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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  2012 Toyota Sienna XLE - 2012 Toyota Sienna
  By Joanne Adams - December 30 - 7:01 am

  Had unresolved airbag recall, motor was making "ticking" sound, battery connections had corrosion and cable frayed. Steering wheel made squeaking/rubbing sound.

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  Trying this car in West Covina Penske - 2016 Toyota Highlander
  By Tony Ang - December 25 - 7:50 pm

  I tried this car in West Covina Penske CA and felt this car hmm.. rear third row seat too small and not soft comfort and cant fit for adult. -1 point The baggage in trunk back too small another 1 point less. The looks outside no LED daylight at front light and rear light. Others like Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer already LED front daylight and LED rear light. For dashboard, looks cheaper all plastic. So this is the bad looks interior too, however give it 1 point for accelarion better than 0 point.

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  Toyota Technician Fires Manufacturer - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By Ben - December 21 - 8:19 pm

  Theres a lot you need to know about this car before buying it. Firstly, if you DO buy it buy it new but Ideally lease it. Toyota has gotten incredibly shifty about their warranties and their reliability has dropped. I am reviewing this car based on owning it and also based on working on the brand professionally. In the year that I bought this car used, my dashboard has melted and been replaced by Toyota under warranty. My engine burns 1.5 quarts of oil per 12,000 miles due to faulty piston ring design. They will not cover it due to a lack of oil change receipts and the nature of it being purchased used. The gas pedal had a recall that was performed due to it functioning incorrectly. All Toyota Water pumps will leak antifreeze which is considered normal by the manufacturer. The sun visor in this particular model is held up by a metal clip and actually mine fell down while I was driving on the interstate one day. My radio was designed without the JBL option and you cannot upgrade after you purchase your vehicle. The wiring harnesses are not included and they will not allow it to be performed. The radio I was stuck with has major issues - as do many of them on that model. The cd players dont read properly and I went through five of them both new and used. You will be unable to do anything other than upgrade to an aftermarket radio designed specifically for this vehicle. The interior design of this build was built incredibly cheap and lacks durability in all senses. The alignment of the drivers seat is off to the right so eventually you will notice the left side of your seat wear out. The air conditioning system has a bad habit of growing mold and smelling like death due to evaporator moisture. Toyotas legendary paint has once again failed on my vehicle. The clear coat is paper thin and scratching everywhere. Also in newer vehicles, you will find stone chips and rail marks on every single car, even new ones. Trade in value has dropped horribly with this model and Im financially underwater on this transaction. Toyota factory strut mounts are notorious for failure - especially the drivers side front on this model. The drivers side axle is also an issue and has a tendency to make noise and fail. The transmission software on these cars has been flashed several thousand times due to bad programming decisions and hesitations. Every time the car is at the shop there is a new recall open on it. My rear view mirror peeled in half and I ended up replacing it with one from a 1999 Toyota Camry. I actually have stopped working on new cars recently, due to the unreliability of the automotive industry of today.

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  hunk of junk - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Shane030173 - November 27 - 9:57 am

  Bought mine in oct 2015 and complained about the transmission erratic shifting after a couple days of driving it. After getting the run around from the dealership I called Toyota Customer service. I was told the transmission is working exactly the way it was designed to work. Now I drive a F-150. I have been leasing Tacos for 12 years and 2016 is the worst vehicle I have ever drove. There is nothing good to say about this truck. The engine is weak and sounds like a sewing machine. The transmission is horrific. The seats are so low you might as well sit on the floor. The sunroof rattled and leaked. The bed cover didnt seal and leaked. Entune is worthless, I tell it "go home" and it sends me to IHOP. No power seat, no power rear sliding window, key needed to lock tailgate. Paint scratches when you look at it. Cheap lame fabric on the dash. Horrible on gas, 16 MPGs. Dont buy this over priced lemon.

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  Where do I start ? - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By yoheyfla - November 13 - 4:50 am

  My Le gets 20mpg c+h up from inaugural 15mpg - touchscreen am/fm radio dangerous - must take eyes off road to touch screen exactly - monochrome style screen has no guis, no gps, no digital radio, no satellite radio, no rearview camera, no BLIS, no Entune, no valet trunk lock (a Camry icon), no voice command, no internet connect, no tire specific inflation values, no fog lamps (corners are very dark), no wireless connect to car features, no sound proofing on underside of car, no sound proofing from gas tank pressurization noises, no rear seat ac vents, no adequate map pockets, no Led accents, no paddle shifters, insufficient ground clearance between front air dam and parking space bumpers...

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  Missing Nemo! - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By dirk diggler - November 7 - 11:23 pm

  I regret buying this truck... there are no real improvements in this truck compared to my 2005 Taco. I bought it on a whim. The cabin materials keep getting cheaper in quality. The steering will fatigue you after a while. It still has the drum brakes on back. The engine is now a 3.5 ltr vs a 4.0 from previous years therefore the engine revs higher to make power. Getting my old truck back.

