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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  Entune must go - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jason Burke - February 14 - 5:22 am

  *ive now had the truck for 10kmiles and while overall I like it, I dont know if Id buy it again. The Entune system is really aweful and does all sorts of odd and annoying things. I usually use my phone for navigation because the build I. System is so bad. The locking tailgate is a nice feature but it requires a separate key and cant be unlocked remotely. The drivers seat is not very adjustable and can be uncomfortable on long drives. --------------—------------------------------------------ Ive had my truck for two months and 4000 miles. The truck looks great drives great and is far more capable than Ill ever need it to be. That said the Entune infotainment system is awful. As in so bad I sometimes regret buying the truck. One common issue is that it will not allow you to type in an address while the car is in motion. That means your passenger cant either. You are supposed to be able to use voice recognition to do it but the voice recognition is so bad that the level of rage it generates in the user negates any safety benefit of not being able to manually enter an address. Btw the nav system is not as good as what you have in your phone. Finding radio stations has been made as complicated as possible. But dont take my word for it, read the online reviews of Entune. Read the App Store reviews. Customers HATE Entune and Toyota doesnt care. Remember there are better options out there right now from Apple and Google that work the way youd expect them to work. I suspect Toyota doesnt want to pay for the use of the software or something. I for one would happily pay for the upgrade!

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  A true review of a super smooth truck - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By hillbillytrucker - February 13 - 10:56 pm

  I have owned 3 Silverados and 2 F-150s. This is my first Toyota truck. The 5.7 is as powerful as advertised and for such a large vehicle (5600+ lbs), gas mileage has averaged around 17.5. As the Toyota name would imply, the build quality and fit and finish are super. The AC is the coldest of any vehicle Ive ever owned. The Crewmax has an extraordinary amount of room for those with a family. Im 60" and can sit in back seat with seat pulled fully forward and still cannot touch the front seat with my knees. Ride quality is very good, but not quite as smooth as the new GM products. (Still a 9/10, though.) No rattles or squeaks. The six speed and the manumatic shift is silky smooth.

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  Nice car with lots of power - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Dick - February 13 - 4:50 pm

  I owned a 2003 Toyota Camry XLE V-6 which I really liked. This car exceeds the older model in many ways. The current engine is very powerful and peppy, much more so than the 2003 version. The steering has been tightened up. The car feels bigger. The Bluetooth is very useful and the sound system is good. Navigation system is ok. I am pleased with the stability control system and all the other bells and whistles. The finish seems quite good to me. I had one mechanical defect that became obvious after delivery and was fixed immediately by the dealer. The dealership gives excellent service. This is a good looking functional auto.

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  First New Toyota - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By RDM - February 13 - 2:50 pm

  We test drove the Fusion, Accord and Senata before deciding on the Camry. We had a used 93 Camry. The XLE w/3.0 is responsive and comfortable on the road - we picked it up on a Friday and went on a 600 mile trip that weekend. Avg 26 MPG - Love the Smart Key system - it does seam a bit noisy but not excessive.

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  Defective Hood! - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Art - February 13 - 3:58 am

  I didnt notice during the test drive because it was almost dark already. The hood is bouncing even at low speed and more on high speed. According to the technician from Toyota USA it is normal because they made the Rav4 body thinner than the previous for more mileage. Biggest mistake of my life but I learned a lot with this experience. Just waiting one more year coz still upside down. I will definitely trade this car.

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  Mileage - 2006 Toyota 4Runner
  By So/so Mileage - February 13 - 3:50 am

  We were expecting better gas mileage than the Ford Expedition we sold, but its almost the same. Overall the vehicle is very well built and designed. A 6 cylinder should be more fuel savvy than a V-8 though.

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  Recommended - 2007 Toyota Tundra
  By Michael - February 12 - 10:53 pm

  Gob-smacked happy with this brand new truck. The power/acceleration is sensational. Averaged 16.9 mpg on a playful 230 mile rural/highway drive. Love the engine sound, gauges, silky drivetrain, and smooth ride. Interior materials could be improved, human factors improvements needed (console cover hard to reach, extending to perform a lot of nav touch-screen data entry is discomforting to my back). Leather seats are comfortable but could be softer. Side view mirrors are sensational. Auto heat/AC feature works great, tailgate assist is nice, lifetime AT fluid (not convinced yet), JBL stereo sounds good. Overall, a very quiet and refined ride for such a powerful truck. Best half-ton ever made!

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  2007 Camry Hybrid With 88,500 miles - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By jmcneely - February 12 - 10:22 pm

  This has been the best car I have ever owned...ever! In warmer weather it delivers 45 mpg, in winter 41 mpg. Taken it back to the dealer for oil/filter changes since new; every 3K-5K miles. Drive 97 miles per day commuting to work, mostly highway. Water pump went out at 65K miles, the hybrid drive battery at 72K miles. Dealer ate the labor, I paid $200 for the pump. Toyota covered main hybrid battery completely. Have never changed the brakes. Plan to keep the car forever.

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  1998 Toyota Camry - A True Workhorse - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Tony Vee - February 12 - 6:39 am

  Bought this car used in 2005 with 54K, now has 155K and still going strong! Great dependability, low maintenance, paint still shines and is very roadworthy - I would not hesitate to drive this car cross country. Aside from routine maintenance, a new radiator, and upgraded stereo system, this car is bone stock. Drives as good as the day I bought it. Recently had to take a 1K mile round trip and this car handled like a champ. Over the summer we took a family vacation to the mountains, which tend to be hard on any transmission much less one that is 17 years old and again no issues. When I purchased this car 10 years ago, I wasnt in a position to buy a new car, which certainly isnt the case today. Regardless Im holding on to the most dependable car I have ever owned, my 1998 Camry. If one day I do give in and decide to buy another car, it will be another Camry!

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  Random problems - 2002 Toyota Sienna
  By mbinpa - February 12 - 2:00 am

  We went with the Toyota because of its reliability reputation. Well, I am researching other vans because for the second time in 2 years weve got major problems. The first time it took 3 trips to the dealership for them to find a cracked fuel tank. They said they have never seen damage like it in a new car. Yesterday it started grinding and whining, Today it wouldnt go into gear and has been towed to the dealership. We think the transmission is shot. Can you say lemon? (should have gone with the honda)