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:

• 

  Great car but NONE with Side Air-bags - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By ejg - June 30 - 10:00 am

  I bought a automatic 2005 Corolla S at the end of June and I love it. I wasnt happy with Toyotas sales distribtion system. You cant get a Corolla S in the NJ/NYC area with SIDE AIRBAGS especially if you want a factory built sun-roof & ABS brakes because Toyotas out-of-touch distribution system will not send any built that way to the greater nyc area because past sales history does not show a demand for that option. Duh! The reason no history for that option in NYC area is because your required to make a special order request for it which could takeover 4 months and no guarentee. Not many will do that and wait over 4 months and no guarentee.

• 

  2009 matrix 4d hacthback - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By abstract007 - June 30 - 5:23 am

  I replaced a vw beetle with the 2009 matrix its good not to be in the every month. So far so good its lacking pickup the automatic transmission could use improvement in order to get power I have to be hard on the kickdown but it will reach 110mph on a good day with a tail wind. Toyota need to improve the transmission, noise level fr;under carriage, front suspension easily get out of alignment,fuel 31mpg average I commute it meet the daily needs

• 

  quality build? - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By john - June 30 - 1:56 am

  Had car for 5 days only. Been in shop for defective steering, clunk noise in rear of car over bumps. Rattles everywhere on paved roads. Car has been in shop 3-9-09 and not back yet. High trade in on 2008 rav4 sport but paid full price for car. No deals here! My 08 Avalon is much better and so is my 07 tundra crewmax. The 08 rav4 was super too! Venza? what happened?

• 

  Very Happy and the right size - 2008 Toyota Highlander
  By Bryan - June 29 - 8:06 pm

  Owned the Limited AWD for about 3 months. Gas mileage low 18.1 high 27.2. Average since purchase is 21.5. Excellent mileage on long trips. Like the size, not too big or too small and the step-in height is also very comfortable. Reminds me of the size of my old 1998 Explorer but nicer in every way. Engine louder during warmup, very quiet thereafter. Smooth ride, quiet interior, and good gas mileage for its size (mid-sized) were my top 3 requirements and it has lived up to my expectations thus far.

• 

  Disappointed - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By richiew13 - June 29 - 7:36 pm

  I bought this truck in May 2011, hoping it would be a reliable and economical vehicle for me to keep for a long time, eventually becoming my #2 vehicle. Ever since I got it, I havent been happy with the way the engine idles. It sometimes revs fast, and sometimes wavers up and down. I also dislike the way the transmission shifts. It can sometimes be harsh and/or wait too long to shift. As of now, 3 of my automatic door lock mechanisms have quit working. The A/C blower is noisy, and will occasionally stop working. (If you kick it, it will work again.) I hate the way the brakes make a "clunk" sound the first time you hit them after going in reverse. Other than that, Ive enjoyed it.

• 

  OK Car - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By yoyo - June 29 - 7:13 pm

  The 2001 corolla is about as boring of a car as you can get. Too bad the 2002 made major improvements. I have had this car since it was bought brand new and still drives fine with some minor mechanical problems. The check engine light has been on many many times. I think the interior is OK quality and there are not any bells and whistles at all. Also, I noticed that not just my car, but many Corollas like mine are missing hubcaps or have aftermarket ones. That tells me the interior quality isnt great either. The fuel economy definitely does not reach 41mpg on the highway. Overall, it is just a mediocre car in my mind.

• 

  Toyota back-up camera - 2010 Toyota Prius
  By Meg Jacobs - June 29 - 4:20 pm

  The biggest scam I see in the Prius is the back-up camera. The distance is so distorted as to be dangerous. Cars and other objects in the back-up camera always look much smaller than when looked at in the rear-view mirror or looking behind (reality). I just ignore it, but its supposedly a big selling point. Also, MPG on the freeway seems to be about the same as my former car, my beloved 1995 Acura. And parking it is inherently hard because I cant see the front of it as it slopes down steeply. It does have good pick-up on hills, and I bought it for the solar panels that bring in ventilation when parked in the sun to avoid that furnace blast of hot air on hot summer days. I want Honda/Acura!

• 

  Fantastic Auto - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By wanzalee - June 29 - 1:13 pm

  I have owned numerous autos but have never owned a vehicle that was more satisfying than the Prius. It is very responsive and a pure joy to drive.

• 

  Good for summer, bad for winter - 2006 Toyota Avalon
  By BDW - June 29 - 10:13 am

  Nice when the weather is warm, but truly awful when the snow is falling. The cars computers cant seem to figure out what to do in snow. Bad traction and very inconclusive driving response. Shame on Toyota! Remote start doesnt allow me get in without turning off car, and it doesnt allow me to get out of car with the engine running and lock the doors. Duh?

• 

  Mechanically reliable, no frills vehicle. - 2003 Toyota Highlander
  By j_ash - June 29 - 6:06 am

  I bought my 03 about two years ago with about 70k miles. I had to replace the HVAC blower motor (approx $250) because of an annoying rattle. Aside from that issue Ive had no other machanical problems at 115k. I will say that the front seat is uncomfortable and is ill suited to long drives. The cabin materials in general are cheaper than other cars Ive owned in the past. The carpet is super thin and the leather is of substandard quality in my opinion. A good car if you dont care about the ugly, cheap interior.nion. Not a bad car if you dont care about the interior.