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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  Worst and Last Toyota I will ever own - 2009 Toyota Matrix
  By Disillusioned - November 15 - 5:13 pm

  This is the absolute worst car I have ever owned in my life, even worse than the used clunkers I drove when I was young and had no money. I have previously owned two Toyotas, which I absolutely loved (Corolla SR5 and an MR2). In this case, the third time is definitely not a charm. The car has no power, does not shift smoothly, the rear visibility is terrible, and the defrost leaves a lot to be desired. It is too bad that Toyota does not offer the same deal that General Motors does (i.e., give it back in 60 days if you are not satisfied), otherwise, this car would have been brought back in a heartbeat. Please run, dont walk, if someone tries to sell you a Matrix.

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  Major defects - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Cgoodrich - November 10 - 8:59 pm

  Had to take it in 2 weeks after I got it gir a faulty rear differential. There were 3 other brand new ones there as well for major fixes.

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  Big Mistake - 2005 Toyota Highlander
  By morris - October 24 - 3:03 am

  The research described the Highlander as a very good vehicle. I am dissappointed and trying to cut my losses. I moved to WV a couple of years ago and got tired of bottoming out my 2001 Volvo V70 T5 (100,000 mi). The Hylander has difficulty excellerating on the hills, the brakes grab, the cruise control is jerky and shifts into overdrive frequently (dealer says its fine), the plastic components are light weight and fall off, poor ventilation to the back seat area, seat heaters are inadequate, road noise is excessive, a recent stone star to the windshield revealed a single piece of glass. I do not feel safe and I cant believe I spent the money. My Chevy 2500HD diesel is better.

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  Poorly built - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By John Cantlay - October 19 - 12:41 am

  Top of engine was completely rebuilt after 6 months of driving. Rear window shade broke 3 times and electronic pats of car are failing.

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  Disappointing - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By CD 1 - October 12 - 12:30 pm

  Center piece on dashboard above clock keeps popping out one quarter inch. Dealer says replacing dashboard *may* fix problem but may cause squeaks and rattles. Standard Michelin all season tires are horrible in snow. Traction control should have override button; car will get stuck in small amounts of snow, cannot spin wheels to get free. Front seat lacks thigh support for tall drivers. Fuel gauge operation is non-linear. Rear bumper cover cracked due to ice accumulation in wheel well. City fuel mileage is not that impressive. Rear visibility restricted by front seat headrests. Overall, a disappointment for a car with a reputation for quality. On the plus side, interior noise is low.

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  disappointed - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By l.D - October 4 - 2:00 am

  I regret purchasing this car. Rear visibility is horrendous, especially for parking. I can feel every change in the road surfa

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  Just O.K. at best - 2004 Toyota Sequoia
  By jbradabadowski - September 22 - 10:46 pm

  My 2004 Sequioa with 130,000 miles isnt that great when compared to my 2003 Tahoe with 258,000. When comparing the two, the Sequioa isnt nearly as powerful, fuel economy isnt as good, and the towing capacity pales in comparison. The Sequioa doesnt ride or drive as well as the Tahoe. Many of the plastic pieces are falling of of the Sequioa, but I guess the worst thing for me is the drivers seat. If you are over 6 feet tall with long legs then you can forget about being comfortable while driving because the seat will not move back far enough. I will definitely buy the Chevy Tahoe again. Its a great truck. The Sequioa, I doubt that Ill ever buy another.

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  i should not buy this!!! - 2003 Toyota Sienna
  By whytoyota - September 20 - 2:00 am

  This minivan is very expensive and not worth it!!! i had the car for about eight months and the brake had problem and the service was not reliable....anyway this car is not the one i expected...i would never buy Toyota again.....

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  Bad design - giving back /hip pain - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By az - September 18 - 8:50 am

  I had Corolla for 9 years. I had no problem with that except for its slow pickup and not-good for high speed (over 65) travel. But with Camry I am having back/hip pain because of poor interior design. Gear shift is not smooth, it gets stuck in there. Seating comfort is very poor - I am feeling the vibration in my back and hip. I feel I got cheated after buying Camry 2009 model. Anybody over 40 years old, dont buy Camry it is not worth it. You may get somewhat good mileage but it is going to hurt your health in the long run.

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  My Venza woes PART 1 - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By larryoutwest - September 18 - 6:33 am

  Purchaced new off the lot late in 2010 as a 2011 model. This vehicle has been a huge let down, I have had a truly unacceptable amount of issues with it. Lets start with dead batterys, I cant count how many times this car has failed to start because its dead. Toyota has replaced the battery 6 times now, they have no idea where the drain is coming from. Ive also had troubles with transmission shifting, rattles, wind noise, creeking sounds when going over speed bumps, a dead climate control unit, and im sure there will be more as I only have 37,000 on it. Also fair to mention this baby is a fuel-a-holic, 15-17 MPG mixed with mostly highway is average. I will update quarterly with my reviews