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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  Great Reliable Car - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By Piilani - May 3 - 2:36 pm

  I know that everyone should maintain their car. Well, I havent. My Toyota Corolla is at 145,000 miles and I have not once had it serviced. Very bad of me, but my Toyota has not failed me once. It is great on gas, and never breaks down. I have had some trouble with the doors and hood opening mechanisms, but after 7 years, SOMETHING should break down, right? I am a huge fan of Toyota. I have owned Volkswagon, Ford, and Dodge vehicles, all of which gave me problems. My next car will be a Toyota (if ever I need one!).

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  No Regrets - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By ronfromla - May 3 - 11:47 am

  Bought this car, a 2006 in 2011 with 38,470 miles. The dealer had put some junk tires on it, so I immediately replaced them with Goodyear Eagles. I have had no problems with car, None. Zip. Nada. I use Mobil1 and Mobil1 filter and go 75000 miles between changes, and bought a battery also, even though it was not giving me trouble it was original, 5 years old so I pre-emptive avoided any problems. Starts first time, every time, on just a couple turns of cranking, even in 0°F. I overpaid a bit, but oh well, still no regrets. Absolutely no peers ij reliability, and I disagree about not fun to drive. One time on a long trip I got 41mpg. Perfect blend of power and economy.

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  Almost perfect, but not quite - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Harve - May 3 - 10:00 am

  The 4runner has a lovely ride. Its not at all truckish. However, its no car. The 4runner is smooth and quiet on the road. It doesnt have quite the pep Id sometimes like, but its improving as the miles increase. The gas mileage is also a little disappointing, although we do manage to get an average of about 19 mpg around town. There is lots of room in the 4runner. We can have two kids car seats in the back and not have to have the front seats forward. The room behind the rear seats is enormous and we have never needed additional space. In the winter the 4WD capabilities and additional electronic additions such as ABS, VSC, etc. really helped and gave a sense of confidence.

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  2000 4Runner SR5 4WD - 2000 Toyota 4Runner
  By Michael Fox - May 3 - 10:00 am

  I have never got stuck off-roading. The high torque is exceptional for the low range 4-wheel drive and for towing, not too quick off the line though. The fuel economy is also a little hard to swallow. For the few who it caters to it is an aftermarket optioners dream S.U.V. All interior panels are easy to remove with common hand tools which makes self instalation of stereos, speakers, lights, etc. a real snap. I have had my 2000 SR5 4WD for almost three years and it still runs like the day I bought it.

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  3rd Row cup holder issue - 2015 Toyota Sienna
  By Kim - May 3 - 2:57 am

  We just purchased this brand new 2015 Toyota Sienna XLE and we love it so far. The only issue were having is the 3rd row right side cup holders get very very hot, to the point where my daughters drink gets hot within minutes. And it happens within minutes if cutting it on. We were told that there was a computer and it would get hot, but thats just crazy. Is anybody law experiencing this issue and what did you / they do about it!? I need help before I take it back to the dealership.

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  A Well-Built Machine - 2005 Toyota Tundra
  By John - May 2 - 10:10 pm

  It was obvious from the first time I drove my 2005 Toyota Tundra that is was soldily built and well engineered. Fit and finish are excellent. The 4.7-liter engine and five- speed transmission are exceptionally responsive at all speed ranges. Acceleration is smart and snappy. Perhaps the best feature of this truck is its smooth, quiet ride. Cornering on the 2005 Tundra is flat and stable, far better than other brands of trucks I have owned. For the most part, the five- speed transmission is smooth, but it does tend to jump rather harshly into a lower gear when ascending hills.

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  A True Statement of Toyota Reliability! - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By Daily Driver - May 2 - 9:23 pm

  Though I believe Toyota is the best car brand on the road, I admit I was still a little bit skeptical about buying a 98 with a little over 100,000 miles but this has definitely been one of the best decisions of my life! The thing I love most about my Rav4 is how safe I feel driving it. Especially for those snowy/rainy days in Ohio; the 4wd gives me so much peace of mind! I travel 60 mi/day for school & in the 8 months I have owned it, I have put over 10,000 miles on the car already. So far, the only expenses has been 3 oil changes & 1 pair of windshield wipers. Toyota dependability holds true with this Rav4! I LOVE THIS CAR! & I will never drive anything but a Toyota again.

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  QUICKIE - 2018 Toyota Sequoia
  By TOM - May 2 - 3:23 am

  The technology of today has not caught up to the Sequoia. Gas mileage is crazy bad! The ability to load a 4x8 sheet of plywood cant happen. The price is out of line.

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  Smooth drive, but not quite the MPGs - 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By ak49 - May 1 - 7:32 am

  Ive driven nearly 15K miles now, including two Alaskan winters. The biggest drawback to-date for the hybrid technology is that even when the battery is fully charged and capable of operating in EV mode, the engine is needed to heat the air for the defroster. In my climate, that cuts into the possible efficiency at least 5 months out of the year. All told, including daily idle time to pre-warm the car for my wife, I still averaged over 18 MPG in the winter. Everyday summer driving in the city is more like 23 MPG. Best ever for a 100+ mile road trip, fully loaded with many hills was just over 27 MPG. With that said, the drivetrain is exceptionally smooth. Interior finish is OK.

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  Sequoia 2008 - 2008 Toyota Sequoia
  By Sequoia ultimate - April 28 - 2:24 pm

  Hard to find a good low mile well maintained truck.