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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  I hate my Yaris - 2010 Toyota Yaris
  By lilliann - February 25 - 10:35 am

  It is the most boring car I have ever driven and I have driven many cars. I traded a 2007 Mini Cooper for this dreadful vehicle. Its a huge effort to pass a car in front of me - it doesnt want to; its automatic transmission shifts first up, then down, then up again around 30 miles per hour on an un-level street; it has terrifying brakes that lock up; it wont track over 60 miles per hour (constantly fighting the steering wheel to keep the car in a straight line - very tiring); no comfortable place for my feet. I absolutely hate everything about it, except for the gas mileage - and yes, thats very good. I recommend new car buyers to steer clear of this one. Get a Mini Cooper instead.

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  toyota reliable...not the case here - 1998 Toyota Corolla
  By whyd I buy it - February 24 - 6:10 pm

  I bought my corolla new in 1998. Ive had nothing but problems with it. I only have 82000 miles and Ive had to replace the starter, water pump, battery 3 times, struts twice, front brake pads at least 6 times, rotors 3 times, new calipers, rear brakes twice, tires every two years, poor front suspension, dont feel in control of car. Burns oil (a quart every 600 miles appx) The headliner is disentegrating and the interior plastic around the doors is brittle and falling apart. Airbag light constantly flashes and rear seat very uncomfortable (bottoms out). Bought Toyota thinking Id have it for a long time. NOT! My Hyundai didnt give me this much trouble. Worst car Ive ever owned.

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  2016 Tacoma is Poor overall - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By JR - February 19 - 4:04 pm

  I have had two Tacomas prior to this 2016 and it seems that they have gone down the drain as far as quality. I have this truck for 6 Months and it has been in shop more then I have driven it. issue with the radio it went completely out and it took a month to repair. Noise coming from the right drivers side top dash. it has gone in two time is for the same issue and this will be the third time. Not happy at all with this Tacoma I been a loyal fan of the Tacoma this was my 4th Tacoma but sadly to say that it will be my last. Thinking of trading this one in and getting an American truck.

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  8 time in the shop and still rattles - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Phoenix driver - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this Camry expecting quality and reliability. Ive had it 2 months and have had to take it for repairs 8 times. First the rear suspension made noises. That was fixed after two tries. Then the overhead light rattled. The handles on both front doors rattle. They added foam to both doors four times and it still makes noises. Now the radio has started rattling. There is a delay between prssing the accelerator and the car moving. Toyota says signal has to be processed by the central computer. However that is dangerous in an emergency situation. And the brakes are soft by design. You have to floor it. Im selling this Toyota and never buying one again.

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  Buyer Beware of Poor Paint - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By stew16 - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Not as fuel efficient as one would expect for a 4 cylinder, a lot of wind noise, not as good as Toyota claims, the paint chips easily and its not as thick as it should be, would not recommend this vehicle, keep looking, poor sound system. Woofer is already making noise, at nine months.

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  Tired of it... - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By amitamit - February 8 - 8:06 am

  I drive a Camry LE. I am tired of this vehicle. Although it is more reliable than superman its just not enjoyable. There is a significant decrease in speed and acceleration when i turn the a\c on. Little plastic pieces pop right off. And you really have to nail the gas in order to keep up with the flow of traffic. As of this summer i will no longer own another camry as long as i still have a breath in my body. But dont get me wrong it is a reliable car no engine or mechanical problems what so ever. Just a boring vehicle.

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  Had to part ways w/ my Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Janine - February 1 - 11:46 am

  This was my 2nd camry. After owning an 03 with no problems I expected a great car. Boy was I wrong. The transmission is the absolute WORST, it is very dangerous and can cause an accident. I took it back to the dealer to fix which they did but after a couple of months it was back to being very slugglish. My power windows stopped working, radio had to be replaced, rattles, rattles and more rattles. The plastic interior looks and feels cheap. I have since gotten rid of this car and upgraded to an 08 Infiniti G35 (wont buy another Toyota anytime soon). I dont miss this car at all!

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  This is the Flagship vehicle? - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By amazingarthur - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I am somewhat dissapointed with the quality of this car. The interior edges that meet the door when closed have frayed terribly. There is a rattle from the ignition that the dealership can do nothing about. A few electrical gremlins have set off the rear tailight dummy light on the dash. Cant figure out why. The trunk release mechanism doesnt always work. Ah, the myth of Toyota quality.

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  inspect windshield before buying - 2015 Toyota Corolla
  By former toyota fan - February 1 - 2:15 am

  I am very saddened by the experience Ive had with Toyota over the purchase of this vehicle. Overall this really is a good little car, gets the job done, decent pickup for the size, smooth enough ride although there is significant road noise compared to other vehicles Ive driven, and good feel to it while driving. HOWEVER, there seems to be an issue with the windshields that Toyota is getting from its vendor. My original windshield had a very weird magnifying effect with random waves running through it that would distort the view of cars, the road, and other objects as you drove it. I took it to the dealer who agreed with me and replaced it, only to find the second one had the same problem. The third windshield is much better but still have two waves running through the drivers viewing range from different angles creating a significant distraction, and if you drive the car long enough, tension headaches. It seems Toyota is sick of dealing with this issue and is, what appears to be, refusing to fix the third defective windshield. I was given a loaner while my car has been in the shop for 1.5 months back and forth over this issue and the loaner appears to be fine. There is a great deal of inconsistency in the quality of the windshields being put on the 2015 Corollas, and recently I heard this is also true for the 2016s. Unfortunately I am now stuck with a car that has a defective windshields with waves in it, although its better than the original windshield, and will have to replace it through Safelite on my own dime. This is a major fail, Toyota. Never again. I hope this review helps others to avoid the same situation. Not sure if this constitutes a significant impairment to the value of the vehicle which would be covered under lemon law in most states.

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  waste of money - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Asim - January 9 - 11:51 pm

  I bought this car in a rush.. other wise I would have prefereed same equalant model with Ford. I dont see much difference in 2015 corolla and this LE Camery 2015. which is Almost same even better (fuel economy). I am really sorry for my money I have wasted.