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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  Solid little truck - 2002 Toyota Tacoma
  By John - May 22 - 4:50 pm

  The Tacoma is a respectable little truck. In 6 years Ive put 75000 miles on it and only had to change tires, the battery, coolant, and oil. One thing in particular, is the steering has never gotten out of alignment, I had it checked when I replaced the OEM tires. It was right on. That was at 35000 miles. It is reliable, but slightly underpowered for its weight. It only gets about 18 mpg overall; in a range from 15 to 25 mpg. The interior is appealing except the seats are too lightweight. A seat spring makes noise sometimes. It also needs keyless entry. The headlights have never been changed and have been burning for 75000 miles! Same goes for other lights too. Ive had no major problems

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  nice ride - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By rhernandez - May 22 - 10:30 am

  Clean, smooth and roomy. A bit loud in the car but adequate.

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  You have to read this before you buy - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By malutka - May 22 - 7:48 am

  The biggest issue for me is that the whole interior (meaning door panels, dashboard in my car especially rear doors and behind passenger seats) squeaks which is unacceptable for this type of car. Barely noticeable during the day, because of the outside ambient noise, with occasional louder squeaks here and there. But at night it is impossible to drive without music on- it drive me crazy! Suspension: you feel all the bumps, but the car is soft and has no handling power. My 9 speaker sounds system almost like in dodge neon. It sounds like all the sound coming out of one dashboard speaker. Telescopic Steering wheel doesnt pull out far enough. If you 6 and over, your hands will be straight.

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  Be careful with the spare tire cover - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By TS3787 - May 21 - 11:26 pm

  We got our RAV4 in 7/2007 and since then we havent have any problem at all. There are two areas where the 2007 design failed: 1) The rear bumper upper part is too exposed to scratches during loading/unloading. 3) At winter ice forms between the spare tire and the rear bumper. That ice eventually tends to damage the rear bumper. 2) the spare tire cover was removed during a car wash and totally ruined. Someone mentioned that TOYOTA said only they know of one case... that is simply not true, it is pretty common and a big design flaw. After 2007 they changed the design of the car cover.

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  Gets the job done - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Beth - May 21 - 7:10 pm

  I just had my car break down on me, the dealership had it for a week because they couldnt figure out the problem. IT was the VVTI sensor and the oil pan sensor. I was pretty upset considering my car only has 17,000 miles on it. The gas mileage is definitely not right. All in all I have been pretty happy with this car. I love the way it drives.

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  500 miles per week commute - 1997 Toyota Corolla
  By rshots2001 - May 21 - 11:10 am

  This is by far the best, most reliable car Ive ever owned. Bought it in 2000 with just 27,000 miles. Now at 248,000. Have only replaced brakes and an AC condenser. Still gets 36-39 mpg on highway. Great in winter with quality directional snows all around. Expect to get at least 350,000 out of this one!

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  A Good Overall Car - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By Mr. B - May 21 - 10:00 am

  The Toyota Matrix is a very well thought out vehicle. The electronics and comfort controls inside the vehicle are easy to use and at easy reachand see. The exteior styling is unique and resembles nothing else forged by Toyota. This car is fun to drive and has given me no real problems. The only downside to the vehicle is that it does not perform extremely well in accidents. I was involved in an accident at less than 25 miles an hour and the car did not respond as it should have. All things considered, this is a great car for any driver who likes to have fun with a little dash of function. Also I would recomend getting the XRS model if at all possible.

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  Fuel Economy grrrrr - 2016 Toyota Sequoia
  By Hack - May 19 - 2:21 am

  The 2016 needs to be updated in a lot of ways but it didnt stop me from picking it as my first extravagant large SUV. I based my decision on Toyotas long reputation on reliability and resale value. I figured if it aint broken they didnt need to fix it. The gas mileage is awful but hey this truck is a beast. We can take our bass boat, kayaks, and all our stuff on long road trips all over the country in one hell of a reliable, safe, and comfortable vehicle.

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  A solid choice - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By NYC - May 18 - 4:33 pm

  I leased a 2000 Camry and I find that the 2009 Camry I purchased about 6 weeks ago is a better driving experience for me. The handling is tighter and the car maneuvers easier. If you are looking for a family car that gives you plenty of room and a quiet ride. The Camry is a great choice. The XLE adds the extras like the JBL radio which is standard to the stereo I had in my "07 Lexus IS250! Bluetooth and Homelink are very useful and the heat and radio controls and the steering wheel are convenient.

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  One of a Kind - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By atomicalex7 - May 18 - 3:18 am

  After 5 months of experience driving this truck, I can truly say it runs better than most new cars today. There is plenty of effortless power that comes through the 4.7 liter engine, however an extra gear would be helpful when accelerating up an onramp while towing. Driving the truck can be wiggly on very bumpy roads, however a majority of the time it just floats down the road. While stopping quickly from a high rate of speed, there is a noticeable shake coming from the pedal, but that is a common problem. Overall it is a very powerful and nice riding truck, and it is much safer than other trucks from the year 2000.