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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  generally overrated - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Anthony - December 28 - 1:53 am

  I have now owned my 06 Tacoma Pre-runner for just over a year. Yes, the V6 has plenty of power for the truck but other than that not much going for the tacoma. The auto-transmission is not matched to the power curve of the V6 at all. I get lots of unneeded and mis-shifts while drive, cruise control actually makes this worse. Quality is typical toyota, nothing great but is nothing to be excited about. The interior is completely anti-comfort from the terrible seats to the away (typical o all Japanese cars) slopping dash. This creates a feeling of a large interior. The doors are paper thin and road noise is deafening. The radio is sub par when compared to anything. A "DO NOT BUY"!!

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  Gas Pedal Recall Unsettling - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By froggie - December 24 - 11:23 pm

  PRO- Goes in the Snow! This vehicle was great this winter. Handles good. Back seat reclines and folds flat. Pick-up very good. Gas mileage OK. Fabulous visibility when backing up etc., CON- Very upset about the gas pedal recall. Purchased vehicle mid January 2010 and recall happened shortly afterward. Ouch! Do not like the front cup holder positions. Cups block power plug. Would like air/heater controls for rear seats. Would prefer the rear door to hinge upward instead of opening to the side. Really needs some basic lumbar controls. Overall would have given a much higher rating if it never had the gas pedal recall but it has caused so much anxiety that I dont think as highly of Toyota now

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  Poor fit and finish - 2008 Toyota Tacoma
  By tdaprez - December 24 - 3:50 pm

  The fit and finish is not close to the Toyotas I have owned in the past. I have gap differences of more than 3.2mm side to side. The paint has a lot of "orange peel." Toyotas position is that they are all the same and the Tacomas have "textured paint, since that is the type of paint they use." When was the last time you heard "texture and car paint" used in the same sentence? Make sure you check the fit and finish very carefully before you buy, since Toyota will provide no help after the sale.

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  Disappointed - 2005 Toyota Prius
  By m3cg - December 22 - 6:30 pm

  Totally disappointed with the gas mileage. We are lucky to even get 40 miles per gallon. For the price we paid, could be in a more upscale car and still get respectable gas milage.

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  Rattle trap - 2003 Toyota Sequoia
  By Dr.Bill - December 22 - 10:00 am

  After 63,000 miles it sounds like the dash is going to fall off. In cold weather the plastic contracts and really squeaks, more then any suv I have owned. If you live where the roads are smooth your ok, if your in NY good luck.

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  Its Toyota - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By ertuzi - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Very nice van with a lot of features. But a Toyota is always Toyota. It feel a bit numb and its not very car like.

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  Front seats are awful - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By MillieT - December 17 - 1:26 am

  I have only had this car a little over a day. I drive 45-60 minutes one way to work everyday. So a total of 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours a day in my car. If you do any kind of long distance driving, beware, the seats are extremely uncomfortable. There is zero support. Also, hard to get in and out of unless you are young in age and or in great shape. I wish I would have paid more attention before I leased it.

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  Front seats are awful - 2017 Toyota Corolla
  By MillieT - December 17 - 1:26 am

  I have only had this car a little over a day. I drive 45-60 minutes one way to work everyday. So a total of 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours a day in my car. If you do any kind of long distance driving, beware, the seats are extremely uncomfortable. There is zero support. Also, hard to get in and out of unless you are young in age and or in great shape. I wish I would have paid more attention before I leased it.

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  Very trouble-prone vehicle - 2004 Toyota Sienna
  By jgburke2001 - December 15 - 12:40 pm

  I have to say that my 2004 Sienna has been the most trouble-prone vehicle Ive owned. Multiple recalls and numerous repairs including odd items like broken rear gate closers and driver door closer. Difficulty getting the extended warranty (purchased through dealer) to step up.

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  Speedometer purposely inaccurate - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Joe - December 15 - 11:50 am

  My speedometer is reading 3 to 4 mph below actual speed according to radar and confirmed by the dealership. An average speed of 40 mph is a 7.5 to 10% discrepancy. The warranty is 36,000 miles. That equals to a loss of 2,700 to 4,000 miles of warranty. Actual warranty miles will be 32,000 to 33,300. Toyota refused to fix or replace the speedometer. I went through arbitration on July 8, 2015. I lost because there are no laws governing the accuracy of speedometers and that the 3 to 4 mph is within Toyota specifications. In other words, Toyota dictates the accuracy of its speedometers and can therefore reduce the mileage warranty without the buyer being aware that this is happening. In my view this is corrupt as I would not have bought the RAV4 if I had known that Toyota is actually selling me a lesser warranty. Otherwise the vehicle operates fine. However the screen is very touchy and has a habit of going bonkers. I recommend using the tip of a pencil or a similar device. Discard the navigation and have a separate GPS handy. Great for hauling stuff. Again if I had known about the speedometer, I would have purchased an alternate brand as there are many out there. Have taken a couple of 3,000 mile trips: Speed averaged 75 on one and 83 on the other over plains and mountains. RAV4 performed flawlessly and had no problems passing other vehicles. MPG was anywhere from 27 to 29. JOn secondary roads on trips the gas mileage averaged 33. Very quiet engine but outside road noise was very pronounced (loud).