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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  Worst driver seat EVER!!! - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Tomas Checo - January 22 - 1:21 pm

  Everything about the car is good. Engine good, transmission good, reliability good, fuel economy good, but my god it has the WORST FRONT SEATS EVER!!!!!! When you test drive the car you will not feel that the seat is uncomfortable, but if you are planning a road trip longer than 50 miles this is not the car for you. Think twice if you are a person that will put a lot of miles to the car. This car has the worst front seats EVER!!!! I bought it because of the reliability (have always been a Toyota fan), but now I am looking to trade it because I cant stand this front seat.

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  Face Palms and Happy Days - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By Clifford Smith - January 22 - 12:20 am

  I should have known that things were going to go downhill when a) the salesperson gave me the wrong trim package (I pointed to the Limited on the lot and he prepped the base XLE) and b) they gave me a car with an entirely different VIN from the number on the contract. However, after that second faux pas was straightened out, I am proud to say that I really, really like this car. I like it so much, that I cant decide whether to turn it in when the lease is up (April 2017), or go ahead and buy it outright. I would LOVE to finally get an XLE Premium or a Limited with some of the added safety features - blind spot detection, upgraded sound system - in addition to the excellent gas mileage, but only if I can get it at a payment similar to what Im dishing out right now. Another "problem" is that the car wasnt driven as much as I thought it would be and so I would be perfectly happy with the 2014 model. I havent had a peep of trouble out of it and the dealer makes it very easy to keep up with the basic maintenance schedule. It has a lot of get-up-and-go and is comfortable for driver and passengers. On the downside (decision-wise), there isnt much difference that I can see between the 2014 and 2017 Avalon, so that sort of sends me back to buying the current car. So, aside from my #FirstWorldProblem about what to do in the coming months, I will say it again: I like this car a lot and Im grateful that the folks at another brands dealership (rhymes with "KIA") essentially ignored me when I was ready to sign on the dotted line.

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  Great Ride - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By James - January 21 - 12:13 pm

  This SUV remains a great ride with over 174K miles on the odometer. Clutch replaced at 144K miles and just swapped-out the shocks within the last month. I stand a 62" and fit and picked this vehicle because it drove well and I fit in it. Overall design and reliability of the vehicle is really outstanding and has withstood the test of time. No plans to trade this in for something newer as it is a pleasure to drive. 4-wheel drive has taken me up some advanced trails into the mountains, but its a daily driver.

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  Just purchased a 2014 Tundra Limited 204 - 2014 Toyota Tundra
  By ashron - January 21 - 6:50 am

  1. The power steering has absolutely no "On-Center" feel to it. Its easy to meander out of a lane at freeway speeds when taking your eyes off the road to look at the Nav, operate the radio, etc. It gets worse in winding roads since there is no feedback from the steering, making it easy to exceed the trucks limits and lose control. I am not saying its unsafe. just that one has to pay extra attention! I thought this was one of the major issues Toyota was going to improve on, with the new 2014 Tundra.

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  OK but Disappointing - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By trekkingOn - January 21 - 5:30 am

  This is our fourth Toyota and second RAV4. The most disappointing feature has been the atrocious fuel consumption - actually getting 16/20 mpg (city/hwy). This amount of deviation from specs is very unlike Toyota. Another gripe is the v. poor visibility of the electronic displays (radio, clock) which become impossible to see during the day with sun glasses on. The car is solid, reliable, handles well, feels safe, has good seating and luggage capacity, has a fairly comfortable ride and is fun to drive.

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  Big Little Truck - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By Taco Grande - January 21 - 3:06 am

  Its a little bit big for a compact/midsize. Despite what some people are saying, its noisy (clutch fan and mechanical noises) compared to a lot of cars and SUVs. No alloy wheel option for the base model at all. Sits a little high for a street truck (2x4). It handles like a truck with no rear sway bar. ATRAC is a waste of money to me. ABS is OK though (expected now). Mileage could be much better with a little effort from Toyota. The body looks good for a little truck. I had a TPMS and radio problems, but the dealer fixed them. Toyota knows very well about the radio problems. Im betting they have to replace about 75-100% after the sale.

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  Limited 4x4 nav, dvd, lux, airbags - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By micmcp - January 20 - 12:20 pm

  Excellent vehicle - drives great compared to chevy/ford - always feel in control - no over steer or under steer problems - nice, tight steering wheel. DVD works great. Touch screen navigation requires vehicle to be in park to enter a destination; however, you can use the other features while driving. Air vents are loud with fan on high - especially in 2nd and 3rd rows. Could use more cup holders in front seats - one each on long trip is not enough. No squeaks or rattles... great truck overall! Very happy with my purchase!

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  Nice car but some safety issues - 2010 Toyota Matrix
  By totafan - January 20 - 1:03 am

  This Matrix XR is being driven by a pair of 60plussers involved with elderly care thus requiring transporting elderly person plus wheelchair. This works well due to the relatively high cargo floor and hatchback.

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  Meant for comfort, not active "driving". - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Ron - January 19 - 9:30 pm

  Just bought a 2008 used, with 33k miles. Replaced a 2001 Solara SLE. Avalon seats have more adjustments, but less padding. Faux wood steering grips not as comfortable as leather. Road noise well-muted. Its so quiet at idle that I got confused once and didnt realize it was still running. LOVE the smart key. Good sound system for a car. LCD is real nice for the radio and climate controls. No squeaks or rattles, feels like driving a Swiss watch. BIG car, but doesnt look or drive like it. Controls oddly placed, but most-used ones are on wheel. Handles comfortably, but not "fun" to drive; powerful, but not a race car. Wafts you along in your own little bubble instead.

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  Great economy car - 2011 Toyota Corolla
  By jmpaul320 - January 19 - 10:50 am

  Bought in Jan 2012 with 7 miles on the clock. I have put over 82,000 miles on the car since (70/30 highway/city). Only routine maintenance, no issues with anything whatsoever. Original brakes/tires lasted nearly 70k. I average 37mpg combined commuting ~430 miles per week. Overall very happy with this car - the newer corollas I have driven as loaners seem a bit more cheaply built compared to the 11.