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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  Toyota radio do not buy until they fix known issue - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By imshybabe - July 10 - 10:21 am

  I just bought a 2013 Rav4, the volume of the radio goes up, down and also sounds muffled at times. If you plug your ipod, it stays in loading mode with out playing. It will also go off or the screen goes blank in the heat. The volume jumping up is startling and my 7 y/o says " stop that mom". When I take it to the dealer service dept. this is a known issue and the fix is usually to replace the radio. They said they replaced the radio, it continues to do it. I have been there 4 times and they do not know how to fix. They should fix this before putting them on the market for sale. This is a defect. I have concern for the longevity of the car. I have lost trust in Toyota, will not buy another.

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  Great Truck!! - 2003 Toyota Tacoma
  By Tom K - July 10 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Toyota. What a pleasure to drive! Absolutely smooth as silk. Solid ride but very comfortable and rattle free. I love everything about it!

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  First Toyota - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Pacer1 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  This is our first Toyota and we like it very much. It has a sold, well built feel and is very comfortable. The kids love the DVD player too. We did have a CV joint go bad at 6,000 miles which was disappointing. Still, overall, we have been satisfied.

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  My Toyota Concerns - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By Mymistake - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Salespeople quite unfriendly & only concerned with making a sale & profit. Vehicle in general is very nice but transmission down shifts somewhat too often. I received a recall to replace the fuel tank and ended up with two trips and two rental cars before fixed properly. Tank was leaking fuel AFTER the first replacement & had to return.

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  04 Matrix XRS 150K Miles Review - 2004 Toyota Matrix
  By OingoBo - July 9 - 9:10 pm

  I am a driver. The transmission is very well matched. Replaced clutch at 110K miles. Only normal maintenance required. I love the sound it makes at high revs.

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  Mechanically excellent "but" - 2002 Toyota 4Runner
  By Sisu - July 8 - 10:00 am

  4runners have an excellent rep. If you buy one and dont need 4wd, whats the purpose? We drive this car on the beach and in snow. Absolutely no problem, never. == (Cont). to get out of 4wd low. I have the six cylinder and it is a good engine around town or down the road. In my opinion it lacks a little power. If you have 4 men and bags and you want to engage highway traffic you need to stomp on it. I would not trailer anything heavy unless it is very local travel. The V8 maybe be a better option you be the judge. The seat is good if you are a normal size man, for me it doesnt provide enough support in the right places for a LONG trip. The AM radio is terrible - static.

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  2011 Toyota Venza " What will be offerin - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By stacey wilford - July 8 - 10:00 am

  - No mirror integrated turn signals - No blind spot information system - No mirror with ground lighting - No Interior cabin light delay - No HD Radio 4 Cylinder drive good around the city ,feels compose and stable , intrusive road noise noticeable on back seat, a lot of compartments, love power tailgate, I wish they would offer simulated wood trim on 4 cyl package. Good Voice-activated navigation system.

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  Six months and still HAPPY - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By John - July 8 - 10:00 am

  After six months and the first 5K service (rotation and fluid checks) I still find this Camry a pleasure to both look at and drive. No problems to report, and although the city MPG is a little disappointing (20) I have squeezed 37 out of it on one road trip! Tons of others just like mine (other than the wheels) so you get lost in the crowd, but the quality build and feel is amazing. The local dealership has been very good, too. I can certainly continue to recommend this as an above average daily driver with enough room for most trips and ample power with the 4. Ill get back with another update after one year.

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  Great car! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By absolutgator - July 8 - 4:06 am

  This is the first Toyota I have ever owned and based on its performance so far, I would buy another one. The new looks are what attracted it to me initially, but its relatively smooth drive, comfort and reliability sold me on it. I added leather seats (softer than the cloth seats!), wheels and Homelink mirror to upgrade w/o having to pay for the price bump in the higher models. Took it on a road trip up the coast and it got the posted MPG of 33 w/ the A/C going the entire way. Overall, this is a great car that I plan on driving for a long time!

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  Happy but... - 2012 Toyota Sienna
  By brooklynsienna - July 7 - 10:34 am

  Leased the 2012 LE in December. Owned a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT prior. Some things we love about the Sienna: smooth ride, maneuvers well for a big van, comfortable seating, removable 8th seat, heat/cooling system terrific, reverse camera in dash, blueray & sound system work great with my iphone. Disappointments - a bit of a swimmer in handling on the highway and havent averaged better than 14.4 mpg in the 6 months weve had it - even in highway drives. Not sure what gives with that, because others have reported over 23. Can two of the same vehicles really vary that much???!!! Im going to ask about this at the 5K service.