Toyota Yaris
  By RogerW - March 4 - 12:43 am

  I have been a Toyota customer since 1983 and most recently owned a 2000 Camry until it was totaled in an accident. I wanted another Toyota and was looking for better gas mileage than my 25 mpg Camry. I have 3,000 miles on it now and havnt gotten better than 28 mpg. I am so disappointed that I am thinking of getting rid of it and buying another Camry. My driving habits havent changed and it only gets 3 mpg better than my bigger 2000 Camry. Not happy!!

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  Corolla LE Plus 2014 windows dont work in cold weather - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By elliot732 - March 3 - 6:32 pm

  I have had the 2014 Corolla LE plus for less than two weeks. During that time, anytime the temperature drops below 20 degrees F, the front windows wont come down (open) I took it in for service, but everyone in the dealership I spoke with swore up and down that the same happens in cold weather to their front windows, too. I lodged a complaint with Toyota corporate, but they say they cant do anything about it now.

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  Upholstery problems - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By sewsue - March 3 - 2:16 pm

  Purchased this 08 base RAV at the end of October. Its now 7 months old and this is an update to an earlier post. The front upholstery continues to pill and fuzz and just look really, really bad. The back seats are fine since they are hardly used. I have an 8 year old car that looks better inside than this one. It took a certified letter to Toyota for Toyota to tell my dealer they would help them solve the problem. Theyve offered custom seat covers, but that was over a month ago and Im still waiting to see if they match the rest of the interior. Wish I didnt like the handling and pep so much - it would be much easier to just get rid of the RAV.

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  2010 FJ Trail Team - 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Rick - March 3 - 9:16 am

  This is a head turning vehicle with lots of performance. The Special Edition TT is only available in Sandtone and it is sharp. The wheels really make it. Roof rack going on next week. It feels like its very well constructed. Its not about luxury, it is about off road. I think its got plenty of power. I have to admit, I do miss the heated seats.

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  Toyotas not what they used to be? - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Charles - March 3 - 6:50 am

  Overall the 2003 Sequoia is a very good family car, but lots of issues. Here is a list of problems and youll see 3 of them are the same type of problem! 1) Inside door handle broke (was replaced while on warranty). 2) Gas gauge on the instrument panel is no longer working and reads empty when it is not. 3) Left rear passenger "Inside door handle" broke (not on warranty) 4) Back door window wont roll down 5) Right front passenger "Inside door handle" broke 6) Back door hatch "Handle" broke and now cannot open the back door at all. These door handles are just cheap plastic and would think Toyota should be replacing them by something stronger?

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  Great truck... Fun! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By ev611 - March 3 - 3:23 am

  We recently leased one. We call it Toyotas Hummer but much better, roomier and a great ride! Good fuel economy. Easy to park and great acceleration, off the road capabilities. Great choice!!

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  Great Toy - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By surpasd - March 2 - 11:23 pm

  This the 4th Toyota truck I have owned, great SUV! Comfortable to drive, especially on those long trips, more comfortable than the ML 350 or the X5 or other over-priced SUVs. Can load up everything I need in this one. As always a very reliable vehicle.

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  Good car overall - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Bakolas - March 2 - 4:30 pm

  This is my 3rd Camry. The 2007- good car, disappointing is tire wear and alignment, the tires showed excessive wear at 18,000 miles. One alignment by the dealer no help - tires continue to wear and is pretty much gone at 29,000. Dealer suggested replace tires.

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  Who could you ask for anything more? - 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser
  By toyolovr - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Awesome drive. Not quite my FJ-60, but they are two different animals... really. Would recommend it to all my afffluent friends, and sneer to my not- so-affluent ones as I drive by.