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:

• 

  Not quite what I hoped for - 2006 Toyota Sienna
  By Eman - June 9 - 3:00 pm

  We were reluctant to buy a minivan, but with a third baby on the way, felt we had no choice. Weve only had it for a week, but so far Im not impressed. The driver seat is very uncomfortable. No matter how I adjust it (we have a manual seat), I cant seem to get comfortable. Also, handling is sluggish. Acceleration is unimpressive, and the brake pedal requires far more force to get the car to stop than Im used to (on our VW Passat all you need to do is rest your foot in the pedal--on the Sienna you have to really ride it). Also, visibility out of the rear window is terrible, with a huge blind spot behind the car, though I suppose thats typical of all SUVs and minivans.

• 

  5th Toyota Owned - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By JLW1018 - June 9 - 2:03 pm

  This is the 5th Toyota my wife and I have owned. We were looking for an SUV after owning a Solara convertible and we could not be happier with the 4Runner. Its comfortable, a blast to drive and fairly easy to maneuver. The exterior is awesome and the interior is greatly laid out and easy to use controls. The MPG has been between 19-22.

• 

  My Corolla - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Doug - June 9 - 3:10 am

  We have driven this car for three years with zero problems. The gas mileage is great 30-35 mpg around town. Couldnt ask for a beter car in its class.

• 

  Super SUV - 2002 Toyota Sequoia
  By JUNIOR JOE - June 9 - 12:46 am

  I bought the Sequoia used with 22,000 miles. The SUV has been super in every aspect except the front brakes, rotors warped three times, the Toyota dealer replaced at no charge to me for both rotors and pads. It is very comfortable on long trips for front and rear passengers. The average mpg is 16 that I can live with. Hauling my travel trailer it gets 11 mpg, still ok in my book, since the trailer weighs 5,500 lbs fully loaded. I have had no problem with the engine and transmission, both run very smooth.

• 

  Pooner loves his corolla - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Pooner - June 8 - 9:13 pm

  Reliable, relatively attractive, awesome gas mileage for a peppy engine.

• 

  Clunk Clunk Clunk Clunk - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By Matt - June 8 - 9:00 pm

  I purchased my 05 Tacoma 4 Dr Long Box eight days ago. Since then it has been in the shop 4 of those days. It has a knocking/clunking/rattling coming from the right dashboard/fender area every time I hit a bump. The noise decreases about 90% with someone in the passenger seat. It increases when making a right turn. The 2 dealers that have looked at it have no idea where it is coming from and say Toyota does not have a "fix" for the problem. I love everything else about it. It handles like a dream, the ride is very comfortable, it has plenty of power and the 4 door long box is perfect for all your needs. LETS HOPE TOYOTA FIGURES OUT WHAT IS WRONG & COMES UP WITH A SOLUTION!!

• 

  Love my Corolla - 1999 Toyota Corolla
  By Roger - June 8 - 7:10 pm

  I purchased my Corolla two and a half years ago with 67,000 miles on it. It is my first car. Up to this point I could not be happier with my purchase. On the road the Corolla is very easy to drive and feels stable at all speeds. The ride for the most part is comfortable except when driving over large bumps or uneven road surfaces. The gas mileage is terrific. I routinely average 29mpg in city driving with the automatic transmission. The interior of the Corolla is nice too. The materials are high quality and the controls are very simple, I would even say too simple. The cabin is usually quite except for an annoying rattleling noise that comes from within the center console.

• 

  A great little car - 2006 Toyota Matrix
  By BillL Leider - June 8 - 3:46 pm

  This is my first foreign car. I bought it based on its reputation for durability and reliability. As of this writing I have @ 900 miles on this car with absolutely no problems at all. It holds four adults in a greater degree of comfort than I would have expected for a compact station wagon. Its very economical around town, and once I get past the 1000 mile engine break-in period we will take it on an extended vacation where I expect it to get at least the advertised fuel economy of 34 mpg. Its a great little car.

• 

  excellent daily commute car - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By screamerdongie - June 8 - 2:40 pm

  I had my 2011 Camry LE model for over a year now. Hands down the car is rock solid in terms of reliability. No issues what so ever!!! I have tried Accord and Altima. They are not very different may be par with Camry but I am so glad I picked Camry. The car gives you a very quiet and smooth ride. A great great family car.

• 

  AWD Rav4 XLE - An awesome vehicle! - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Emily - June 8 - 2:01 pm

  Ive had my Rav4 about 3 months and am about to hit 5000 miles. For the most part I love everything about this SUV. I shopped around quite a bit until I found the perfect one for me and it was the Rav4. I love its road handling. Its breaking in particular is great. Acceleration is pretty good, not the best ever but I didnt buy a sports car. It is more than adequate and you can use the Sport mode for a little more oomph if you wish. Gas mileage is about what was advertised. Im getting probably 25 combined on average. Not the best, but about as I expected. If you want better gas mileage there is the hybrid option. The space in this vehicle is great! I had a large male friend (over 6 feet, and a bulkier individual as well) sit in the back, and he immediately remarked on how nice the vehicle was and had zero complaints about room. Cargo is a class leader for compact SUVs. The touchscreen is excellent. Ive heard some of them are glitchy or confusing in other vehicles. The tech interface is straightforward in the Rav and I barely have to hit something more than once with my finger to get the screen to react. The built-in Nav is much better than I expected. Ive used it several times and it works great for the most part. It has not directed me wrong thus far. I also like how when you input a destination, it will show up with multiple route options where you can pick the one you want. I did let the Sirius XM expire. If you drove by trees it would lose signal. Bluetooth is also pretty good. Ive taken phone calls easily and there are no major issues with hearing someone or them hearing me. Lastly I love the design and look of this SUV. I really like the exterior, but I love the interior. It definitely had stand out interior compared to all the other vehicles I tested. Overall I dont have much if anything to complain about. I still love my Rav after 3 months and am happy with my decision. You should put it onto your list if in the compact SUV market as it has a lot to offer.