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:

• 

  OH, WHAT A FEELING!! - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By sparkland - August 27 - 2:23 am

  This is our first hybrid but our fourth Camry. We changed our allegiance from Toyota to Honda when the Camry appearance became a little too boring. We traded in our 2008 Accord for this new and improved 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE. My wife loves the superior mileage while driving back and forth to work in town. The car is spacious and has one of the largest cabins of any car in its class. The interior is quiet and comfortable. The Camry seems like the "cone of silence" compared with our Accord on the highway. The CVT transmission makes the auto shifting nearly impossible to detect--a very nice feature. I know hybrids are not for everyone, but please at least take a test drive--impressive.

• 

  Rav4 is unreliable and disappointing - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By cartroubles2 - August 27 - 12:23 am

  I am the not so proud owner of a 2009 Rav4. At 131km it had its first visit to the shop with the A/T Oil indicator light illuminated. It took three more trips to the shop to fix the problem. Now at 3000km it is back in the shop with AWD, slip control, and engine indicator lights on. It has also failed to start and down shifts with the grace of a new driver in a standard transmission car. I am getting absolutely no help from Toyota Canada or the dealer that I bought this lemon from. The only nice thing about this car is the paint job.

• 

  What happened to comfort? - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Ray - August 27 - 12:20 am

  The driver’s seat is extremely uncomfortable and cannot be adjusted for comfort. It has a lump in it that shoves up on the back of the hips, forcing the driver to lean forward and shoving up on the spine. The seat sits far too high – what are they doing, trying to imitate a SUV? The pump on the side of the seat is a joke, more of a gimmick toy than an adjusting tool. The adjustable steering wheel is dangerous as you must remember to shove the locking lever back. I have never had a car that rides so extremely poorly and I have driven 50 years. On smooth pavement it is fine, but you feel every bump in the road otherwise. It rides more like my Wrangler than the car I wanted.

• 

  Not bad for a Japanese car - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By ToyotaGuy - August 26 - 11:16 pm

  I bought one of the first 2003 4Runners, SR5 with V8, before the V6 became available. Main reason for the purchase was the great powerful V8 and silky smooth ride. I still like it, but wished I had waited a couple of years and bought a used one, since the value dropped so quickly. The car is so reliable and well built, even after almost 7 years it seems like new, so I think that picking up a decent pre-owned one seems a pretty safe bet. Anyway, the 4Runner is not for tall people and it is not the most spacious SUV out there. If you have a big family, I would go for its big brother, the Sequioa, or the Honda Pilot, if you dont need the V8 power.

• 

  Just Got Mine! - 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By anl - August 26 - 7:20 pm

  Have it for a few days now. Love it! Fun to drive and comfortable.

• 

  2006 XLE V6 Toyota - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Sharon, Maryland - August 26 - 5:26 pm

  My top-of-the-line XLE- V-6 Toyota Camry looks great, its reliable, affordable, and has the bells and whistles of a Mercedes-Benz. Toyota repairs are easily accessible if needed. I love it!!

• 

  Never Gave Me A Problem - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By Carolee - August 26 - 3:46 pm

  Great truck, held up in a head on. If I could find my car on a lot or in a driveway somewhere, I would buy it!

• 

  A great mid-engine sports car - the MR2 - 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
  By Robinsonimages - August 26 - 1:16 pm

  I will most likely keep my MR2 till I can not drive any more. Sure there are better sports cars, bt you can not get a better one for the price and the gas mileage 25-34 mpg

• 

  New Owner-Wierd Issues - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By mjc333 - August 26 - 7:47 am

  I just purchased the Toyota Highlander 2003 and upon purchasing the vehicle I was very happy. The check engine light came on shortly after purchase and apparently the cause is a bad "ECM" board in the SUV. I am not sure if this is common but I have experienced this problem. I love the vehicle otherwise and plan on driving it for a while. Currently at 82K hope it lasts to 200K without major repairs.

• 

  260,000 miles, veryy reliable - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By akxel - August 26 - 7:39 am

  reliable car, good looking on the outside, especially with ski racks black on black paint. 260,000 miles on it and still running on, steering is not that great but hey its a toyota, no a bmw sedan.