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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  Very Reliable Car - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Tim - December 7 - 10:40 pm

  I bought this car 6 years ago. It had about 10,000 miles on it when I purchased it. I have driven this car over 100,000 miles and it still runs like new car. I had to replace the exhaust pipe once and had some repair done on the shockers which cost me about 600 dollars.

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  Not bad, but not for tall folks - 2003 Toyota Echo
  By jazbees - December 6 - 4:43 pm

  Bought it in 2006. Not a bad little car, but it didnt have quite the leg room that this driver needed. Started having muscle/joint aches in my right leg after commuting with it for a while. Switched back to our other car (a 96 Geo Prizm) and the pain disappeared. Aside from that, it was okay. The odd placement of the gauges (a little to the right of the steering wheel) took some getting used to. Very peppy, excellent fuel economy. No major issues that I can recall. Its trunk crumpled quite well when we got rear-ended by a Dodge Ram in early 11, which protected our daughter in the back seat. It did its job, and is now resting peacefully in a junk lot.

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  Venza: good stuff mover, great snow car - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By M EF - December 6 - 4:30 pm

  I bought this 6cy AWD explicitly for very long drives along the Great Lakes Snowbelt in winter - dangerous conditions. I held my nose while considering SUVs and minivans. This car was a reasonable compromise. The seat is firm and surprisingly comfortable on a 500 mile drive. The vehicle handles firmly and assertively unlike Toyotas other models. I call it a vanagon; it felt large at first, but it really is more like a tall sedan than anything else. I have a black one with that ridiculously toothy chrome grill, which seems to be a desirable feature on higher-end vehicles. But it goes like a tank in the snow and hauls a medium amount of stuff. Expect good resale from it and I feel safe.

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  Trouble with tire changing & body paint - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By kmores - December 5 - 7:56 pm

  I have had incredible trouble changing a tire. The car fell off the jack and I cant get the tire gauge light to go off. It took my husband over a half hour to get the tire off the bottom of the car in the weird position it was in to unscrew it and get it under the car. If we had been on the side of the road when these flats happened, we would have been killed. Paint chips off the bumpers badly. My battery has died numerous times because of interior lights not auto turning off. All screws holding the flaps protecting motor over front time came out with flaps hitting wheels causing great scare. Toyota wouldnt replace because out of mile warranty (we had to evacuate to Dallas!).

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  2012 Toyota RAV4 Limited - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By dmw81 - December 5 - 11:03 am

  Its been a year now since I bought the 2012 RAV4 Limited. I do love my SUV. It has plenty of speed. I dont drag race but when I want to pass drivers driving below the speed limit, it will accelerate definitely and easily since it is a V6. I drive in town most of the time and I am getting 25.5 mpg. If I am driving in bigger cities, though rare, with lots of stop and go, the mpg will go down to 25.3. Very little difference. Most of the time it stays on 25.5. There are no hills in where I live and even the places that I go. Theres less traffic as well. My ride is comfortable. My only complaint is the road noise. This RAV4 has some of it. I notice it especially when driving on interstates.

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  Evaluation - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Chritian Bowles - December 4 - 7:36 am

  Except for pickup and power which I am accustomed this car is great for local driving. It leaves a lot to be desired when driving in the mountains.

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  if you want a nice looking boring car this is it - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Michael - December 3 - 4:50 pm

  We bought a new 2015 XSE with the 4cyl. They exterior does have a good look to it. The interior is pretty boring compared to most cars out there. I was driving the car to DC and finally got the gas mileage over 30mpg. The info center decided to reset itself 4 times with in 4 minutes. Shutting off my phone charger, radio and display screen. Did it again on the drive back home a few days later. I havent driven the car longer than 2 hours since and it hasnt done it since. We bought a new Camry because it is suppose to be one of the most reliable cars out there. Compared to my 14 year old lexus GS300 and our 2010 Nissan Murano this car is not all that impressive.

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  Sweet Ride - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By Fiona - December 3 - 12:16 pm

  Best choice I ever made for a car. It is awesome in reliability and it does great on the beach. Excellent car.

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  Very disappointed - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By Max - December 3 - 1:23 am

  I purchased this vehicle with 126K miles on it. It now has 130K and is sitting in the shop with a $3,700 transmission bill. I had very high hopes when I bought it and was hoping to keep it for years to come. Unfortunately, the failure of the transmission took me by surprise. I am very surprised it wore down after only 130K miles. I really do love the truck, unfortunately someone before me did not take care of the transmission and now Im stuck with the bill. I guess its off to Craigslist to see who wants a mechanics special.

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  My "Dream" car - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Gram - December 2 - 8:50 am

  My RAV4 is an unbelievable value. I had a 1999 RAV4 before I bought the 06, and it was one of the most reliable cars I have ever driven. Performance/handling is excellent, with ESC (electronic stability control). Fit and Finish is OK, with cloth seating, and some nice interior touches. Major flaws include no cargo net (when I have a heavy load, sometimes things fall out.), and thats about it. My RAV4 is probably one of the most reliable cars out there, today. Truly, my RAV4, is my "Dream" car.