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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  Ill tell them to keep it, honestly... - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Frustrated by Toyota - July 10 - 10:00 am

  The brake pedal rattles when I depress it and also makes a noise. They told me this is normal and I have to live with it. I will take the car back and let them live with it. Also the dash rattles. The rear panel rattles and the plastic siding by the left passenger foot came off already. The right rear door stick and the trunk barely opens with the remote. I am soooo dissapointed. Its actually a 2003 LE but they did not have this option here yet. I hate thinking of paying for this piece of... for 5 years.

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  Toyota has started to fall - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Stan - July 6 - 9:46 pm

  I bought a Toyota after having Jeeps, Fords, and Chevys and I thought I could buy a car that would last 200,000 miles. I was wrong. I am very unhappy with this car and I probably wont buy another Toyota. I will go back to Ford or Chevy. What is wrong: - Constant Chirp, Chirp under the hood. (The belt and tensioner have been fixed and or replaced 4 times.) I only have 71,000 miles on the car. - Drivers door wont unlock without key. - Tires had to be replaced at 15,000 miles. - Fan motor replaced at 45,000 miles as it would not work all the time. I never had a problem with my 1991 Ford Explorer or my 2002 Ford Explorer or my Chevy Pickup (S10). No more Toyotas at my house.

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  My paint is coming off! - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By Ryan - July 4 - 1:33 am

  I only have 7000 miles on my tundra and the paint is coming off. The iPod control never works and the inside is made out of recycled garbage plastic. I am taking the loss and ditching this thing asap.

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  AWD Tires Frequently Replaced at High Cost - 2015 Toyota Sienna
  By Mike - July 1 - 1:27 pm

  This Van is very good except for the tire problem. The AWD version comes with no spare and run flat tires. The run flat tires last between 14,000 and 18,000 miles and come without a manufacturers warrantee. I drive between 25,000 and 30,000 miles per year. I am now at 35,000 (16 months) and am on my third set of tires. the originals were replaced at 15,500. The second set lasted until 34,700 miles. I just put on the 3rd set. The way we drive, if we keep this van for 5 years, I would spend over $11,000.00 on tires. DO NOT BUY THE AWD SIENNA. You can put on regular tires, but you would run without a spare. If you add a spare, you have to buy a mount for the cargo area, but hen you cant fold down the third row seats for more cargo...

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  Poor Toyota quality and service - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By sandy - July 1 - 10:00 am

  I experienced a windshield tick soon as I purchased the vehicle. Toyota service attempted a fix and it got worse. The tick was intermittent and after several trips to the dealer, and test drives, the dealer resealed the windscreen. The problem resurfaced recently. The dealers are unable to diagnose and fix it. My 36,000 mile warranty is expiring. There is also a rattle around the dash on the passenger side. Toyota is unable to diagnose that problem as well. I occasionally hear other noises and vibrations as well in the interior from the sun roof area and around the passenger door. Toyota replaced defective sun visors, and the glove compartments. The radio display mysteriously would go blank.

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  Cabin Noise is terrible - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By pjd - June 30 - 12:00 pm

  We set a decibel meter in the the cabin and at 70 mph the 93 db reading requires hearing protection by the federal government. You get engine noise at low speed and tire noise along with wind noise at speeds higher than 45 mph. The engine always seems to act as if it is working to keep up at the 55 - 65 mph and the fuel mileage on two long trips of Interstate in excess of 300 miles has not been above 19.7 miles per gallon, currently only have 4100 miles on auto. JBL radio speakers are poor and there is not a setting that will pair volume with increased sound so in town at 40 mph your radio volume is set at 12 for volume and on the highway at 70 mph you need to turn the radio up to a setting of 28. This is my forth Toyota and it will be my last.

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  Defects in design - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By flyhi152 - June 30 - 6:50 am

  whenever something is wrong with the car, Toyotas answer is: the car is designed like that. The GPS is designed to take me to addresses several miles from their actual location. it is designed to take me in circles and it is designed to take me several miles into dead end streets. (I paid about $ 1,500 Dollars for this feature and have to stick my 4 year old Garmin onto the windshield). Also, I got a speeding ticket because the speedometer is designed to be unreadable when the sun shines through the window. Within a few months I have seen several 2014 Corollas driving with the taillights off.

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  Not Impressed - 2008 Toyota Corolla
  By nomoretoyota4 - June 30 - 6:44 am

  Bought this car end of 2007. Car would just accelerate while I was driving it or putting the brake. Almost caused an accident; very scary. Had to take it in for the recall; check engine light went on; occasionally would not start. Had a leaky brake; mechanic stated it was flaw in manufacturing. Have approx. 53,000 miles on the vehicle and the exhaust pipe rusted through right before the muffler. Other issues include: hard to see out the back window due to backseat head rests, archaic design, ice freezes in the trunk cover in the winter; ends up in the trunk every time its opened. In other words, I did not care that the car was ugly, just wanted something reliable. I am NOT IMPRESSED.

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  Too many problems! - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By mudslinger - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Replaced wifes jeep with TRD Tacoma because they last forever with no problems? Drove it home and shut drivers door latch fell out of the door, back to the dealer for a week. Check engine light came on at 500 miles, back to dealer two days, crack in gas cap. 900 miles, keyless entry stops working in shop four days while they trace down electrical short. Getting a whole 14mpg in mixed driving, same as my full size truck thats twice the size. 4200 miles traded it in for a Ford Edge!!!!

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  Do Not Waste Your Money!!! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By dryoda - June 26 - 10:00 am

  Worst car I ever bought. Impossible to get comfortable in drivers seat. Front end still makes noise even after parts from factory re-call were replaced. Dash rattles. Acceleration is pathetic. Takes 3 or 4 attempts to get car into reverse. Feels like grinding gears even with the clutch pegged to the floor. If you live in Tucson do not buy from Precision Toyota. You become a complete inconvience to them after the sale. Trust me, you get better customer service from McDonalds! On the highway, no stability, any slight wind tries to push the car off the road. The car sits as high off the ground as a two-wheel drive truck. I will be trading in this car ASAFP!