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  Overhyped toyota garbage - 2012 Toyota Tundra
  By ghunchman - October 31 - 4:51 pm

  I actually went or should I say was suckered into a new tunra. 2012 what a mistake. If you here people talking about reliability and resale I suggest you RUN and never turn back. I dont sell cars so resale should never be an issue. The toyota is like a pregnant 2002 dodge ram. Its ugly and the more you look at it the uglier it gets. The finish inside is poor crap and I couldnt believe that this what was suppose to be superior build quality. The seats were uncomfortable. the guages are small and a pukey orange colour and they are sey in too far. The tonks truck control knobs for the air are a total joke.I could go on but a person with normal vision will see what Im talking about.

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  We Call It "The Turnip" - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By Dave Kopczynski - August 28 - 4:17 am

  After owning nothing but Camrys since 1989, and being completely satisfied with them, we decided to "upgrade" to the Toyota "Flagship", assuming that it would be nicer than the Camrys. This was the biggest car buying mistake of my life! Our 2014 Avalon Limited has the harshest ride and the most road noise of any car we have ever owned. We refer to it as "The Turnip" because we feel the ride and noise would be what you would expect from a turnip truck used on a farm to transport vegetables. The seats are about as comfortable as sitting on a sheet of plywood. Understand that we think the deep metallic red Avalon is one of the prettiest cars on the road. We get a lot of compliments on the appearance of the car, and I always try to sell it to the people making the compliment. However, when new people ride in the car, the comment is something like, "What were you thinking? Did you even drive this thing before you bought it?" Regrettably, I didnt drive the car; I went entirely on Toyotas reputation for quality and the terrific Avalon reputation for a quiet, almost luxury car ride, in an affordable vehicle. Toyota says they redefined the ride to appeal to a younger (40-ish) group of potential buyers. I really dont see where a "neck-snapping" noisy ride would appeal to people in any age group. A few other complaints: 1. Navigation system is already out of date; 2. Analog and digital speed indications are different; 3. Rattles are starting to appear; 4. Sound system is very unimpressive compared to systems in our other cars. I have tried several times to trade this car for something (almost anything) else. Car dealers KNOW the Avalons new reputation, and the trade-in value is below the low end of the Kelly Blue Book range of values. The saddest event was when I test drove a Ford F-150 pickup truck and the ride quality and lack of road noise was FAR superior to the Avalon. Summary: If you feel you simply MUST consider this car, take it for an EXTENDED test drive before signing the paperwork!! Drive down a highway at 60 MPH and just listen to the road noise!! There doesnt seem to be adequate sound insulation in the body. READ READ READ the reviews!!! Better yet, buy something else. Update: After trying several times, we have not been able to get rid of this car. Dealers know that this is not the quiet comfortable car that Avalon used to be. The car has very low mileage and is in absolutely flawless condition, but we have not been able to get within $2000 of KBB or NADA trade in value. This car was a very poor choice. Update 2/17: We still own this car because we have been unable to get any kind of a reasonable trade-in on the vehicle. We keep the car as a spare when someone in the family needs a car when their car is in the shop, etc.. This is not a problem since we have four cars for two drivers. We purchased a new all-wheel-drive SUV last November. Sadly, the SUV rides far better than the Avalon and, unbelievably, is quieter. The most annoying thing about this Avalon is that it could have been a wonderful car if they had only left it alone and kept the fantastic quiet comfortable ride for which Avalon was know up to the 2013 model. I enjoy reading other Avalon reviews where the Avalon is compared to "the Flintstones car with granite wheels". At least I get a couple laughs out of the $35000 I threw away on this car.

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  Terrible Ride - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Disappointed - August 26 - 10:26 am

  We paid upfront hard earned cash for this truck, my husbands dream truck. We put 1600 miles on it and absolutely hate it. The transmission is terrible. The way the truck drives constantly feels like we are pulling a boat. You have to push hard on the gas to get any power and driving on hills is the absolute worst. You cant see the screen due to a constant glare which is terrible because we paid extra for the technology package. We have owned this truck for 3 months, put 1600 miles on it, put 12k down for a 34k truck and our buy out is 29k. Piece of junk lost so much value when I thought these trucks were known to keep their value. So for 3 months and to drive 1600 miles it will cost us 5k. We are so sick about it. Stay clear of this piece of garbage. When you test drive it, go up hills and try to go fast. You will see what we are talking about.

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  Cheap, Cheap. The worst car I ever owned. - 2015 Toyota Corolla
  By Plator - August 23 - 6:45 pm

  You buy, you own! Toyota has chosen the cheap and poor way to engineer this car. The warranty does not respond to to any issue the car might have. Be aware that when you go to a "certified Toyota tech" they will deny the evidence, and Toyota managers will back them up. Specifically, the seats are the worst I have ever seen. The driver seat sank after the first 15000 miles and now my "tail" is right on the support metal. For Toyota this is normal at all levels. My other 15 years civic does not have the problem. I can live with the poor performance and cheap everything, but at least a seat that doesnt kill me is probably normal to ask.