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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  problem fixed - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By krealtors - April 26 - 3:30 pm

  I also had a transmission problem, but because of toyota they have extended the warranty until 10 yrs or 150,000 on 2002s not sure about other years. toyota dealer just replaced my computer and if problem comes back they will replace the transmission for FREE, I also didnt pay anything for the ECU (computer). I also believe service lady said they will also cover TCU as sell. so check with your local dealer.

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  08 HH - 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  By rtower - April 26 - 2:03 pm

  Highway mileage is great, 28 mpg at 70+ mph. We live at the top of a hill, + 650 over the valley where we shop and work; so my town driving isnt great, around 21 mpg, but 10+ mpg over the Yukon I had before at the same run. My major issue at the moment is the big tires on the Ltd edition, Toyo 245- 55-19, are a problem as I cant find chains to fit. With freezing rain over snow, chains are required on all roadways. The Toyo tires are just OK on the ice & snow, but I cant get any of the excellent Michelin X-type tires to fit the wheels. Comfort is pretty good, but I miss the roomyness and soft leather of my old Yukon Denali, woos, Ill make due. Overall, quite satisfied with the HH.

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  GT - 2000 Toyota Celica
  By pdogmurphy - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Nice car - quick but not fast enough. Handles perfect, shifting is good. Ride is comfortable - better than RSX and quieter. Low road and engine noise. Mileage is ~27 mixed - Im not a calm driver tho. View of blind spot and rear view is terrible. Especially with the spoiler in the way. Plastic interior damages very easily. I dont mind the look - but scratches/gouges too much.

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  Toyota & Lexus are the only cars... - 2000 Toyota Avalon
  By Peet - April 26 - 2:00 am

  For those that doesnt know: Toyota Avalon 2000 has THE SAME ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AS LEXUS ES 300 Its sooo quiet... Its very comfortable ROOOOOOMY !!!and very depandable I have only one electrical problem: Side airbag sensor mulfunction, I guess its because is not made in Japan but in USA and Quality Control in States is not as tight as it is in Tokyo The SRS light start and keep blinking and I let my Toyota Dealer work on that. Other than that car is really great it really is a pleasure drive handles great on the road, well maybe brakes and audio system (XL-ONLY) could be better... Highly recommend to everyone !!!

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  Significant Noise Problem - 2006 Toyota Sequoia
  By Ketan Vyas - April 26 - 1:43 am

  I bought a new Sequoia in June 2006. The very first time I drove on interstate I noticed humming noise of drive shaft at speed of 60 mph. This is some time appreciated in old real wheel drive cars. But not in a new vehicle which costs $52000. I cannot get either dealer or Toyota to fix this or take the vehicle back. In order to stay comfortable you need to drive at the speed lower than 60 mph. I am amazed the way I am treated by Toyota and the dealership. I used to be a Toyota fan. I recommend everyone to drive this vehicle on highway before buying. I am sure some of other sequoia owners might have experienced the same problem what Toyota calls "normal characteristic of vehicle."

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  2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Hammerstein - April 24 - 8:13 am

  Picked up a used (28500 miles) 2009 Camry hybrid for the size and mpg. Quickly learned the sweet spots (`35 mph) and (`72 mph) that results in incredible mileage. Feather the gas peddle and try to keep the car operating on battery power alone for as long as you can. I read most of the review on this site and agree with those who post excellent gas mileage. I drove a couple hundred miles and easily got close to 40 mpg! Ride is soft and comfortable and will be great for the family. It drives straight and has a lot of features that made this car the perfect choice for us. The car is certified and I purchased and extended warranty, so am very well protected.

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  One of the Best Cars Ive Ever Owned - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By David Chase - April 23 - 8:56 pm

  I purchased this car new and except for routine maintenance have never had a problem. My daughter was taking the car to college so I called a local Mechanic to see have the car checked out - I was concerned that the car had a serpentine belt that might need to be replaced. They informed me that the engine had a timing chain (lasts longer) and that the car wasnt scheduled for its first tune up until 120,000 miles! I purchased this car at the same time I bought a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser - I made sure to purchase Toyotas that were made in Japan, not the U.S. (both were). I have had zero problems with both cars.

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  luv the mileage - 2011 Toyota Highlander
  By webtravelin - April 23 - 1:04 pm

  We are senior couple and have about 1200 miles on the highlander. We are averaging just over 24 MPG, and on our three trips of about 90 miles each we got right at 30 mpg. This was driving mostly on rural highways, with about 35 miles of interstate at about 72 to 73 MPH and about 62 MPH otherwise. The wife thinks the seats are not as soft as our 04 Grand Cherokee, and the passenger seat is manual only, but that has already turned out to be a non-issue. In addition to the very good mileage we immediately noticed how much more quite it was than the Jeep. It is close to the same size as the Jeep but can seat 7. Weve had six adults in once for a short thirty minute drive and no complaints

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  Pretty Good Car - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By N Myrmel - April 21 - 11:06 pm

  I love the external appearence, but the cost to fix is very pricey. I put lots of miles on in a year and after hitting 90k a coil went bad causing a O^2 sensor and catalytic converter went bad. The camry has two O^2 sensors, one costs $160-180 but the other costs $360!!! In all it cost me $1200 to get it back on the road. The steering has always squeaked for me at low speeds (generally during parking) but other than that it has been a great car. I now have 135k on it and the above issue is the only one I have had. I replaced my brake pads at 115k and they were very easy to do. Oil filter is a little hard to get to, but all in all things are easily accessable.

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  Prius - 2009 Toyota Prius
  By Mark - April 21 - 5:16 pm

  Im 6 4" and the front leg room is very tight. It is also a bit narrow. The fit and feel is very good for a mid size car. Its so quiet on start up. Acceleration is slow but reliability should be outstanding.