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 woes! Beware! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Chuck W. - July 24 - 7:50 am

  We looked at the 07 Impala and settled on the Camry SE. Gas mileage is terrific. Safety was #1 and mileage was #2. We love the ride with one exception.... the auto transmission is very poorly designed and Toyota hasnt decided what to do. When approaching a stop with little or no gas pedal pressure, the transmission downshifts normally until the car shifts gears and suddenly lurches ahead at a higher speed. This is very disturbing and perhaps even unsafe because now I have to apply much more of the brake to stop. It is a very surprising and unnatural experience. Will most likely be our last Toyota.

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  16k mile review - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By Mark - July 23 - 7:36 am

  So, the truck now has 16k miles. Other than the initial axle problem things have been OK. I monitor every tank and the truck was 16 city and 18.5 hwy with canopy until I put new tires on which dropped me 2 mpg (265 70 17) 4wd works flawlessly. The cruise control is still useless-surges gears-and seatbelt and back-up warning quit working. Speaking of tires, despite claims you CAN NOT go wider than 265 without rubbing, even w/ 3" lift unless you replace the rims and sensors-big $$. Smoking problem has cleared with 3rd synthetic oil change - whew.

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  Reason for being number 1 in class - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Will Tell - July 23 - 6:16 am

  After looking at all the small SUVs, it became apparent that theres really no serious contender for the Toyota. I was actually leaning towards the Honda CR-V when I first started looking, but the Toyota won me over with its better gas mileage and roomier interior. A lot of thought went into laying out the interior, and build quality was very good. I wasnt too sure how a 4 cylinder engine mated to an automatic transmission would perform, but it has more than enough power for daily driving, although I still would have liked to have a manual transmission. Unfortunately, being best in class comes at a higher price tag. Total out the door cost for a sport package was $23.5K as of June 2009.

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  Gutless-guzzler - 1995 Toyota 4Runner
  By Dan G. - July 22 - 10:00 am

  What we have here, is a peppy V6 on light truck chassis...squashed with a giant turtle-shell body. The result...a gasping, whimpering, gutless-guzzler, that can barely make it onto the freeway via the onramp. Floor it, and you know it just cost you a dollar. The vehicle does not feel stable on slick roads, and even with a new set of Michelins from costco, my 87 Honda feels much safer. Of course we bought it for its comfort and looks. The interior creature comforts are very nice and practical. All electrical is flawless, and mechanically, exceptional. Its has an overall appealing quality, but I would stay away from this one.

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  Long term update - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By ACDII - July 22 - 9:23 am

  After 25000 miles, the car has been flawless, getting 39MPG mixed driving, 50 on the highway @60MPH. A few things turn me off though, and make me want a Fusion Hybrid. First being the dash center console, cool at first, but when driving in bad weather where you need 100% visibility, the lighting is a distraction, and no way to turn it off without turning off the entire dash. Material quality is sub-par, my Hyundai has better quality. Seats OK, material a bit thin, I can feel parts of the springs in the seat. I expected a bit better quality from Toyota, but with that aside, it has been a good car, reliable, and safe, and thats what is most important, 39 MPG overall isnt too bad either.

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  Four trips to the shop so far. - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By aeroengr - July 22 - 8:10 am

  We love the Camry, upgraded from a 1997 V6 Camry with 150,000 miles. The 2009 is a big step up in quiet and smooth performance. Even with the small 4 cyl. engine, the performance in the mountains where we live is very good. Problem has been wheel bearings. Four wheel bearings have been replaced by two different dealers within 1000 miles. Great customer service from both dealers, but Toyota has no clue as to what is causing our problem.

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  Satisfied but could be happier - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Prashant Upadhyaya - July 20 - 9:26 pm

  Clocked around 5000 miles in 3 months, including many 200 mile trips. Let me directly go to drawbacks.... 1.) No auto headlights/door locks. 2.) Window controls invisible in dark and look cheap. 3.) Cupholders are atrocious. 4.) Expensive and no negotiations. 5.) Transmission, hesitant initially, then kicks in. 6.) Temp display could be better. 7.) Cruise control initially confusing. 8.) Maybe it is unique to me, but the gas level indicator is very misleading. The last quarter is over in less than 30 miles. 9.) The gas low indicator should blink or something. 10.) Of course, mileage is around 19/20 only.. But then I drive at around 80-85 in highway. 11.)Rear door should open up. 12.) Very noisy ride with moonroof open

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  Mileage Meter Calibration? - 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By Voxhumana - July 18 - 2:36 pm

  We have enjoyed our hybrid for 2.5 years and consistently score 22.6 MPG. It doesnt seem to matter how we drive, or if we are towing our RV or not, always the same: 22.6 MPG. Can this be accurate? Of course this mileage is great when towing the RV, but the next tank, without the RV in tow, is EXACTLY the same. How could this be statistically possible? We reset the counter on every tank. Otherwise, we love the car.

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  Rigmobile - 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
  By Rock Doctor - July 17 - 8:13 pm

  This is my 5th Toyota truck over 26 years, which like the previous 4Runners (2) and Tacomas (2), is used to get me back and forth from drilling rigs. It is used to get through deep mud, heavy snow and generally drive down rig access roads that other drivers would call off-roading.

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  A smelly car - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By freepak - July 17 - 7:52 pm

  This is my third Avalon and there is a definite design flaw. The car smells.