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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  Transmission Problems - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By craig - November 2 - 10:00 am

  I own a 2000 Tundra SR5/4WD TRD Package. I purchased the truck new in Aug. of 2000.This is my 7th Toyota and the first one with any problems. The probelm is when the transmission shifts in to 4th geat it clunks. In addition the shift lever is very hard to get into park. I have had the truck in to the dealer where they admitted that the problem exists but since it did not show a problem on their diognostics computer. There was nothing that they could do. I am in contact with The District Manager and Toyota to resolve this matter hopefully with out litigation.

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  Lexus Wannabe - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By EK - October 31 - 4:36 pm

  This car is a Lexus wannabe. I made the mistake of trading a 1997 LS400 with 77,000 miles for this pretender. I thought, hey maybe this car will deliver Lexus like quality at more reasonable prices. What a joke. The vehicle came with a door ding which the dealer agreed to fix. Current mileage 425. Problems: Paint bubbles, passenger air curtain column coming loose, GPS panel cover sticking out 1/4 inch, leather steering was abraded, 17 miles per gallon, road noise is my constant companion, surges forward when downshifting and other issues. Worst of all the Toyota factory rep refused to fix anything but the paint bubble. After all, why satisfy the customer?

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  Lousy gas mileage - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Roger - October 25 - 4:50 pm

  Bought my corolla ce automatic at 74,000 miles. Happy with car except lousy gas mileage. Good power but sucks gas at 21.5 mpg all city and 34 mpg all highway. So far I have refilled about 10 tank fulls. I drive very smooth & easy! Voluntary smog check showed exhaust extremely clean. Idle a bit rough compared to other 4 cylinder cars. Tire pressure ok. Also the ride is extremely harsh. Back suspension very stiff so car with driver only rides like an old stage coach across the plains. With 4 people, full gas tank and luggage ride is acceptable. Very weak overhead dome light and works very flaky at times.

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  Cheap Plastic - Rear Speaker Covers - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By philip - October 24 - 8:10 pm

  Cosmetic and annoying. Plastic rear speaker covers in the LE crumble after 4 years and fall into the speakers. Toyota refuses to reimburse for replacement covers. Poor design choice and a hassle to owners.

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  Good luck getting parts - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By troybarwick - October 19 - 10:00 am

  After 13 months, and 21,400 miles I lost the transmission completely. It had to be replaced. It took one week just for the dealership to get the transmission, and another 2 days for install. Had I not complained to Toyota Corporate, the dealership was estimating about 3 weeks to get the part. No one should have to wait this long. This was my first and last Toyota. I bought a Toyota to avoid poor craftsmanship, but this thing is about as poor as you can get. I also lost the brake sensor on this lemon when it was only a week old. That took 3 days for parts, and only because I made the dealer pull from one on the lot.

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  18 months later - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By SR - October 16 - 10:03 pm

  In first 18 months, this car has performed well, with excellent mileage, but I have been surprised to see a dramatic decline in the design and assembly quality that I found in my prior two Toyotas. The fuel economy is as good as other posters report (40-43 summer, 35-38 winter). Quality problems include incessant front dash rattles that the dealer cannot fix, no matter how many visits; cheap front and rear bumpers that crack as soon as you are touched by another car in a parking space; interior plastics and exterior paint that scratch at the drop of a hat.

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  The dream is over. - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Toyota fan (NOT) - October 16 - 3:16 am

  We were happy with the van until everything started to break down after 6 years. The list is long but I will listed the most expensive issues. The automatic door broke down.We replaced the hinge for $400 because it was bent. The siding door motor was disconnected and we were told that it will be another $2000 to fix it. The radiator is leaking. The engine block heater did not work and needs to be replaced. The spare tire mechanism did not work and was told last year that it would cost us over $200 to fix. Luckily, we had an extended warranty that covered the cost. The CD/Radio system is malfunctioning. Maybe it is time to put the van to sleep

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  Reliable but boring - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By costeld - October 15 - 4:04 am

  I started driving my 06 Corolla about 1.5 yrs ago. It had 135K on it when I started (belongs to a company I work for) and now has over 200K. I drive everywhere from the highway at around 80 mph to long, windy, bumpy country driveways where I have to carefully pick a route around boulders, dips, bumps and puddles to avoid high centering. I drive the car like a New York city cab in town (time is a crucial part of job) and I often drive 50-60 mph on gravel roads. Car has held up extremely well! When I get home from a 400 mile during spring break up I am surprised the car held together. When i leave the next morning the car is unphased by the day before. Very robust car!

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  Nice, but not nearly the best - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By ff - October 15 - 2:00 am

  A car built to serve daily routines, devoid of any fun or excitement

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  Motor went - 2000 Toyota Corolla
  By Tracy Humphrey - October 13 - 2:56 am

  Our car started burning oil after just 4 years of owning it. We kept taking it back to the dealer with no luck on getting it fixed. We just kept putting oil into it every week. Then the motor went at 212,000. We were shocked. We will never buy another Toyota again after what we went through.