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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  Great Truck! - 2010 Toyota Tundra
  By Skierdad - June 19 - 2:23 am

  Drove every half ton truck out there and chose the Tundra over them all. Tons of power. Have pulled a 4 place ATV trailer loaded up, boats, etc. No issues. Added a matching topper and the truck is sharp looking. Can load up the wife, kids, and 2 dogs and all our gear for a drive anywhere we want to go.

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  Check Engine Light problems - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By KidHorn - June 18 - 11:46 am

  Overall Im happy with our Siennna. It only has 19,000 miles after 6 years, so it doesnt get a lot of use. Theres an issue with the check engine light. It goes on and we take it to the dealership and they find nothing wrong. I wouldnt care too much, but the engine detects something wrong with the emission control and because of this, the car fails the state emissions test. We take it to the dealership, they run a smoke test and everything is OK. We go back for the emissions test, we fail, but since we had the car smoke tested, we get a pass for the next couple of years. We also had to replace the front tires. For some unknown reason, they wouldnt hold air.

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  CV Joint Defective - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By David - June 18 - 7:23 am

  I have ~71K miles on my 2008 Camry LE (4 cyl). Good overall performance, great gas mileage. I began to hear clattering when turning right. Long story short, the dealer would not repair the obviously defective CV joint (out of warranty). Two other repair shops both told me the same story; "the CV joint boot was not damaged nor leaking and the was obviously defective. The deal had to admit that a CV joint failing that early in the life of the car was not typical. Toy HQ sent me back to the dealership to work out what ultimately was a $368.00 (1/2 price) bill from the dealership. I drive >100 miles per day freeway, that transaxle should not have failed, warranty or no warranty

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  Outstanding Truck - 2005 Toyota Tacoma
  By TacoMan - June 17 - 8:40 am

  Would have rathered a Tundra but still very much satisified with my Tacoma Prerunner. The seats seem to be coming apart. TRD Sport

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  Traded our Odyssey for Highlander - 2010 Toyota Highlander
  By ToyGuy - June 15 - 11:03 pm

  Decided it was time to finish the minivan phase of our lives. We bought a Highlander and like it very much. Not as much cargo capacity as the minivan, but that is to be expected. Interior on Limited has all the options we need and is very comfortable. I would have rated build quality higher, but we recently discovered a grinding/rattling noise in front end when going over bumpy sections of road. Need to get it to dealer for a checkout.

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  Great concept but weak execution. - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By PGS031 - June 15 - 1:03 pm

  Failed on some basics: seats: too short, feels like stadium bench; angle of headrest horrible. Dash controls: paid designer too much; should hire an ergonomics engineer. Dash lighting and visibility - poorly lit & cant see some displays when wearing polarized sunglasses. Center and door arm rests too low. Throttle: peppy after lag, way too touchy, use more of the travel. 4x4 lock: this is an SUV, I want to control when it is 4x4 not have it automatically switch out at 25 mph. Rear bumper: add textures top for "stepping surface". "Premium" radio: whine w/ MP3; sound quality not very impressive. Window lock: driver cant open windows when lock is engaged. Strange clunk in back end.

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  Unexpected Warranty Issues Disappoint - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Stephanie - June 15 - 5:03 am

  Owned ~6 months (6300 miles) and initially loved the car, despite some visibility issues. Love the ride and responsiveness of the 6 cyl; but seats are uncomfortable on long trips. Sadly, car is in shop today for several concerns. Heard water sloshing under floor; amazed to discover puddles on floorboards! AC evaporator is under dash, inside car; hose got blocked and condensate dumped into car instead of outside after driving 300 miles w/AC on. Fuel and outside temp gauges not working properly. Dashboard makes annoying popping/cracking noises. Selected Camry based on reputation for quality and reliability, so needless to say, we are disappointed with our ownership experience thus far.

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  Good Dependable Truck - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By kmbrandt - June 14 - 7:56 am

  I would say that the truck is a little over priced for what it is, but this truck is very reliable, low maintanence, and a lot of fun for 4 wheeling in. It has great power when needed. Comfort was OK. The only problem we had was the passenger seat would not always lock in place, when I had to put the brakes on the seat would sometimes slide forward. Kinda scary... Overall good truck, nothing fancy.

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  Its Like Driving A Cloud - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By attorneywrangler - June 14 - 2:00 am

  I went from an ergonomically incorrect 1993 Tercel to a 2003 Camry with full leather package. It is genuinely like driving a cloud. The turn signal is nearly silent, and the interior cabin, when at rest, is so quiet I can hear myself blinking. If you prefer a car wherein you like to do everything yourself - crank the window open, yank the emergency brake, twist and turn knobs, and feel like *you* are in control of the car, dont buy this model. This car drives you. If youre longing for a car that does everything for you, politely, quietly and without complaint, buy this model.

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  Almost Perfect -Toyota are you listening? - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By camryguy11 - June 12 - 9:56 am

  Given the recent outstanding offers, we leased a 2011 Camry 4 cyl with alloy wheels. This is an outstanding car that provides an exceptional level of security. I cant stress enough how impressive the overall design of this car is. Where it falls short is handling, which seems to be largely due to the awful Bridgestone tires. During the first week of ownership, our car veered left consistently on the highway, and the steering wheel shook over 55 mph. Unacceptable in a $24,000 automobile. The dealer re-balanced the tires but the condition remained. I took it to my tire dealer; all 4 tires were still out of balance and the left front had a bubble. They showed me it. Problem partially fixed.