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 experience - 2010 Toyota Corolla
  By Unavailable - March 5 - 2:00 am

  Majority of the time i go over a speed bump, sewer, and even pot holes there is a loud disturbing girding noise took it to the dealership and "observed normal operation" still to this day i have continued with this argument and nothing. Just today i drove over small bumps and had my foot on the brakes and still kept going.. Very UNRELIABLE! Worked for this car for 3 Years to get this. An accident is waiting to happen before they help.

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  Pretty fun car, perhaps. - 2003 Toyota Matrix
  By noonan_99 - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Styling is okay - love or hate. I love it first, but I only like it now as I find that I love the new BBX of Scion (new wing of Toyota) better. Look aside, seating is pretty comfortable to me, except I dislike the way the power door locks are located, it makes my hand sore because of the angle.

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  Ripped Off BY Toyota - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By darrell113 - February 9 - 6:34 pm

  This Venza is a piece of CRAP. Have had it for three weeks. You have to rank on the steering wheel back and forth to get the key to turn to start. The key ignition as at a stupid angle. Everything in this Venza is CHEAP. The back up camera is useless. And to top things off Park City Toyota in Medicine Hat, Alberta charged me $ 2,000.00 over the sticker price. They then added on that stupid window etching without my permission. I have to sue them to get my money back that they stole from me. I will NEVER purchase another JUNK Toyota from any of the [violative content deleted] Toyota dealers.

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  Get the Accord! - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Joey - January 18 - 7:45 am

  I bought this car 2 months ago, and has always had awful road noise. There is an awful vibration when I get above 40mph, which really sucks. I really wish I got the Accord. The Honda Accord is much quitter, spacious, better looking, better mpg also. I cant believe I got the Camry, it is like a disaster. Get the Honda Accord!

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  Misleading - 2018 Toyota C-HR
  By Sherrie - December 16 - 11:09 am

  Beautiful CAR. Absolutely NOT an SUV. This is a car for short people. I couldnt get in without bumping my head. Im only 57, but its not easy to get in or out.

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  Never Purchase Toyota again! Find out why - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By Dave - November 20 - 2:04 am

  Just passed 1000 miles in this beast. Nothing but problems. My kia had no problems in 3 years. So far I have had multiple problems with my 2018 Camry. Today I was at Autonation Toyota in Fort Myers Florida. Total frustration at the dealership. Went there for 2 reasons. Yikes! 1 the Lane sensors have quit working. 2. the front sensor ceased to work. because of this failure went to far parking car. Over the concrete stopper I went. Tore up some plastic housing. Couldnt drive car. Went under the car in good clothes to fix it. A normal screwdriver did not fit to tighten. Finally fixed it, Kinda, so I could drive it. I bought a new car to avoid problems and that is all I have had. Never mind that Sirius wasnt installed and that added it on. Was told this was on the XLE. Dont buy this vehicle.

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  Cheap truck - 2009 Toyota Tacoma
  By DM - November 3 - 2:10 am

  Cheap truck. Plastic bed, unboxed frame rails and suspension components cheap compared to domestics. Lots of cheap interior plastic, and seems like it overall is just built inferior. Should have bought the Dakota or a 1/2 ton domestic. Throttle recalls, Rusty frame recalls. etc. Toyata has lost all quality control.

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  I would never recommend Highlander to anyone - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By Rajesh kuppili - October 3 - 7:27 pm

  Wind/outside Noise .. delicate ... simply, I hate this highlander

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  Follow-up to my earlier review - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By srm - July 15 - 4:02 am

  A few weeks ago I wrote the review "Be Careful and Test Drive". Since then I towed a 5X8 UHaul trailer from Florida to Ohio - approx. 1100 miles. I simply wanted to report that the average mpg dropped from my normal average 20 mpg without towing a trailer to 15.3 mpg with towing the trailer which was full. Quite a drop in mpg evidencing once again the "lugging" problem that I and others have reported. Hopefully Toyota will come out with a fix caused by the engine/transmission defaulting to 6th gear and 1100 RPM. I could barely get up the hills/mountains on I-77 through Virginia and West Virginia without manually shifting. Even my salesman in Colorado where I purchased the vehicle said "this vehicle is not suitable for the Colorado mountains". I should have listened to him.

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  I should have got a Celica or Prelude - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By MyCorollasucks - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I hate my car. Aweful suspension; body leans in turns, bouncy ride. Interior is baren. No CD player. Everything is an option. This car may last but Ill be trading mine in real soon. Look at another model of toyota.