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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  Poor MPG - 2017 Toyota Highlander
  By mcosta.tech@gmail.com - February 26 - 1:54 am

  Love the Comfort but I am only getting 18.8 MPG with most of my driving on the Highway. My 2000 Ford F350 Crew Cab Long bed with over sized tires and 4x the power gets 20 MPG. Pretty sad that I drive my 17 year full size truck to save on fuel. I talked to the dealer and they didnt seem to care.

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  Lexus it is not!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Glen - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I have had every type of car you can think of and have been trying to find a new car to replace my wifes Grand Am. We drove the Civic, Focus, Matrix,Protege,Sentra,and the corolla the Focus and the Protege were the only ones that held the road. The corola we drove buzzed terribly, rattles, the build quality was not there at all! On the highway at high speeds (75) was a very nervous feeling. I had a Camry in 93, when they carred about build quality, what happened Toyota. I think they only care about the Lexus line!

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  Lexus it is not!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By GLEN - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I have had every type of car you can think of and have been trying to find a new car to replace my wifes Grand Am. We drove the Civic, Focus, Matrix,Protege,Sentra,and the corolla the Focus and the Protege were the only ones that held the road. The corola we drove buzzed terribly, rattles, the build quality was not there at all! On the highway at high speeds (75) was a very nervous feeling. I had a Camry in 93, when they carred about build quality, what happened Toyota. I think they only care about the Lexus line!

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  Manual Clutch Wore Out at 6000 Miles! - 2013 Toyota Tacoma
  By driver882 - February 21 - 2:20 pm

  My 2013 Takoma, purchased new 3 months ago, has 6250 miles on it. The dealer (Ourisman Chantilly Toyota) tells me that the clutch is completely worn down. I have driven manuals for years and am certainly not hard on the clutch, nor do I "ride" the clutch. It is hard to rebut the conclusion that this is somehow my fault and the clutch is excluded from every warranty, even the fancy "Auto4Life" service contract and the "Carefree Car Protection Service Contract". The repair will cost more than $2,000. I submit that this is a mechanical problem reflective of the truck.

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  Uncomfortable drivers seat - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By arlene - February 20 - 2:16 pm

  I am 52 and I am sick that my new car has such an uncomfortable drivers seat. I never had a back problem and I do now. I bought the car for comfort for long drives, and now even in the car for 30 mins., my back is in pain. I am hoping Toyota has some sort of a cushion to rectify this very serious defect in a brand new car. The new 2009 design is the most uncomfortable seat I have EVER driven in, and I have been driving for 36 years in a lot cheaper cars in the past.

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  Hmmmm - 2000 Toyota Tundra
  By Cal - February 18 - 10:23 pm

  Ball joints went out without any warning of indication they were bad. The drivers side suddenly dropped to the ground. The brake routers have not held up very well at all. My 4 wheel drive went out, had to replace a small electrical box by the passengers side floor area. 2 Ignitions coils went bad and the CD player suddenly stopped working. I have had the truck serviced by the dealer every 3 to 5 thousand miles. I called Toyota and they said sorry, and that was it. I think I will go back to Ford!

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  Sienna view - 2012 Toyota Sienna
  By GB - February 18 - 7:04 pm

  Toyota has good reputation for long lasting vehicles.

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  Dont buy it - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Beachbum - February 18 - 11:36 am

  It is extremely difficult to find a comfortable driving position. Blind spots are huge. You get neck strain trying to make sure there are no cars around you. Acceleration is slow and the wind plays with it like a kite. This is a car that is just no fun to drive. I feel very unsafe. It is very little car for much too much money. The controls are very difficult to get to. Dont buy it!!!!!!

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  Nice looking, runs terrible - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Jimmy462 - February 18 - 12:43 am

  I bought this car because I owned two Toyotas before (Avalon, Corolla). This car has been very disappointing. The squeaks and rattles are awful for a Toyota, feels more like a Chevy inside. The transmission doesnt shift correctly, and it has almost caused me to get into an accident twice. Except for the looks, this car is not making me very happy.

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  Dissappointing - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - February 17 - 7:23 am

  I leased my 2009 Camry looking to possibly purchase at end of lease. The pick up is awful and I fear for my life going onto a highway. The acceleration is awful! Now I find out my tires are bad after 22k! (I rotate after every other oil change at 8k.) Toyota suggests after 5k which also points to too much required maintenance). I owned Fords before this and never had any of these problems. The tires went well into 40k. Also, the radio is terrible. Toyota offers nothing to keep me as a client. Ford I am coming back!